Blois Castle
The majestic Blois Castle, which truly deserves the title of "royal", is located in the unsurpassed French Loire Valley. This palace served as luxury apartments for at least 17 members of the royal family. It was here that Catherine de' Medici's last residence was, and the Duke of Guise also died in this castle, where Louis XII and Francisco I ruled.
The Castle of Blois is a solemn building, which was built using bricks and hewn stone blocks. The palace has an uncomplicated quadrangle shape with a roof on which the towers are located.
The castle was built in more than one period, each ruling king tried to make his contribution to the appearance. But it owes its modern appearance to two kings, Louis XII and Francis I. The Castle of Blois has two wings that belong to these rulers. The entire palace is executed in two styles, which belong to the period of Gothic and Renaissance.
The wing, which belongs to Louis XII, stands out for its huge windows, as well as balconies and loggias. There are galleries and many attributes that point to peaceful times when it was all created. Indeed, when Louis XII came to power, there was no need to erect defensive fortifications. This castle served as a royal retreat of a quiet time.
As for the erected part of Francis I, it is easy to see a great connoisseur of architecture in his buildings. He began to implement his first architectural visions in the castle of Blois. The main piece that stands out on this wing is the elegant staircase. This grand staircase is known for its three balconies, from which you can admire the main part of the courtyard.
The decoration of Blois Castle is quite rich and exquisite. From the Francis I wing, you can enter the huge hall, which accommodates a lot of rich Italian-style furniture, beautiful tapestries, and a large number of different chests. In the same wing, there is a Guards' hall, where various hand-embroidered religious-themed works are located. If you go out onto the huge loggia, you will see an amazing view of the royal garden.
Catherine de' Medici also contributed to the museum exhibits of the Castle of Blois, who left many paintings and sculptural busts of the entire royal family. This woman was a true connoisseur of portrait art. The largest among the entire castle is the room of the States General, which is located on the ground floor.
The Castle of Blois, along with its gardens and pond, is simply mesmerizing. Once a week, a bazaar is organized on the square adjacent to the castle, where vegetables and fruits that have grown on the royal territory are sold. In the evening, a musical entertainment show is held near the Blois Castle, which makes it even more magnificent.
