pavé de Blois

Shaped like a cobblestone, the pavé de Blois is a cube of almond and hazelnut praline, sandwiched between two layers of crunchy nougatine. They were invented in the early 20th century and are sold by various names (pavé du roi), etc in the shops in Blois. They are great for sticking to your teeth.

The name of Blois is derived from the Celtic word for ‘wolf’ and the Château de Blois was the birthplace of Louis XII, whose symbol was the ‘invincible and feared by all’ porcupine. Both creatures figure on Blois’s coat of arms.

The wolf inspired the city’s other famous sweet, the Malices du Loup de Blois (’Mischiefs’ of the wolf): triangular-shaped almond and hazelnut pralines resembling a wolf’s canine, flavoured with orange zest—a reminder of the orangeries of the Loire châteaux—and topped with a grid pattern.