Blois
Ville de Blois | |
---|---|
Prefecture and commune | |
, on the left bank | |
Coordinates: 47°35′38″N 1°19′41″E / 47.5939°N 1.3281°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Centre-Val de Loire |
Department | Loir-et-Cher |
Arrondissement | Blois |
Canton | Blois-1, 2 and 3 and Vineuil |
Intercommunality | CA Blois Agglopolys |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Marc Gricourt[1] (PS) |
Area 1 | 37.46 km2 (14.46 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 46,813 |
• Density | 1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Bloisian French: Blésois(e) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 41018 /41000 |
Elevation | 63–135 m (207–443 ft) (avg. 73 m or 240 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Blois (/blwɑː/ BLWAH; French: [blwa] ⓘ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France,[3] on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours.[4]
With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the department, and the 4th of the region.
Historically, the city was the capital of the
History
Pre-history
Since 2013, excavations have been conducted by French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP in French) in
Ancient times
A major urban development begun in 1959 uncovered the remains of a late Gallic settlement and an urban centre from the Gallo-Roman period. At that time, the town was located on the road linking Chartres to Bourges.[6] In the network of cities of the Carnutes people, Blois was a secondary settlement. Excavations carried out on the right bank between 2001 and 2016 and on the left bank in 2013-2014 revealed the presence of a largely developed town on the right bank and an occupation on the left bank during the Gallic and Gallo-Roman periods. The Loire river has undoubtedly always been a major axis route, although no traces of a port have been uncovered. However, there are remains of former bridges linking the two banks.[7]
Middle Ages
Though of ancient origin, Blois is first distinctly mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the 6th century, and the city gained some notability in the 9th century, when it became the seat of a powerful countship known as Blesum castrum by the counts of Blois.[8]
The Robertians were at the head of the county of Blois before 900. When Hugh the Great became duke of the Franks, he left the title of count to his faithful vassal, Theobald I of Blois (circa 940).[9] His descendants, known as "Thibaldians", remained as Counts up until the county was incorporated into the royal domain in 1397. The House of Blois also succeeded in raising some of its members or descendants to the highest levels of the European nobility, notably by acceding to the thrones of France, England, Navarre, Spain and Portugal.[10]
In 1171, Blois was the site of a blood libel against its Jewish community that led to 31 Jews (by some accounts 40) being burned to death.[11] Their martyrdom also contributed to a prominent and durable school of poetry inspired by Christian persecution.[12] In 1196, Count Louis I of Blois granted privileges to the townsmen; a commune, which survived throughout the Middle Ages, probably dated from this time. The counts of the Châtillon dynastic line resided at Blois more often than their predecessors, and the oldest parts of the Château of Blois (from the 13th century) were built by them.
In the Middle Ages, Blois was the seat of the
Renaissance era
By 1498,
On 1 January 1515, Louis XII died. His throne would be passed to Francis I, the husband to his daughter,
The
In the 16th century, the French Royal court often made Blois their leisure resort.
Early modern era
After the departure of the Royal Court towards Paris, Blois lost the status of Royal residence, along with the luxury and economic activity that came with it. King Henry IV displaced the Royal library to Fontainebleau, which would later be the National Library of France (Bibliothèque nationale de France).
In 1606,
Then in 1634, Louis XIII exiled his brother, Gaston, Duke of Orléans and Count of Blois, who became attached to the city. The Duke in 1657, found a hospital in Blois-Vienne, now named Résidence Gaston d'Orléans, and financed the reconstruction of the Hôtel-Dieu. He remained in Blois until his death, in 1660.
Under
A wide episcopal palace is built by King Louis XIV's official architect, Jacques Gabriel, right next to the newly built cathedral, on a site overlooking the Loire Valley. Landscaping of terraced gardens began in 1703 and lasted nearly 50 years. The so-called Bishopric Gardens were first open to the public in 1791 by Henri Grégoire (known as the Abbot Grégoire), the first constitutional bishop after the French Revolution.
During the night between 6 and 7 February 1716, the medieval bridge collapsed. Construction of a new one is ordered during the following year. Jacques-Gabriel Bridge was inaugurated in 1724. All the levies were consolidated, and the river channel of La Bouillie in the prolongation of La Creusille Harbor was closed and dried out.
