Corn Exchange

The Halle aux Grains of Blois

The Blois audio-guided tour has you discover the Halle aux Grains, a former grain market that has today become a cultural venue. Its history, closely linked to that of the city, makes it an interesting stop in the centre of Blois.

From grain market to cultural stage

A first grain market had been built by the first dukes of Orléans and the counts of Blois in the fifteenth century, with the market hall on the ground floor and the courthouse upstairs. Having become too small for the growing needs of the city, it gave way to a new, more spacious building, designed by the architect Jules de La Morandière and inaugurated in 1850. The building was then converted into a venue for shows and conferences.

What there is to see

The Halle aux Grains today hosts a cultural stage and a conference centre, which programme shows, concerts and events throughout the year. Its nineteenth-century architecture, with its vast hall, testifies to the growth of Blois at that time. It is a living place, which has been able to transform its commercial past into a cultural vocation.

Practical information

The Halle aux Grains is in the centre of Blois. Having become a cultural stage and conference centre, it welcomes the public according to its programme; access to shows and events follows its own conditions and times. The façade can be contemplated freely from the street.

What was the Halle aux Grains originally?

A grain market; the present, more spacious building was designed by Jules de La Morandière and inaugurated in 1850.

What is the Halle aux Grains used for today?

It is a cultural stage and a conference centre, which hosts shows, concerts and events throughout the year.