Music, dance, modern circus… Mix’terres is 3 days of spectacle representing various cultures and artistic disciplines organised by the Maison de Bégon.

This is the chance to discover, reveal or see again a wide ethnic variety of artistes. More than twenty professional and amateur shows of excellent artistic quality are available for over 8,000 festival-goers.
A festival in keeping with the challenges of our time, where arts, races and publics overlap.

Blois carnival, which began in 1993, has become one of the city’s unmissable festive happenings !

In March every year, Blois celebrates carnivals from all over the world, inviting a large number of artistes who parade through the streets, sharing the carnival spirit with all !

International, national or local professional companies put their talent at the service of street theatre, alongside local associations and volunteers. A joyful, lively procession winds through the streets of the city, from Place du Château to Place de la République, hailed by a brass band at the beginning and end, while the Halle aux Grains parvis offers an amazing final show every year.

A boisterous popular entertainment to chase away the winter blues ! So dress up, paint your face and be there !

Take part in the workshops to prepare for the carnival !

To prepare the parade and give everyone a chance to express their creativity, workshops are set up all year round in different venues (Nicolas Peskine Theatre, Espace citoyenneté, District centres, Education Department…).

Don’t hesitate to enquire if you would like to get involved !

Breakdancing, rap, slam poetry, graffiti, DJs… Urban arts unfurl on the big stages of Blois, Romorantin and Vendôme

"Rêves urbains" was created in 2010 from an initial encounter between the Scène Nationale in Blois (Halle aux grains), the official theatre in Vendôme (L’Hectare) and the municipal youth departments of Blois, Romorantin and Vendôme.

By raising the status of "urban arts", the very effective collaboration between all the players in charge of youth and culture was a first in the department.

The idea is to give everyone access to artistic performances, not just the regular clientele. In order to encourage mobility and interaction between the three towns, the councils make sure there are transport options and inter-town support at very accessible prices.

"Tirs d’ailleurs", the key show in this first edition presented in the Halle aux grains, the result of a collaboration between the Mémoires vives company and young breakdancing, video, rap and graffiti lovers, and covering the story of the defence of Blois bridge in 1940 by Senegalese and Moroccan infantrymen, met with resounding success, both with young people and with military veterans’ associations.

Not forgetting the graffiti contests, pro and amateur breakdancing combats, accompanied by electro DJs, rap, hip-hop and contemporary dance presented by virtuoso professional troupes.

There is no doubt, the Rêves urbains festival has a promising future !

Next rendezvous in 2012.

A special discovery time, a strange, unusual weekend, when dance is combined with other arts.

Temps divers is three days of discoveries, of strange, unusual spectacles based on dance. It includes around ten shows throughout the city, at the Nicolas Peskine Theatre, Maison de la Magie, École d’art, and many links between different sectors of the public.

Seats can be booked at any time via the Internet site www.halleauxgrains.com, and all shows are priced at €10 and €7. Every day, after the final show, you are invited to continue the evening with a drink, or a light meal, in a friendly, festive atmosphere.

La Halle aux Grains
2, place Jean Jaurès - 41000 Blois
Tél. 02 54 42 49 22
Web : www.bdboum.com

From 18/11/2011 to 20/11/2011 - Halle aux Grains - Blois

In La Halle aux Grains and under big top, House of Loir-et-Cher, library, and in all the city of Blois, will take place the 28th festival of comic strip BD BOUM, big meeting of all the passionate persons. Free entrance.
Exposures, educational activities, formations, debates, meetings, dedications…

La Halle aux Grains
2, place Jean Jaurès - 41000 Blois
Tél. 02 54 42 49 22
Web : www.bdboum.com

From 13/10/2011 to 16/10/2011 - Halle aux Grains - Blois

The programme counts 200 debates and conferences, Europe’s leading history book fair (150 publishers and more than 200 authors), a cinema cycle (more than 50 fiction and non-fiction works) and attractions in town (shows, exhibitions, spectacles, expositions, literary cafés, history dinners and more).

Theme 2011 : L’Orient (The East).

La Halle aux Grains
2, place Jean Jaurès - 41000 Blois
Tél. 02 54 42 49 22
Web : www.bdboum.com

June :
Guided visit of the old town in french at 10am on thursday 16, 23 and 30

July - august :
Monday : Thematic visit in french at 10am, Guided visit of the old town in french at 4pm.
Tuesday : Guided visit of the old town in english at 10am, and 4pm Blois safari for children.
Wednesday : Guided visit of the old town in french at 10am, Thematic visit in french at 4pm
Thursday : Guided visit of the old town in french at 10am, Guided visit of the old chocolate factory POULAIN » at 4pm.
Friday : Guided visit of the old town in english at 10am, visit and tasting of french gastronomy at 4pm.
Saturday and Sunday : Guided visit of the old town in french at 10am


September :
Guided visit of the old town in french Thursday 1st, 8th et 15th at 10am.

rates : Adult 5€, concessions 4€, children 6-17 3€, under 6 year old free.
Tickets at the tourist office (23 place du château) and at the chateau

 Combined tickets Château/town : adult 12,50€, concessions 9,50€, 6-17 : 6€.