When Duke Gaston of Orléans died, the château ended up stripped by King Louis XIV, completely abandoned, to the point that King Louis XVI once considered to demolish it by 1788. The edifice was saved when the Royal-Comtois Regiment established their base within it.
In 1790, Orléanais province was dismantled, and the First Republic created the Loir-et-Cher department, with Blois as the local capital.
By 1814,
Contemporary era
Another wind blew in Blois in the 19th century. First, the railroad came in 1846 with the inauguration of the
Like Paris, Blois urban organisation was redesigned during 1850 and 1870 by Mayor Eugène Riffault, who was friends with Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. Thus, he had bound through a boulevard holding his name the modern upper town (where the cathedral, Hôtel of Préfecture, and Halle aux Grains are located), and the medieval lower town. He also paved the way to the construction of the boulevard Daniel Depuis, in the West of Blois. Between 1862 and 1865, the Denis-Papin staircase are built under La Morandière's supervision, in the axis of Jacques-Gabriel Bridge and Blois-Vienne's Wilson Avenue.
In the meantime, the lower town faced three of the most significant flooding of the Loire river: in 1846, 1856 (the worst), and 1866. The downtown districts of St. Jean and Blois-Vienne were under water, as well as La Bouillie spillway.
On 13 December 1871, the
In 1939,
Between June and August 1944, US-English-allied bombings destroyed other infrastructures, like the railroad bridge between Blois and
In 1959, Mayor Marcel Bühler received President Charles de Gaulle and launched the construction of the ZUP, at the North of the city, on the same scheme of so-called banlieues of Paris or any other French city.
Population
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Source: EHESS[15] and INSEE (1968–2017)[16] |
Landmarks and tourism
Since 1986, Blois is part of the French Towns of Art and History program, which promotes the cultural and historical estate.
-
Lodges Façade of the Château of Blois, on Francis I wing, seen from Victor-Hugo Square.
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Rosarium in the Bishopric Gardens.
-
Street cross between rue des Papegaults and rue des Petis Degrés St. Louis.
Château of Blois
The
- the St. Sauveur Garden (Parterre Saint-Sauveur in French);
- the Lily Garden (Jardin des Lices);
- the King's Stronghold (Bastion du Roi), and;
- Victor Hugo Square (Square Victor Hugo).
House of Magic
Right in front of the château,
Louis-XII Place and Fountains
Opened after bombings in 1944, the place stands right below the château, closest to the Loire river, and is actually located at the center of Blois downtown. There are local shops and restaurants, and a 16th-century fountain stands below the Sycamores planted in the place. Known as Louis XII Fountain (Fontaine Louis XII), this is one of the greatest and oldest water inlets throughout the city, but far from being the only one. Among the other founts, there are:[21]
- St. Martin Fountain (Fontaine Saint-Martin), below the staircase between the château and Louis XII Place;
- St. Nicholas Fountain (Fontaine Saint-Nicolas), within the St. Nicholas Church;
- Elected Representatives' Fountain (Fontaine des Élus), in rue Foulerie;
- Ave Maria Fountain (Fontaine Ave Maria), in place Ave Maria;
- Town hall Fountain (Fontaine de l'Hôtel de Ville), below the Denis Papin staircase (where was the former Town Hall before WWII);
- St. Jack Fountain (Fontaine Saint-Jacques), in rue Denis Papin;
- Corbigny Fountain (Fontaine de Corbigny), in Victor Hugo Square ;
- Simple Fountain (Fontaine des Simples), in the Lily Garden, in remembrance of a monumental Versailles-style fountain lost after WWII bombings.
Comics Museum
Blois is also the location of so-called Maison de la BD, a museum devoted to the art of comic books.[22] Since the 1980s, this museum hosts an annual comic festival in late November called BD Boum,[23] described as "the leading free comic book festival in France".[24]
Former Hôtel-Dieu
Already by 924, monks from the St. Lomer community were given some acres below the medieval castle, but outside the city walls, on the bank of the Loire river. In the 13th century, a proper church was built, then fortified because of the Hundred Years' War. St. Lomer Abbey was completely destroyed during the French Wars of Religion. The edifice was rebuilt until the early 18th century. When the French Revolution broke out by 1789, the church was turnt into a Hôtel-Dieu, namely a charity hospital for the have-nots, because Revolutionners destroyed many clergy- and royal-related monuments. After that, new buildings were added to the original St. Lomer Abbey, which became St. Nicholas Church, and the additional edifices remained dedicated to the Hôtel-Dieu of the city. Nonetheless, this part was gradually abandoned and taken back by some public services. A reconversion project is currently under study.
