There has been a fortress in Blois since the 9th century.  The oldest remaining parts - the State room and Foix tower and some remaining parts of the ramparts date from the 13th century.  

When Louis XII came to the throne in 1498 he made Blois, the chateau if his birth, the political capital pf the kingdom.   Louis XII began to reconstruct the entire chateau and to design a splendid garden to the north west.  The consecration of the chapel in 1508 was the culmination of his achievement.

In 1635 there was another attempt to develop the chateau with the plans made by the architect Francois Mansart, but with the death of Gaston d’Orleans in 1660 the chateau was forgotten.  It was promised for demolition but occupied for 80 years by the cavalry, in 1842 the influence if romantic writers it became a classified historic monument and was restored along with other monuments by the architect Félix Duban and became a museum. 

Louis XII wing

The State room is the most important in the Chateau.   Rebuilt in 1860 following the demolition of the original vaults and revealed the court yard and gate with a statue of Louis XII who was executed by Suerre in 1858.   The inside court yard is surrounded by pillars suporting a gallery;  the windows, of stone nad brick,  are engraved in the Franco-Flamande tradition of the XVth century.

Saint-Calais Chapel was reconstructed by Louis XII and has deteriated with time.   The nave disappeared with Gaston d’Oleans.   The choirremains having been divided into three floors by the military.   The interieur decoration was restored by Félix Duban in XIXth century but was later ruined in the bombardments of the second world war.   A window, restored by Max Ingrand in 1957 relates the principal historic episodes of the chateau, particularly noteworthy is the passage of Jeanne d’Arc on 1429.

Tour de Foix

This provides a wonderful view of the city, St Nicholas’ church and the Loire Valley.   The tower is a vestige of the mediaeval chateau and from its top Gaston d’Orleans would have built an astronomic observatory.   The large marble basin in the courtyard comes from the mediaeval gardens.

François Ier wing

This is only 15 years later than the Louis XII     The staircase is famous because it is built as a chiselled cylinder pierced by large openings so it appears to be in the open air.   By way of this grand staircase one enters the royal apartments on the first floor.   Again the restoration of Félix Duban supports the rare archeological remains (door supports, paint-work) and above all the interpretation of manuscripts which reconstruct the original atmosphere.   These have inspired the paintwork and tiles used in restoration.

At the end of the 16th century the first floor was occupied by Catherine de Medicis, the second by Henri III.  Each apartment has an ante-chamber, a dressing room, a bedroom, a meeting room and an office.  The office served for the personal work of the king or queen, but looking at the rare trinkets, medals and exotic curiosities the secret cupboards of Catherine had other uses.

Gaston d’Orleans wing 

This part of the chateau was built only to the plans of Mansart and represents one of the first classic chateaux built in France and shows some workmanship of admirable proportions and design.   The entrance and colonnades are tall, the staircase is in baroque style.   The use of light and the richness of the decor sculpted by some of the best artists of the time.   The work is of one of the best ‘chefs-d’oeuvres’ of the time.

The State Room

This is built around the same period as the cathedral in Chartres and is one of the oldest state rooms for the lords of France and is the remains of the ancient chateau of the counts of Blois.  It is divided into two naves by elegant pillars.