Blois Old Town Audio Walk

Blois is often seen as a stop for its château alone, but the town around it is worth a walk of its own. This self-guided audio tour leads you through the old centre in an hour and three-quarters or so, up the steep lanes, past half-timbered houses, along the stairways that connect the upper and lower town, and out to viewpoints over the Loire. The commentary explains the history of the place, from the counts of Blois and the royal court to the town's role as a river port, and points out buildings and details that you would otherwise pass without noticing. It is an easy tour to fit in, since you can start whenever you like and stop for a coffee when you want to. For visitors who have limited time or who prefer to explore on their own, it is a very good way to get your bearings.

Blois sits on the right bank of the Loire, rising in terraces from the river to the château. The town was a favourite residence of French kings in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and the court brought wealth, builders and politics. The streets still follow a medieval pattern, with narrow lanes, small squares and flights of steps, and the cathedral of Saint-Louis, rebuilt after a hurricane in the seventeenth century, sits on a high point with a view over the valley.

Opposite the château stands the House of Magic, a museum dedicated to Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, the famous conjurer born in Blois, whose name gave Houdini his stage name.

The audio walk is designed to be followed at your own pace. It brings the town to life with stories of kings, queens and ordinary townspeople, and gives you a sense of the layout, which helps if you plan to return to a particular street for lunch. Check the details when you book, including how the audio is delivered, the languages offered, the start point and the length of the walk.

Bring headphones, charge your phone and wear comfortable shoes, since the streets are steep and cobbled in places. The walk can be done before or after a château visit and fits well into a morning or an afternoon.

Blois is a very practical base for the Loire, with a station close to the centre, regular trains to Tours, Amboise and Orléans, and tours and buses to Chambord and Cheverny. A walk through the old town helps you decide where to eat and what to see next. In the evening, the riverfront and the lit-up château are particularly attractive, and the town is quieter than Tours or Amboise at the height of summer.

Combine the audio walk with a visit to the château itself, which is covered by its own entry, and with a short walk along the river for a view of the old bridge.