Former Poulain Chocolate Factory
In the late 19th century, Bloisian industrialist and chocolatier Victor-Auguste Poulain established his brand's factory next to Blois station. The premises moved in the 1980s. Nowadays, those are housings and host the National Institute and School of Applied Sciences (INSA).
Denis-Papin Staircase
As Blois is built on a pair of steep hills, winding and steep pathways run through the city, culminating in long staircases at various points. The most iconic of them is the monumental Denis-Papin staircase which overlooks the town, provides a panoramic view by overlooking the downtown and the Loire Valley, and regularly enlivens urban space with original decorations.[25] The fountain next to the staircase is a reminder of the location of the first Town Hall, destroyed after bombings on 16 June 1940.
Town Hall and Bishopric Gardens
Blois achieved independence from the Diocese of Chartres in 1697, and the cathedral was completed by 1700. As a result, the first bishops engineered wide gardens on several levels, next to the premises. Since the destruction of the former Blois town hall during World War II, local authorities requisitioned the bishop's apartments to establish there the new town hall. Now organised as an urban park, the gardens offer a panoramic view on the downtown, the Loire river, and Blois-Vienne. A statue of Joan of Arc, given to the city by American patron J. Sanford Saltus, stands in the middle of the park. Bishopric gardens are open to public all the year, and a remarkable rose garden can be visited from 15 May and 30 September, each year.
Hôtels Particuliers and Timber Framing Houses
Since Count Louis II of Orléans became King
- the Hôtel d'Alluye;
- the Hôtel d'Amboise;
- the Hôtel de Belot;
- the Hôtel de la Capitainerie (a.k.a. Hôtel de Bretagne);
- the Hôtel de la Chancellerie (i.e.: Chancellery Hotel);
- the Hôtel Denis-Dupont;
- the Hôtel d'Épernon;
- the Hôtel de Guise;
- the Hôtel de Jassaud;
- the Louise de Lavallière;
- the Hôtel de Rochefort;
- the Hôtel Sardini;
- the Hôtel Viart;
- the Hôtel de Villebresme, in which Denis Papin lived;
- the Château de la Vicomté (i.e.: Château of Viscounty), in the hamlet of Les Grouëts.
In addition, many citizens from the peoples engineered
- the Logis du Loup;
- the Maison des Acrobates.
Please note all the above edifices have been listed as
Blois-Vienne and the Loire river
Blois-Vienne (or merely Vienne) is the name given to the southern part of the city, on the left bank of the Loire river. Independent from the city until 1606, there are many traces of the river's past. The main link between both banks is the Jacques-Gabriel Bridge, built in the early 18th century. From the levees circling the surroundings to other abandoned bridges, Vienne has also conserved a harbour, named La Creusille, which is now an urban park right on La Loire à Vélo bike route.[26] Beyond the levees, La Bouillie Park is getting rehabilitated, and actually is a spillway in the event of floodings. Further to the south of the city, the Forêt de Russy is a reminder of the thick woods that once covered the area.
Religious Buildings
The city also is provided with many religious edifices, including:
- Blois Cathedral, dedicated to both Kings Louis IX and Louis XII, built between 1564 and 1700.
- St. Vincent Blois Church, dedicated to Saint Vincent de Paul, built between 1625 and 1660.
- St. Nicholas Blois Church, dedicated to bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra, built in the 12th century.
- Blois-Vienne Church, dedicated to Saint Saturnin of Toulouse, built between c. 1500 and 1528.
- The Holy Trinity, built between 1932 and 1939.
Transport
The A10 motorway connects Blois with Paris, Orléans and Tours.
Regular commuting connections exist between Blois and most cities in the surroundings, including:
- Chaumont-sur-Loire (by train),
- Château of Chambord (by bus),
- Montrichard (by bus),
- Vendôme (by bus),
- ZooParc de Beauval (by bus).
Personalities linked to Blois
Historical and political figures
- Ivomadus (5th century), Breton chieftain who would have conquered Blois and established there an independent Kingdom until Clovis I's conquest.