Departure : place du château, (25 persons max)
Informations : 02 54 90 33 32 ou 02 54 90 41 41

From 01/05/2011 to 30/06/2011

The stables of Marshal de Saxe propose you a new show (45 mn) of equestrian art " king knight " in a succession of various alive boards and equestrian numbers in costumes. You will be transported in a quality entertainment by the play of fabulous one actor : the horse.

Schedules :
May, June and September : from Tuesday to Friday at 11:45 am ; Saturday and Sunday at 11:45 am and 4:30 pm.
July and August : every day at 11:45 am and 4:30 om.

Also : possibility of walk in harness in the domain or around the chateau.

Château de Chambord
41000 Chambord
Phone : 02 54 50 40 00
Website : www.chambord.org

From 09/04/2011 to 25/09/2011

The Royal Château of Blois gives itself over the the sound and light show written by Alain Decaux "Ainsi Blois vous est conté" with the voicees of Robert Hossein, Fabrice Luchini, Pierre Arditi and Michël Lonsdale. The night show at the château tells the pacts, the dramas, the loves and the mysteries that made the history of France. All the important events pass before the eyes of the spectator. The most up to date sound and image technologies (600 projectors, special effects, images on the facade of the chateau) give you a magnificent show, unique in Europe. English version every Wednesday.
Schedules :
April, May and September : 10:00 pm
June, July and August : 10:30 pm

Other possibility : combined ticket for entrances to the castle, sound & light show and/or Museum of magic also available.



Château royal
Place du Château
41000 BLOIS
Phone : 02 54 90 33 33
Website : www.chateaudeblois.fr

From 22/04/2011 to 16/10/2011

A gathering that nobody who enjoys artistic garden landscaping wants to miss. The theme for 2011 is Jardin "Jardins d’avenir". Several restaurants on the spot and souvenir shops.
Self or guided visit.
Also : night-visit of the Festival. Please ask for information.



Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
41150 Chaumont-sur-Loire
Phone : 02 54 20 99 22
Website : www.domaine-chaumont.fr

From June to September

The National Estate of Chambord will be presenting nightly performances of its latest sound and light show, “Chambord, Rêve de Lumières”.
Projected upon the château’s famous north façade, it will whisk you away to Renaissance days, where you will become spectators at the vast fortress-like construction site of a monument that was to become a regular stop-off in the itinerary of François I’s travelling court – hunting lodge and scene of sumptuous receptions and balls…
Chambord relives its glory days before your very eyes …

Château de Chambord
41000 Chambord
Phone : 02 54 50 40 00
Website : www.chambord.org

An over-all discovery of the history and architecture of the Château.

Every day at 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, 5:30 pm
without extra charge

• Tel +33 (0)2 54 90 33 33

• More details…

Friday: quai Amédée Contant, organic market - 17h-21h

Tel : 02 54 90 41 41

"La Loire à Vélo" : a cycling itinerary alongside the royal river

"La Loire à Vélo", an itinerary that is being built section by section, now covers more than 440 km and will eventually stretch 800 km alongside the Loire and its tributaries. This cycling track which you can already use in full thanks to guidebooks, will link Cuffy (near Nevers) to St Brévin-les-Pins (in Loire-Atlantique).

Do you want to hire a bike in Orléans and hand it back in Blois ? Go to one of the 12 professional hire and repair firms along the itinerary. They will provide high-quality bikes, suitable accessories, and good advice.

What about spending the night ? Whether you’re a nature-lover, keen on comfort or enjoy sharing and talking to local inhabitants, you will find what you want among the 120 ‘Accueil Vélo’ accommodation sites on the ‘La Loire à Vélo’ trail. Brought together into a network, these campsites, hotels, gîtes and guest houses offer accommodation adapted to cyclists : locked bike park, minor repair equipment, possibility of transporting baggage to the next accommodation unit, etc.

What better way could there be to follow Europe’s last untamed river and discover the Loire Valey than by bike ? It is a land renowned for its varied landscapes, its lifestyle and its rich nature activities, cultural visits, etc…

• Website