Blois

Blois {{ #if: |""|}} Country: France Region: Centre (France) {{ #if: Blois.JPG||}} More Information: CS Group Wikipedia {{ #if: |[[:wikivoyage:{{{wikitravel}}}|Wikivoyage]]}} {{ #if: Blois|Wikivoyage}} {{#if:CS Ambassadors in the Area|style="background:#eeeeF7;text-align:center;font-size:110%;border:1px solid #a3bfb1" colspan="3"| City-Ambassadors: CS Ambassadors in the Area|}}

File:Panorama-blois.jpg

Blois is a city in France, the capital of the Loir-et-Cher department and one of the main cities of the Region Center, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.

HISTORY OF BLOIS

Though of ancient origin, Blois is first distinctly mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the 6th century, and the city gained some notability in the 9th century, when it became the seat of a powerful countship with «Blisum castrum» («Le château de Blois»). In 1171, Blois was the site of a blood libel accusation against its Jewish community that led to 31 Jews (by some accounts 40) being burned to death.[1] In 1196, Count Marie granted privileges to the townsmen; a commune, which survived throughout the Middle Ages, probably dated from this time. The counts of the Châtillon line resided at Blois more often than their predecessors, and the oldest parts of the château (from the 13th century) were built by them. In 1429, Joan of Arc made Blois her base of operations for the relief of Orleans. After his captivity in England, Charles of Orleans in 1440 took up his residence in the château, where in 1462 his son, afterwards Louis XII, was born. In the 16th century Blois was often the resort of the French court. The Treaty of Blois, which temporarily halted the Italian Wars, was signed there in 1504-1505.

The city's inhabitants included many Calvinists, and in 1562 and 1567 it was the scene of struggles between them and the supporters of the Catholic church. In 1576 and 1588 Henri III, king of France, chose Blois as the meeting-place of the States-General, and in 1588 he brought about the murders of Henry, duke of Guise, and his brother, Louis, archbishop of Reims and cardinal, in the Château, where their deaths were shortly followed by that of the queen-mother, Catherine de' Medici. From 1617 to 1619 Marie de' Medici, wife of King Henri IV, exiled from the court, lived at the château, which was soon afterwards given by King Louis XIII to his brother Gaston, Duke of Orleans, who lived there till his death in 1660.

The bishopric, seated at Blois Cathedral, dates from the end of the 17th century. In 1814 Blois was for a short time the seat of the regency of Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon I.

Blois was occupied during World War II by the German army, which took the city on June 18, 1940. The city was liberated by American soldiers during the last two weeks of August, 1944. On both occasions, the city withstood several days of bombing.

More informations about the History of Blois on the wikipedia:Blois !

WHAT TO VISIT ?

File:Blois51.jpg The Cathedral

File:2007 07 26 1 Vieux Blois (28).jpg Statue of Joan of Arc

File:Musée des jacobins.JPG The Jacobins' Museum

File:Beaux arts blois.jpg Beaux Arts Museum

File:Parc de l'eveché.jpg Parc de l'Eveché

File:Blois-2.jpg The Castle

More informations about the places to visit in Blois on the wikivoyage:Blois and/or check the Official Website of the Office of Tourism.

TIPS

Free Internet/Wifi Access

Here is a list of places where you can get some Internet and/or Wifi Access in the city:

• Bibliothèque Abbé-Grégoire de Blois - Adress: 4/6 Place Jean-Jaurés - Tel: 02 54 56 27 46
• Bureau Information Jeunesse de Loir-et-Cher - Adress: 7 Avenue Wilson - Tel: 02 54 78 54 87
• Bibliothèque Maurice Genevoix - Adress: 1 rue Vasco de Gama - Tel: 02 54 56 27 40

COUCHSURFERS

There are about 50 Couchsurfers in Blois and its area. You can check the CS Group of Blois or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings

There are sometimes some meetings organised in Blois, just check the CS Group of Blois to see what happen in the city and/or the Regional CS Group of Centre (Center) to see if there is any event in the area.

Coffee or a Drink

Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

Emergency Couch

If you don't have a couch in that town or region call people in that list, we will help us to find somewhere:

• Mitch : +33 (0) 6 61 28 58 79 - mitchtrip [at] hotmail.com - St dyé sur loire 41500 - 15 km in the east of Blois
• Hélios : +33 (0) 6 89 41 95 52

We are not sure at 100% to answer you in the minutes but leave some messages

TRANSPORTATIONS

How to get to Blois

• By Car:
• By Train:
• By Plane:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

File:110 F 5944636 1f9rXG7PRPiG210JXW9Jql5PCPR0x9Lo.jpg

• Police Station: 17
• Health Emergency (SAMU): 15
• Fireman Station: 18
• Emergency Doctor (SOS médecin 24h/24): 3624
• Homeless Emergency: 115

LOCAL MEDIA MENTIONS

wikivoyage:Blois

INTERESTED LINKS

• Regional CS Group: Centre (Center)
• City CS Group: Blois

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• Blois on Wikivoyage
• Blois on Hitchwiki
• Blois on Wikipedia