- Count count of Blois.
- Count Theobald I (913–975), viscount who declared himself Count when Duke Hugh the Great died in 956.
- Thubois (c. 1044–1090)[citation needed]
- Lady Adela of Normandy (c. 1067 – 1137), daughter of William the Conqueror, married to Stephen II, Count of Blois.
- King Stephen of England (c. 1096 – 1154), second son of Count Stephen II and Lady Adela, he became King of Englandfrom 1135 to 1154.
- Lady Adela of Champagne (c. 1140 – 1206), daughter of Count Theobald IV of Blois, she married King Louis VII and gave to him future King Philip II.
- Duke Charles of Blois (1319–1364), notable stakeholder during the Hundred Years' War.
- King Louis XII (1462–1515), Count of Blois from 1465 to 1498, then King of Franceup to 1515.
- Queen Anne of Brittany (1477–1514), last Queen of Brittany, she remarried King Louis XII in 1499, then moved to Blois until her death.
- King Francis I (1494–1547), King of France born in Cognac, but he lived in Blois since his marriage in 1506 with Louis XII and Anne's daughter.
- Queen Catherine de' Medici (1519–1589), Queen consort of France, who died in the Château of Blois.
- Queen Marie de' Medici (1575–1642) was exiled to the Château of Blois by her son, King Louis XIII.
- Duke Henry I of Guise (1550–1588), assassinated on 23 December 1588 in the château.
- Duke Gaston of Orléans (1494 in Fontainebleau – 1547), uncle of King Louis XVI, he got establishment in the château, and died there.
- Jean Morin (1591–1659), theologian and biblical scholar of Protestant parents
- Michel V Bégon (1638–1710), officier de plume of the French Navy.
- Marie Anne de Bourbon (1666–1739), also known as Mademoiselle de Blois, daughter of King Louis XIV.
- Michel VI Bégon de la Picardière, (1669–1747). Commissioner in the French Navy; intendant of New France and Le Havre.
- Thomas de Mahy, Marquis de Favras (1744–1790), royalist
- Jean-Marie Pardessus (1772–1853).
- Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo (1773–1828).
- Eugène Riffault (1803–1888).
- Joséphine Marchais (1842–1874).
- Émile Laurens (1884–1940).
- Georges Litalien (1896–1952), deputee of the Loir-et-Cher department.
- Henri de La Vaissière (1901–1944).
- Pierre Sudreau (1919–2012).
- Jack Lang (1939–).
- Préfet de Policein Paris (from 2012 to 2015).
Artists
- Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585), poet from Vendôme but he met his muse Cassandre in the Château of Blois in 1549.
- Jacob Bunel (1568–1614), Bloisian painter who studied in the Royal School of Fontainebleau.
- Ancien RégimeFrench court.
- Jean Monier (1600–1656), painter close to Queen Marie de' Medici.
- engraver born in Vineuil.
- Pierre Monier (1641–1703), painter and son of Jean Monier.
- Jacques Gabriel (1667–1742), Parisian architect who designed the Jacques-Gabriel Bridge in Blois.
- illusionist, widely recognized as the father of the modern style of conjuring.
- ceramist.
- Daniel Dupuis (1849–1899), painter, sculptor and medal artist.
- Jules Contant (1852–1920), painter born in Blois-Vienne, son of a politician.
- Émile Gaucher (1858–1909), sculptor.
- Alfred Jean Halou (1875–1939), sculptor from Blois, who designed the Franco-Prussian War memorial in Blois.
- Étienne Gaudet (1891–1963), engraver and painter from Nevers but who lived and died in Blois.
- Bernard Lorjou (1908–1986), painter.
- Claudine Doury (born 1959), photographer.
- Jean-Louis Agobet (born 1968), composer.
- Christian Jui (born 1973), poet.
- Niro (born 1987), rapper born in Orléans but he grew up and currently lives in Blois.
- violinist.
Artisans
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Blois was the hometown of many artisans in the
- Julien Coudray, who was one of the first watchmakers in Blois according to Tardy, worked for Kings Louis XII and Francis I. There is a street in Blois that holds his name.
- the Cuper family : the Louvre museum, Paris, possesses two watches made by Michel Cuper, and two other ones by P. Cuper. A street also holds their name in the city.
