Blois is an attractive, perhaps under appreciated, town, centrally located in the Loire valley region, an easy train ride from Paris. It is large enough to have many of the ammenities visitors want, such as good restaurants, cafes and shops, yet small enough to walk everywhere and drive out of on day trips with ease. Some of the most notable chateaux, such as Chambord and Cheverny are barely half an hours drive away, and others are not too much further.
Elisabeth Gyselinck's house, where we stayed, contributed significantly to the enjoyment of our visit. Discreetly hidden behind a door in an imposing stone wall on a quiet street, the interior is charming and practical. Made up of two separate buildings, neatly joined together by a sunny, pleasant alcove, the house is elegantly furnished, the bedrooms comfortable and the bathrooms well equipped. All of this looking out on a fine, cobbled courtyard and garden in which to enjoy the local wine and cheese in the late afternoon after touring the sites of the town and countryside. The available parking with the house is very convenient.
Just a ten minute walk from the house is the old centre of Blois with an excellent fromagerie, wine shop, various boulangeries and your choice of restaurants, from modest to haut cuisine. For more comprehensive food shopping, there is a Carrefour less than a ten minute drive away. And do not miss the Chateau overlooking the town, an interesting melange of architectural styles and imbued with historical drama.
Altogether, a memorable and enjoyable stay.
John Stewart