BLOIS, blwa (anciently BLESUM), France, the capital of the department of Loir-et-Cher, 99 miles south-southwest of Paris, situated on the right bank of the Loire, from which it rises in the form of an amphitheatre. It con sists of an upper town, with very narrow and crooked streets; a lower town, with many handsome houses, extending along a handsome quay; and of several suburbs, with one of which it communicates by a stone bridge of 11 arches. The city is fur nished with spring water through an old Roman aqueduct, in excellent preservation. Thierry, the historian, was born here. The castle of Blois is rich in historical associa tions. It was long occupied by the counts of the name and became a favorite resi dence of the Icings of France. Louis XII was born, Francis I, Henry II, Charles IX and Henry III held their courts in it; and the Guises, by a cruel though not unjust retribu tion, were murdered in it. When Maria de Medici was, in 1617, exiled from the court, she resided, probably as a prisoner, in this castle, whence, 18 months later, she escaped through a high window, which is also an object of curiosity. In 1814, on the approach of the
European armies to Paris, the Empress Maria Louisa and the council of regency repaired for a while to this place. Afterward the castle was entirely neglected and even used as bar racks for cavalry. During the later years of Louis Philippe's reign, this curious specimen of architecture was carefully and tastefully restored. Blois has several literary and scien tific societies, a botanical garden founded by Henry IV, a public library with 19,000 vol umes, a departmental college and a diocesan seminary. It trades in wines, spirits, vinegar, staves and licorice, while it produces serges, hosiery and gloves, boots, shoes, biscuits, fur niture, machinery, earthenware, cutlery and hardware, and there are tanneries, foundries and vinegar works. Pop. (1911) 23,995. Con sult Le Nail, 'Le Chateau de Blois' (Paris 1874); Bournon, 'Blois, Chambord et les chateaux Elitsois' (Paris 1908)..