- the Bellanger family : Martin with a first wife got 2 sons born between 1594 and 1597 (among them, one was called Isaac), then at least 3 other ones with a Suzanne, named Pierre (born in 1603), Jean (married in 1641 and dead in 1678), and Théophile.
- Guillaume Couldroit, from whom the British Museum, London, has a table clock.[A 1]
- Jacques de la Garde, from whom the British Museum has a striking clock,[A 2] and from whom a table clock can be found in the National Museum of the Renaissance in Écouen, France.[A 3]
- Charles Perras, from whom 2 watches can be found in the British Museum,[A 4] as well as in the Victoria and Albert Museum.[A 5]
- the Duduict brothers.
- Blaise Foucher, Duiduict's disciple, from whom the British Museum possesses one watchcase.[A 6]
- the Vautier family, among whom the British Museum has several Louis' watchcases.[A 7]
- the Gribelin family, among whom Simon was watchmaker and engraver for the King, and his son Abraham (1589–1671) succeeded to him. Nowadays, the Louvre Museum has a watch made by Abraham.[A 8]
- the Girard family, among whom Marc came from the Netherlands and established in Blois, his son Théodore and grandson Marc II were both watchmakers.
- Christophe Morlière (born in Orléans in 1604 – 1643), who moved to Blois. By 1632, he was ordered a watch for Lady Marguerite of Lorraine when she married Gaston, Duke of Orléans and Count of Blois.
- Pierre Brisson.
- Paul Viet, from whom the British Museum got a painted watchcase.[A 9]
- Jean Bonbruict, from whom the British Museum has a silver coach watch.[A 10]
- Nicolas Lemaindre, who was watchmaker and valet for Queen Catherine de' Medici. The British Museum also possesses one of his works,[A 11] as well as the Louvre[A 12] and the Victoria and Albert Museum.[A 13]
- Pierre Landré, from whom a watch is visible in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City.[A 14]
- the Chartier family, among whom Pierre had a son registered as T. Chartier in the Louvre where a cylindrical table clock is exposed.[A 15]
- François Laurier.
- Londonian watchmaker Henry Massy was son of Nicolas Massy, born in Blois.
- Robert Vauquer, who has now 2 watches in the
Intellectuals
- Peter of Blois (c. 1130 – c. 1211), theologian, poet and diplomat born in Blois.
- botanistborn in the city.
- Florimond de Beaune (1601–1652), jurist and mathematician born in Blois.
- René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643–1687), first explorer of Louisiana, born in Rouen, then teacher at the Royal College of Blois.
- Denis Papin (1647–1713), physicist, mathematician and inventor from Blois.
- genealogist specialist of Bloisian.
- Jean Marie Pardessus(1772–1853), lawyer.
- Augustin Thierry (1795–1856), historian born in the city.
- Amédée Thierry (1797–1873), historian like his elder brother, and journalist.
- Félix Duban (1798–1870), Parisian architect who restored the Château of Blois.
- Louis de La Saussaye (1801–1878), numismatist and historian from Blois.
- Jules de La Morandière (1813–1905), architect, and Duban's disciple.
- Victor-Auguste Poulain (1825–1918), chocolatier who created the Chocolat Poulain brand in 1848.
- Albert Poulain (1851–1937), chocolatier and industrialist, son of the precedent.
- archaeologistborn in Blois.
- librettistfrom Blois.
- Arthur Trouëssart (1839–1929), architect, historian, and genealogist specialized in Bloisian history.
- ceramist born in La Chaussée-Saint-Victor, then historian of Bloisian.
- Traditionalist School.
- medievalistand historian.
- Albert Ronsin (1928–2007), 20th-century French scholar, historian, librarian, and curator.
- Françoise Xenakis (1930–2018), novelist and journalist.
- CNRS, and Director General of the Pasteur Institute.
- Henri Tézenas du Montcel (1943–1994), economist
- sociologist.
- Christophe Lebreton (1950-1996), Trappist monk and one of the Tibhirine monks.
- Luc Foisneau (born in 1963), philosopher and director of research at CNRS.
Sportspersons
- Marcel Lehoux (1888–1936), racing driver
- Philippe Gondet (1942–2018), footballer.
- Nicolas Vogondy (born 1977), cyclist.
- Sonia Bompastor (born 1980), female footballer.
- Aly Cissokho (born 1987), footballer of Senegalese descent.
