The Castle of Blois, classified as a historical monument since 1845, allows us to discover three architectural styles: flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, and classical, from the 13th to the 17th century.
Residence of the Counts of Blois in the Middle Ages, then from Kings of France from Louis XII to Henry III, the Castle of Blois was a place of power, theater of tragic and historical events such as the assassination of the Duke of Guise and that of 7 kings and 10 queens of France during the black period of The History of France.
During the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc passed to Blois in 1429 to have her banner blessed, before going to liberate Orleans from the English siege.
François 1st, made Blois, one of his favorite residences before moving closer to Paris and transferring the furniture, from the Loire castles to Fontainebleau in 1539. Inspired by the Italian style and supported by Leonard Da Vinci, he continued the work of his predecessor and built the grand staircase while keeping the walls of the medieval castle. In just fifteen years of work, its four wings surrounding the courtyard, show the evolution of French architectural taste, moving from the Middle Ages (the Louis XII wing) to the renaissance (the wing François1st. )