The lands of Loir-et-Cher, famous around the world for the prestigious royal palaces dotted throughout the department, will shine in the light of the Olympic torch throughout its visit to the region. The procession of the torch will start on the banks of the Loire in Fréteval and then head to Vendôme, recognised as a "City of Art and History", where the torch will go through Porte Saint-Jacques.

From there, it will go to Chaumont-sur-Loire. Its château, towering over the Loire, hosts the International Garden Festival every year. The torch's path will also take it to Thésée, a wine-making village with Gallo-Roman roots, and Romorantin-Lanthenay, the capital of Sologne. It will then visit another château, the Château de Chambord, whose current iteration was built for Francis I. The torch will get a royal welcome, take the famous staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci to ascend to the terraces of the château, and then descend to cross its majestic landscapes. Blois, the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, will have the honour of staging the end-of-day celebrations.

Celebrations in Blois

Located an hour and a half from Paris and perched on the banks of the Loire sits the city of Blois—a commune lauded for its quality of life, dynamism, and historic and cultural appeal. The torch will bring these marvels to the world throughout its stay among the people of Blois. It will set off from Les Allées Municipal Stadium—one of the key sports venues of the city. It will then run past the Royal Château, the favourite residence of the kings of France during the Renaissance.

After that, it will make a stop in front of the monumental Denis Papin Staircase before entering the Jardins de l'Évêché, which command a privileged view of the landscapes of the Loire Valley. Next, it will advance to City Hall and Saint Louis's Cathedral. Finally, the Olympic torch will set a course for the terminus of the stage: Place de la République. This is where the end-of-day ceremony and the lighting of the cauldron will be held, putting a bow on a special day in Loir-et-Cher.

Celebration venue info

Come and celebrate the passing of the Olympic flame in Blois!

The celebration site is free and open to all from 3.30pm to 7.45pm at the following address: PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 41000 BLOIS

A festive programme open to all awaits you, including :

• events organised by the local authorities: sport, music, shows, etc.
• stands run by the Relay of the Flame sponsors:
  • Coca-Cola will be providing a musical and festive atmosphere
  • Banque Populaire will be giving the public the chance to try out water sports
  • Caisse d'Epargne will be dedicating its stand to basketball and handball
• a show organised by the sponsors on the sports slab from 6 p.m.
• 7.20pm: the arrival of the last torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a moment not to be missed!

Note: a giant screen, a host and a DJ will also be on hand to get the public in the mood for the Torch Relay!