Castles & tourist sites

A festival of visual and sound special effects marries the grandiose architecture of the courtyard, evoking famous episodes in the history of the Château. The favourite residence of the Kings of France during the Renaissance, the Château Royal de Blois is a true architectural and historical synthesis of the Châteaux of the Loire. Its four wings, each in a different style, and its monumental staircase, all grouped around the same courtyard, offer an astonishing panorama of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the Classical period. The royal flats feature magnificent restored polychrome decorations, and the furniture and paintings on display evoke the daily life of the Court and power during the Renaissance. The private chambers of François I and the royal rooms of Catherine de Médicis and Henri III, where the Duke of Guise was assassinated in 1588, are steeped in the major events of French history. From 5 April to 27 September 2025, then from 18 October to 1 November 2025.

The Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which now covers 32 hectares, offers one of the most beautiful views of the royal river and is a belvedere on the wild Loire. It welcomes more than 385,000 visitors each year. It includes the Château (15th-19th century), its stables, its landscaped park and the International Garden Festival. As a centre for the arts and nature, the estate also hosts installations by contemporary artists and exhibitions by major photographers. In season: the "Gardens of Light" invite you to a night walk to discover the gardens of the Festival; the Restaurant of the Domain welcomes you and offers you an inventive cuisine.

The favourite residence of the Kings of France during the Renaissance, the Royal Château of Blois is a true architectural and historical synthesis of the Châteaux of the Loire. Its four wings, each in a different style, and its monumental staircase around the same courtyard, offer an astonishing panorama of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the Classical period. In the royal flats, the magnificent restored polychrome decorations, furniture and paintings evoke the daily life of the Court and power during the Renaissance. The private chambers of François I and the royal chambers of Catherine de Medici and Henri III, where the Duke of Guise was murdered in 1588, are steeped in the major events of French history.

A castle facade (drawbridge, towers, machicolations...), but on the garden side, a residence marked by the Renaissance style! In this castle located 200 metres from the Loire, the marriage between Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany sealed the attachment of Brittany to the kingdom of France. Richly furnished, this monument belongs to the Institut de France.