Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

While not as big and famous as its neighbor, aka the Blois Castle, the Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is well worth a visit. It dates back to 1634, when King Henri III called for the construction of a chapel for the Jesuit College he had just founded. Things got off to a slow start, until Gaston, Duke of Orléans, recently exiled to the city, made a series of donations that helped bring this religious project to fruition. The church was completely destroyed during the French Revolution and then transformed into a fodder store in the years to follow, before becoming a Catholic place of worship once again in 1826. The edifice was restored in the middle of the 19th century, and is still as beautiful as ever. Its façade is typical of Jesuit churches, with 3 storeys joined together by large spiral-shaped ornaments. Inside, you’ll discover 19th-century painted decorations, a sculpted altarpiece with red marble columns, and two memorials built by Gaston’s daughter in honor of her father. Gaston loved Blois so much, he quite literally gave his heart to the city. It was stored in an urn in the Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, but mysteriously disappeared during the French Revolution.