A day at your own pace · Updated on 15 September 2026
Exploring Blois means climbing, descending and crossing the river. This route takes you from place du Château through the old town’s lanes to the quays in Vienne. Follow it over a day, or split it into several outings if you want to visit the museums.
Morning around the castle
Start on place du Château. Take time to look at the façades before choosing your visit. The royal château and the Maison de la Magie each make a rewarding outing; there is no need to fit everything into one day.
If you go inside the château, allow part of the morning to enjoy the courtyard and apartments. For a gentler stroll, spend time on the square and in the Saint-Sauveur gardens.
Plan a castle visit (in French) → · Discover the square with the tourist office (in French) ↗
At lunchtime, head down into the old town
After the castle, head into the town-centre streets for lunch. Continue your walk around Saint-Honoré: the small stairways connect the different levels of the town and reveal passages that are easy to miss from the main streets.
Le Nid de Saint-Honoré sleeps up to four guests in this neighbourhood, with a view of the castle. La Demeure de Chemonton offers more space for gatherings of up to fifteen in the historic centre.
The history of Blois’s stairways (in French) → · A walk along rue Chemonton (in French) →
In the afternoon, cross the river
Head to the Jacques-Gabriel bridge and cross towards Vienne. Stop to admire the skyline of Blois: the river offers another way to see the town. Depending on your energy, continue through the neighbourhood’s streets, around Saint-Saturnin or towards La Creusille.
La Maison des Chalands is on this side of the Loire. Combining Le Loft and La Chambrée, it sleeps up to thirteen guests, and the patio also provides space to store bicycles. A place to extend your stay between town and river.
Discover the Vienne district (in French) →
Late afternoon, head up for the views
Back on the right bank, walk up towards the cathedral and the Jardins de l’Évêché if you still feel like exploring. Or save this stage for tomorrow. In Blois, slopes and steps matter as much as distance: wear comfortable shoes and adapt the route if you have a pushchair.
Returning to your holiday home after the walk
Choose Le Nid de Saint-Honoré for four guests, La Demeure de Chemonton for larger gatherings, or La Maison des Chalands beside the Loire. If you prefer returning to a garden after a day in town, Le Cottage de Chitenay sleeps up to ten in the countryside; allow for the journey to and from Blois.
Discover our four holiday homes → · Plan your parking →
The smaller stops that make the walk
Around place Louis-XII
Allow for a break in this part of the old town, rather than simply walking from one monument to another. It is a good place to pause for lunch before returning to the lanes. If you have a booked visit, leave extra time to climb back towards the castle: the steps naturally slow your pace.
The Denis-Papin staircase and the Jardins de l’Évêché
Add these two stops if you enjoy seeing a town from above. They can also form a second walk the following day. With young children, choose one area at a time and save the crossing to Vienne for another outing.
An evening in Blois
After sightseeing, return to the centre or the quays for dinner and a stroll. If you would like to attend an evening event at the château, check its programme before planning your evening around it.
Adapting the route to your group
For half a day, focus on the castle and the lanes. For a full day, add the Loire and a break in Vienne. In rain, choose an indoor visit and shorten the walk; with a pushchair or reduced mobility, plan a route that avoids stairways.
Arriving by car? Our parking guide, including free options will help you choose a starting point.