Denis Papin Staircase

The Denis Papin Staircase is a must-see attraction in Blois. Climbing its 120 steps is a bit of a workout, but the dizzying views from the top are worth it. For your information, I’m using ‘dizzying’ both literally and figuratively here. Needless to say, going down is a breeze compared to the climb up. But how, and why, was this staircase built in the first place? Back in the 19th century, the town was faced with a serious traffic problem. To deal with this, the city council built a number of new roads, including Prince Impérial Street, now known as Denis Papin Street. It was then that they came up with the idea of a monumental staircase, inspired by the many steps seen all over Blois. The staircase was inaugurated in 1865, after 3 years of construction. It was gigantic, as planned, but they ended up scrapping the fountain and stone balustrades. The staircase was named after Denis Papin, a renowned local physicist and inventor, best-known for his work on the steam engine. You’ll find his statue at the top of the steps. In recent years, the Denis Papin staircase has become a real open-air art gallery; it has served as a canvas for temporary graphic works ever since 2013. During local festivals, such as the bd Boum comic book festival, artists transform the steps into giant artworks. Take a few steps back and let the magic happen; the steps come to life as optical illusions before your very eyes! We’ve already seen “The Monsters of Stan Manoukian,” a tribute to Mickey, and a portrait of the Mona Lisa and the Anooki. What do the artists have in store for us next?