- Bernard Onanga Itoua (born 1988), footballer.
- Alexis Khazzaka (born 1994), Lebanese footballer.[29]
- Corentin Jean (born 1995), footballer.
- Alpha Kaba (born 1996), basketball player
International relations
Blois is
- Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany, since 30 June 1963
- Weimar, Germany, since 18 February 1995
- Lewes, United Kingdom, since 30 June 1963[30]
- Sighişoara, Romania, since 18 November 1995
- Urbino, Italy, since 1 May 2003 ("friendship protocol")
- Huế, Vietnam, since 23 May 2007
- Azrou, Morocco, since July 2011 (protocol of cooperation)[31]
Fictional references
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ INSEE commune file
- ^ "Blois | Loire Valley | France". www.experienceloire.com. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ Blois de la préhistoire à nos jours (in French). Éditions Petit à Petit. 2019. p. 82.
- ISBN 2-7089-8258-3.
- ISBN 2-7089-8258-3.
- ^ "The Chateau de Blois & St Nicholas Cathedral, Blois from the river Loire Artware Fine Art". www.artwarefineart.com. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ Raphaël Bijard (2022). "Les Thibaldiens: origines, premières alliances et ascension politique". Academia.
- ^ Collective (2019). Blois de la préhistoire à nos jours. p. 82.
- ^ The Martyrs of Blois
- ^ Jewish Poetry And Martyrdom in Medieval France. Susan L. Einbinder. Princeton University Press. 2002.
- ^ Longnon, Auguste (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 827–828, see page 828, first para, last sentence.
Louis Hutin, became count of Champagne. He was the last independent count of the province, which became attached to the French crown on his accession to the throne of France in 1314
- ^ Smith, John, Holland (1973). "Joan of Arc." New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
- ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Blois, EHESS (in French).
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ Blois, La Maison de la Magie at virtourist.com
- ^ "Mussee de la Magie". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Travel signposts, Paris Museum of Magic". Archived from the original on 2 March 2011.
- ^ "Keck, Gayle, Washington Post, And Now for Paris' Next Trick". The Washington Post. 12 June 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Emmanuelle Plumet. "Laissez-vous conter le parcours des fontaines de Blois" (PDF). Ville de Blois. French Minister of Culture. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Comic strip house".
- ^ "Bd BOUM annulé".
- ^ "Bd BOUM (Comics festival)". 22 November 2019.
- ^ Blois Town Hall official website. "Denis-Papin staircase". blois.fr.
- ^ the Blois City Official Website (2022). "La Creusille Harbour". blois.fr.
- ^ Tardy (1972). Dictionnaire des Horlogers Francais (in French). Tardy Paris. p. 760.
- ^ Philippe, Verdier (December 1963). "Seventeenth-century French enameled watches in the Walters Art Gallery". The Magazine Antiques: 686–690.
- ^ "Alexis Khazzaka – Soccer player profile & career statistics – Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "British towns twinned with French towns [via WaybackMachine.com]". Archant Community Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Jumelages et coopération internationale". Ville de Blois (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2021.
Bloisian artisans' artworks (A list):
- ^ "Table clock, by Guillaume Couldroit". British Museum.
- ^ "Striking clock, by Jacques de la Garde". British Museum.
- ^ "Table clock, by Jacques de la Garde". Écouen Museum (in French).
- ^ "Sundial watches, by Charles Perras". British Museum.
- ^ "Sundial watches, by Charles Perras". Google Arts and Culture.
- ^ "Watchcase, by Blaise Foucher". British Museum.
- ^ "Watchcases, by Louis Vautier". British Museum.
- ^ "Watchcase, by Abraham Gribelin". Louvre Museum (in French).
- ^ "Painted watchcase, by Paul Viet". British Museum.
- ^ "Silver coach watch, by Jean Bonbruict". British Museum.
- ^ "Coach watch, by Nicolas Lemaindre". British Museum.
- ^ "Square watch, by Nicolas Lemaindre". Louvre Museum (in French).
- ^ "Watch, by Nicolas Lemaindre". Victoria and Albert Museum.
- ^ "Watch, by Pierre Landré". Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- ^ "Cylindrical table clock, by T. Chartier". Louvre Museum (in French). 1547.
- ^ "Watchcase, by Robert Vauquer". Louvre Museum (in French). 1643.