Blois - continuing down the Loire

For generations, Blois was the principal royal residence of France until Henri IV moved the court to Paris in 1598. Nowadays, it is a well-kept historic town successfully blended with a bustling community – truly a relaxing and pleasurable place to visit.
In general, the terrain around the 120-mile stretch of the Loire that we are following is flat farmland. Flood control has been accomplished by a 20-foot high levee built on each side of the river and, subsequently, a road has been built along each levee. Numerous masonry farmhouses and outbuildings that existed long before the levees are still extant, many almost buried by the levees. It is odd to see chimneys, bedroom windows and barn attics flash by that appear to be growing out of the grass verges not twenty feet from the road. Access to these establishments and to miles of cycling lanes – the prior road system – is by frequent, death-defying ramps, cut in the side of the levee. We did not venture down.
The Royal Château de Blois was the residence of several French kings, it is also where Joan of Arc went in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans. Today, the château is owned by the town of Blois. For more, click here.