Chocolaterie Poulain in Blois

Chocolaterie Poulain is a former chocolate factory in Blois featuring classical architecture with large windows and carefully crafted stone facades along Avenue Gambetta. The building displays the craftsmanship and design typical of 19th-century French industrial structures.

Auguste Poulain founded his chocolate factory at the Villette site in 1872, expanding from his original shop on Rue Porte Chartraine. This location became a major center of French chocolate production through the 19th century.

The former chocolate production facility received official recognition as a monument historique inscrit in 1997, marking its role in French industrial heritage.

The building now serves as office space for educational institutions and can be viewed from Avenue Gambetta. Visitors can best observe the architectural details from the street and appreciate the stonework craftsmanship of the exterior.

The main building, known as Château Villette, combined industrial production needs with refined architectural design in an unusual way for its era. This blend of functionality and aesthetic refinement was rare for 19th-century French manufacturing facilities.