10.30 am: Take in Blois’ skyline from the south bank
Situated between Tours and Orléans, the hillside city of Blois is just one hour’s train journey from Paris. Sitting proudly on the banks of the Loire, it has been declared one of the country’s prestigious Towns of Art and History and protected as one of the protected Historic Towns of France. It is tempting to head straight to the city’s famous castle, but walk over the iconic 18th-century Pont Jacques Gabriel and wander along the river – it is a great photo opportunity and allows you to see all the town’s monuments in context.