Paris1972-Versailles2003

Needless to repeat the bounties of things to see and do in my belle France, and the world is here. However, most come for the castle and then the magician museum house or the Cathedral but Blois has a lot of wonderful streets to walk full of history and architecture that I like.  Oh yes for reference the City is locate in the Loir-et-Cher,  dept 41 of the Centre Vale de Loire region, Let me tell you a bit more on the gardens of Blois ,part I !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

Visiting Blois is above all like feeling the weight of numerous figures and events which have marked the kingdom of France. Watch Catherine de Medici as she operates the hidden mechanism of her secret cabinet. Then follow the Duke of Guise, plotting against the king and walking across the apartments to his death. In front of the body of this murdered giant, you may use the same words as the King: “He looks even taller dead than alive”. When night falls, you marvel at the extraordinary Sound and Light of the castle, telling over a thousand years of History. Covered with the king’s colors, epic battle scenes or breathtaking plots, the castle will reveal itself under fireworks of colors and lights as the most incredible History book ever written.

The Jardin du Roy or Royal garden ,attached to the Parc des Lices, this magnificent elevated garden offers a very beautiful panorama of the castle and its surroundings ,  Around the Royal castle, the Royal gardens reflect the history of the city thanks to the atmosphere of the three eras that they evoke on the different facades: Medieval, Renaissance and Classic. Originally created by Louis XII, these gardens were entirely redeveloped in 1992 into contemporary architectured and flowered gardens. Its beds of lilies, iris and daylilies but also its aromatic, condiment and medicinal plants are to be discovered in addition to its splendid panorama.

The Parc des Lices, are located behind the royal castle, in fact, they were once part of the castle walls. These are pretty gardens arranged over two levels and consist of many trees, hedges and plan, The gardens, made up of more than one hectare, is currently made up of grass and rows of trees. This space is located in the heart of the city and near the train station and the castle. They also house a monument representing the goddess Diana, with her arch. Also called Jardin du Roy, or Jardin des Lices, the Jardin de Simples et de Fleurs Royales or the Garden of Herbs and Royal Flowers occupies part of the former royal gardens, just opposite the facade of the Loges, of the François 1er wing of the Royal Castle of Blois.

The Jardins de l’Évêché are a public garden attached to the City/town hall of Blois. today’s garden closely resembles the original, as evidenced by a plan dating from 1793. Unique point of view on the typical landscapes of the Loire Valley, they are popular during the lunch break and by the children who come to enjoy the playgrounds. It includes a rose garden, located on the lower terrace, a garden of the five senses (or “garden of medicinal plants”) or a kiosk, for catering and refreshments during the summer season. The gardens of the Jardins de l’Evêché were redesigned in 1991 to accommodate a rose garden, a garden of the senses and an aromatic garden. The rose garden of the terraces of the Bishopric is located on the lower terrace: it offers bright colors and multiple scents from spring. The garden of the senses is a semi-enclosed place overlooking the old town and the Loire. It is located in the park, behind the current City/town hall at the impasse Saint Jean.

A bit of history I like tell us that these gardens were built to the west of the Château, on the side of the Arrou valley. Completely independent of the castle, they were ordered unrelated to it. They essentially consisted of three terraces which were stepped but were drawn without links with each other. Below, a garden that appears to have been the former Bretonnerie garden (first garden of Blois) appears to date from the time of Charles of Orleans, a century before the intervention of Louis XII. The jardin de la Reine or Queen’s garden was soon deemed insufficient in these dimensions, however colossal for France at that time. So an extension of the gardens was decided. In 1505, Louis XII bought from  merchants of Blois, a garden which he added to his own. Around the same time Theodore de Pavia, doctor of the king, gave him a garden which he owned in the same place. Thus were formed the high gardens or gardens of the king of an area of ​​two hectares. The content of the king’s garden is not well known although it seems to be a useful garden rather than a pleasure garden, there are large vegetable plots , but also large vines. A well seems to have been dug in this garden for the most pressing water needs. When Louis XII dies, François Ier undertakes little work in the gardens After him his son Henri II launches works of embellishment of the garden. The King’s garden is decorated with green cradles that echo those of the Queen’s garden. Around 1554, there are also cross aisles with four cabinets at the intersection of the four aisles. An artificial pond was also built at a place called Bornaz around 1556. Following him, François II undertook to facilitate the connection between the gardens of Blois and the nearby forest, he created paths, the marks of small frame pavilions, the emphasize by planting elms and creating ditches.

The gardens of Blois gradually disappeared during the 17C, due to lack of maintenance, and in the 19C gave way to Avenue de l’Embarcadère ( c 1847) in order to facilitate work on the train station.  So what you have today is something newer on a plateau high up you can see the sides of the Château de Blois , and the city hall like on a hill but very nicely decorated and very pleasant spot to rest after a long visit to the castle or a long walk in the quant streets of Blois.

The local Blois-Chambord tourist office on the gardens: https://www.bloischambord.co.uk/offers/les-jardins-de-blois-blois-en-4251891/

The city of Blois on the Jardin du Roy: https://www.blois.fr/annuaire/parcs-jardins-espaces-naturels/jardins-roy

The City of Blois on the Bishop’s garden : https://www.blois.fr/annuaire/parcs-jardins-espaces-naturels/jardins-eveche

There you go folks ,a hugely nice town that must be seen, and wonderful gardens to spent precious time while looking at great architecture and history to boot,   Again, hope you enjoy the post on the gardens of Blois, part I  as I. 

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!