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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Episcopal Palace of Blois, located behind St.Louis Cathedral, was built in the early eighteenth century by architect Jacques V Gabriel, also known for the city's central bridge. His creation was linked to the establishment of the diocese of Blois in 1692 by Louis XIV, in order to respond to the overload of the diocese of Chartres and the persistence of Protestant influence in the region. David Nicolas Bertier, the first bishop appointed and close to Madame de Maintenon, played a key role in this project.

The initial site planned for the cathedral was the Saint-Laumer church (now Saint-Nicolas), but the bishop finally opted for Saint-Solenne after negotiations with Benedictine monks. The building of the palace began in 1700, after the acquisition of land and the destruction of several streets and houses to clear the necessary space. In March 1704 the bishop officially installed himself, marking the beginning of his use as an episcopal residence.

In the 18th century, the palace underwent several changes under the impetus of successive bishops, including Alexander de Lauzières-Thémines, who installed a collection of art and a library. These later formed the former library of Blois. After the Revolution, the palace served briefly as a prefecture, then as an episcopal residence until 1905, before being transformed into a museum, a hospital during the First World War, and finally as a town hall after the bombings of 1940.

The architecture of the palace is distinguished by its four-level south façade, designed to compete with the castle of Blois. The front on courtyard, adorned with a central forebody and a triangular pediment with the arms of the first bishop, was later enriched by columns added under the episcopate of Themines. Inside, the large vestibule, living rooms and chapel reflect a neo-classical decor, with elements such as statues, busts and stucco painted in false marble.

The original interior features included an orangery, a billiard room, and episcopal apartments organized around a central vestibule. Themines undertook an ambitious renovation, creating an Italian living room (today's wedding room) and a dining room decorated with stucco. These spaces were partially modified in the 19th century, especially when the salon was transformed into a chapel after the bishops returned in 1830.

The palace, classified as a historical monument in 1930, illustrates the political and social transformations of France, moving from a religious residence to a place of municipal power. Its history reflects the upheavals of the Revolution, the separation of the Church and the State in 1905, and the necessary adaptations to meet modern administrative needs.

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