Bishop’s Gardens

The gardens of the Bishop’s Palace are a popular hangout spot nestled above Blois and the Loire River. It’s home to a small collection of plants and it’s just perfect if you’re looking to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. These gardens date back to the 18th century, when Pope Innocent XII founded a bishopric in Blois. The newly built cathedral became its seat, and the surrounding land was transformed into terrace gardens that the various bishops took turns embellishing. Aside from a few changes in plant species and a slight decrease in size following the sale of land during the French Revolution, the gardens pretty much look the same. As you stroll through the various plots, lined with beech and ornamental apple trees, you’ll discover a myriad of shapes, colors and scents, especially in spring. The lower terrace is home to a beautiful rose garden, laid out in 1991 and open from May to September. You’ll find older rose varieties all around the pond, and a very special rose, the “Roseraie de Blois,” created specifically for this garden, among the beech trees. There’s also a Sensory Garden, dedicated to medicinal plants, a kiosk for refreshments and an equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, commemorating her visit to the town in 1429, just before she left to liberate Orléans. To put it simply, the Bishop’s Gardens are a must-see!