Blois
Blois is a Loire city built around a Renaissance royal château, with Chambord about 10 miles away and direct trains to Paris.
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Blois is a city of about 47,000 people in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, on the lower Loire between Orléans and Tours. It is the capital of the Loir-et-Cher department. The Château of Blois, a Renaissance château in the centre with several architectural styles, became a royal residence after Count Louis II of Orléans became King Louis XII in 1498. Around it, the old town has hôtels particuliers, timber-framed houses and many fountains.
The château is the main reason to visit. Climb the Denis-Papin staircase for views over downtown and the Loire Valley, walk the Bishopric Gardens beside the cathedral, and cross the Jacques-Gabriel Bridge to Blois-Vienne on the left bank. Buses run from Blois to the Château of Chambord, so the city works as a base for the Loire valley. The rose garden in the Bishopric Gardens is open from 15 May to 30 September. Two days allow time for the town and a trip out to Chambord.
Blois in five
- Start with the château in the old townThe Château royal de Blois sits above the old center and shows several centuries of French architecture in one building. Book timed tickets on the official site in busy periods and check the day's opening hours.
- Reach Chambord by shuttle, taxi or carChambord is out of town in a forest estate and has no train station. Use a bus or shuttle from Blois in season, a taxi or a rental car, and check timetables before you go.Loire Valley travel guide
- Choose Blois for train links, Amboise for atmosphereBlois has direct trains to Paris and Tours and a bigger choice of hotels. Amboise is smaller and prettier but has fewer rooms.Amboise
- Avoid Monday if you want everything openSome small museums and restaurants close on Mondays, and châteaux hours vary by season. Check the specific sites before you travel.
Things to do in Blois
See all attractions in Blois
Need to know
- Airport
- Tours and Paris are the nearest major airports; no commercial airport in Blois
- Getting there
- Train from Paris about 1.5–2 hours; from Tours about 40–60 min
- Getting around
- Walkable old town; car, bike or shuttle for the châteaux
- Best base
- Old town near the château, or by the station for early trains
- Time needed
- 1–2 days, 3 with Chambord and Cheverny
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy12 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Spring, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Spring gardensAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring gardens
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Green, openMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, open
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Summer, busyJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer, busy
- JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Peak, hotJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, hot
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Peak, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Harvest, mildSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cool, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Blois, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Blois
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 18%
Blois
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°4°18%Monday: Rain. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Tue11°5°3%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed10°2°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu13°2°18%Thursday: Rain. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Fri14°3°18%Friday: Fog. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat12°3°13%Saturday: Fog. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun12°3°41%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 09:07 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Chambordabout 20–30 min by roadA huge Renaissance château in a walled forest; check access and ticket rules.
- Chevernyabout 20–25 min by roadA château still lived in, with formal gardens.
- Amboiseabout 20–30 min by trainA hilltop château and a pretty river town.Read the guide
Before you go to Blois
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Rules for Blois, checked
- Check entry rules for France and the Schengen area on the French foreign ministry site before you fly.Source
- Carry your passport or ID card with you; French police can ask to see it.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance from any phone in France.
- Opening days and photo rules are set by each site, so check the site's own page before you go.
Plan around Blois
Châteaux, wine and slow travel by river
Read the guideAmboiseSmaller castle town 30 min away by train
Read the guideOrléansLarger Loire city upstream
Read the guideChartresCathedral city for a northern detour
Read the guideGetting around FranceTGV, TER and when to book
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideBlois FAQ
Is Blois worth visiting?
Yes if you like château towns with a real working center. Blois itself takes one day, and it works best as a base for Chambord and Cheverny.
Blois or Amboise: which is better as a base?
Blois has better train links and more hotels; Amboise is smaller, quieter and closer to Chenonceau. For first-timers with a train pass, Blois is simpler.
How do you get from Blois to Chambord?
There is no train. Use a seasonal shuttle or bus if running, a taxi, a bike or a rental car. Check current options on the tourism office site.
How do you get from Paris to Blois?
By direct train from Paris Austerlitz in about 1.5–2 hours, or with a change. Book ahead only if you need a specific time; regional fares are fixed.
How many days do you need in Blois?
One day covers the château and old town. Two or three days add Chambord and Cheverny without rushing. Longer stays work for wine and cycling.