Saint-Louis Cathedral

You’re standing in front of the cathedral that dominates both the city and the Loire. Originally, this was the site of the Church of Saint-Solenne, but on the night of June 6 to 7, 1678, a violent hurricane almost completely destroyed it. By order of Louis XIV, and with the support of his minister Colbert—whose wife was from Blois—reconstruction began at the end of the 17th century. The result was a remarkable building that blends Gothic style with French classicism. Inaugurated in 1730 under the patronage of Saint Louis, the cathedral impresses with its vast nave without a transept, its façade decorated with gargoyles and Gothic pinnacles, and its more classical elements like the triangular pediment. It also preserves a Renaissance masterpiece: its bell tower, started in 1544 and crowned with a lantern in 1609, which still rises proudly above the city. Step inside and your eyes are immediately caught by the light. Between 1993 and 2000, the artist Jan Dibbets designed more than 300 square meters of contemporary stained glass, filled with sleek geometric shapes. Their clean lines contrast with the monumentality of the stone, giving the cathedral a strikingly timeless atmosphere. Even today, this listed historic monument remains the spiritual heart of Blois and a landmark you can spot from far away as you follow the Loire.