Saint-Nicolas Church

The church of Saint-Nicolas of Blois

The Blois audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the church of Saint-Nicolas, the oldest religious building of the city and one of the jewels of the Loire Valley. Its majestic silhouette has dominated the banks of the Loire for nearly nine centuries.

Between Romanesque and Gothic art

Built between 1138 and the beginning of the thirteenth century, the church of Saint-Nicolas is an exceptional testimony of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic art. Originally, it was the abbey church of the Saint-Laumer abbey, an important monastic community. This double history, religious and architectural, makes it one of the most precious buildings of the heritage of Blois.

What there is to see

The church impresses with its slender towers, its harmonious nave and its sculpted capitals, which illustrate the passage from Romanesque to Gothic. Inside, the elevation, the vaults and the light invite silence and contemplation. Near the banks of the Loire, it is a high spiritual and heritage place of Blois, to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The church of Saint-Nicolas stands near the banks of the Loire, in the historic centre of Blois. An active place of worship, it is visited with respect for the contemplation of the faithful; access is generally free during opening hours, which may vary according to services. Appropriate dress is appreciated.

When does the church of Saint-Nicolas date from?

It was built between 1138 and the beginning of the thirteenth century; it is the oldest religious building of Blois.

What was the church of Saint-Nicolas originally?

The abbey church of the Saint-Laumer abbey, an important monastic community of Blois.