Blois

Ville de Blois
Prefecture and commune
Panoramic view of Blois on the Loire river, from Vienne, on the left bank
Coat of arms
Location of Ville de Blois
Ville de Blois Show map of France Ville de Blois Show map of Centre-Val de Loire
Coordinates: 47°35′38″N 1°19′41″E / 47.5939°N 1.3281°E / 47.5939; 1.3281
Country	France
Region	Centre-Val de Loire
Department	Loir-et-Cher
Arrondissement	Blois
Canton	Blois-1, 2 and 3 and Vineuil
Intercommunality	CA Blois Agglopolys
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Marc Gricourt[1] (PS)
Area 1	37.46 km2 (14.46 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	46,813
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Bloisian French: Blésois(e)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	41018 /41000
Elevation	63–135 m (207–443 ft) (avg. 73 m or 240 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Blois (/blwɑː/ BLWAH; French: [blwa] ^ⓘ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France,^[3] on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours.^[4]

With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the department, and the 4th of the region.

Historically, the city was the capital of the County of Blois, created on 832 until its integration into the Royal domain in 1498, when Count Louis II of Orléans became King Louis XII of France. During the Renaissance, Blois was the official residence of the King of France.