Sights in Blois
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Château Royal de Blois
Blois’ château and the former royal seatwas were intended more as an architectural showpiece than a military stronghold, and successive French kings have left their creative mark over the centuries. From the château’s huge central courtyard you can view four distinct periods of French architecture: the Gothic Salle des États and original medieval castle; François I’s Renaissance north wing (1515–24); the classical west wing (1635–38) constructed under Gaston d’Orléans, brother to Louis XIII; and Louis XII’s red-brick Flamboyant Gothic east wing (1498–1503).
The impressive Salle des États Généraux (Estates General Hall, c 1220) has a soaring double bar…
reviewed
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Cathédrale St-Louis
The 17th-century Cathédrale St-Louis, with its lovely multistoreyed bell tower is dramatically floodlit after dark. Most of the stained glass inside was installed by Dutch artist Jan Dibberts in 2000.
reviewed
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House of Magic
Facing the chateau and dedicated to the all-time great, Blois-born magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin - after whom the escapist Houdini named himself - the Maison de la Magie museum features interactive exhibits and fascinating clocks invented by Robert-Houdin. Be sure not to miss a trick at the magic show.
reviewed
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Old City
Despite serious damage by German attacks in 1940, Blois’ old city is worth exploring, especially around the 17th-century Cathédrale St-Louis, with its lovely multistoreyed bell tower, dramatically floodlit after dark. Most of the stained glass inside was installed by Dutch artist Jan Dibberts in 2000.
Across the square, the facade of Maison des Acrobates is decorated with wooden sculptures taken from medieval farces, and one of the few 15th-century houses to survive. There’s another example at No 13 called Hôtel de Villebrême.
Lovely panoramas unfold across town from the peaceful Jardins de l’Évêché and the top of the Escalier Denis Papin.
reviewed
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Musée de l’Objet
This brilliant modern arts museum is based on the collection of the artist Eric Fabre, and concentrates on artworks made using everyday materials. Among the best pieces are a sculpture of coat-hangers by Man Ray, an objet scatologique (involving a large high-heeled shoe) by Salvador Dalí and a TV Buddha by Nam June Paik.
reviewed
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Maison des Acrobates
The facade of Maison des Acrobates is decorated with wooden sculptures taken from medieval farces, and is one of the few 15th-century houses to survive.
reviewed
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Maison de la Magie
Opposite the Château Royal de Blois, you can’t miss the former home of watchmaker, inventor and conjurer Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805–71) when, on the hour, dragons emerge roaring from the windows. It has entertaining live magic shows (three to four daily), exhibits on the history of magic and loads of optical trickery including a mysterious ‘Hallucinoscope’. It’s goofy, good fun! The great Harry Houdini named himself after Houdin, and there is a short historical film about the American magician.
reviewed
