Blois

Blois, the capital of the French department Loir-et-Cher, has a remarkably fine situation on a steep acclivity, and is built chiefly on the right bank of the Loire. The old town, with its crooked, narrow streets, is mainly on the hill, crowned by the historic castle; the new business town, with fine quays, is near the river. An eleven-arch bridge (1717), 1000 feet long, unites the town with its suburb of Vienne on the left bank. It is 36 miles S.W. of Orleans. Blois has a cathedral; but its chief glory is its old castle, which has been the scene of many interesting historical events. Louis XII. was born in it; and under its roof Charles, Due d'Alençon, and Margaret of Anjou, and Henri IV. and Margaret of Valois were married. Here also the Due de Guise and his brother, the cardinal, were murdered, by order of Henri III., 23d December 1588. Isabella, queen of Charles VI., here found a retreat; it served as a prison for Mary de' Medici; Catherine de' Medici died within its walls; and Maria Louisa here held her court in 1814, after Paris had capitulated. The castle was then neglected and used as a barrack; since 1845, but especially in 1880-87, a great part of it has been finely restored at great cost. Blois is a place of great antiquity. Stephen, who usurped the crown of England on the death of Henry I., was a son of one of the counts of Blois, by Adela, the daughter of William the Conqueror. Other celebrated natives have been Peter of Blois, subsequently archdeacon of London, and author, who died in 1200; and Denis Papin (q.v.), to whom a statue has been erected. Blois is an archbishop's see, and has manufactures of porcelain and gloves, with a trade in brandy, wine, and wood. Pop. (1886) 16,881.