Thesaurus

Blois is the capital of the Loir-et-Cher dèpartement, on the Loire River, northeast of Tours. It was first mentioned in the 6th century by Gregory of Tours. Joan of Arc set out from Blois in 1429 to raise the siege of Orléans. Blois was one of the pilgrimage sites on route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, home of the shrine dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of Spain. The symbol of Saint James, the scalloped shell, became the primary symbol representing pilgrims. French pilgrimage routes to Compostela tend to follow old Roman roads, many of which continued to be utilized as primary roads of communication during the Middle Ages. Located in Blois is the château, which began as a feudal castle; it displays splendid work of all the architectural periods from the 13th to the 17th century. Many of the ancient buildings between the château and the river were destroyed in World War II; some have been rebuilt. The town has many Gothic and Renaissance buildings. It is one of the major tourist centers of the Loire Valley. Bloise produces corn (maize), asparagus, and wine in the surrounding countryside. The industry decentralization in the Paris region has promoted recent growth in Blois.