Polar Panorama of Blois on the Loire river by Hans Kool

Polar panorama of the city of Blois on the Loire.

Polar panoramas are ordinary landscapes turned into miniature spherical planets. They are created by first creating a 360-degree panorama as a series of overlapping photos and then combining them with Photoshop for panorama merging.

Blois is a French city, located at a strategic point between two hills on the right bank of the Loire. The city has a population of 65,000 and is the capital of the Loir-et-Cher department in the old province of Orléanais. Its numerous steep and winding streets, connected in some places by stairs, and its harmonious old buildings make the visitor feel like he is in the Middle Ages. From the quays, especially at sunset, one has a good view of the Loire and the Pont J. Gabriel. The Cathedral Saint-Louis, visible at the top was originally built in the 12th century, but rebuilt in the 16th century, was totally destroyed by a hurricane in 1678, and dates in its present form from 1680.

Blois, under the name Blesae, is first mentioned in 6th century by Gregory of Tours in his Historia Francorum. In the 10th century it became the capital of a county, and in 1697 Blois became a bishopric, with its seat in Blois cathedral.

In 1814, Marie Louise, wife of the defeated emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, briefly assumed the regency from the city.