Located on the left bank of the Loire river in Blois, France, Blois-Vienne Church—also known as Église Saint-Saturnin de Blois—offers you a fascinating encounter with rich French history. Built primarily between circa 1500 and 1528 in the late Flamboyant Gothic style, this historic Roman Catholic church sits along the famous Way of St James pilgrimage route. When you visit, you will explore a site ordered for reconstruction by Queen Anne of Brittany following her marriage to King Louis XII, featuring impressive ribbed vaults constructed in the late 16th century.
You can admire its connection to local lore, including the boatmen's devotion to Our Lady of Assistance after discovering a statue of Mary near La Creusille Harbor. On the west side of the edifice, you will discover Saint Saturnin's Churchyard, notable as one of France's four remaining churchyards. Although ransacked during the French Revolution and inundated by the Loire river in 1856, the overall edifice survived to become a listed historical monument in 1942.
Today, you can appreciate its surviving structural developments, including a gallery cemetery dating back to 1515 that was eventually converted into a lapidary museum in 1934.
What to see at Blois-Vienne Church
- Late Flamboyant Gothic architecture featuring 16th-century ribbed vaults
- Adjacent Saint Saturnin's Churchyard, one of the last four churchyards in France
- Historical connections to Queen Anne of Brittany and King Louis XII
- Former 16th-century gallery cemetery converted into a lapidary museum in 1934
Visiting tips
Be sure to explore the west side of the church to view Saint Saturnin's Churchyard, which is one of only four remaining churchyards in all of France.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Blois-Vienne Church is easy to reach on Blois’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Château de Beauregard, Loire Valley and Notre-Dame de la Trinité Basilica. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Blois travel guide.
See the full Blois travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.