Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stone stairs lead up to the
royal apartments of François I
. Immerse yourself in
richly tiled, ornately decorated rooms with some original furnishings (excellent English
explanations posted). You'll see busts and portraits of some of the château's most famous
residents, and near the end, learn about the dastardly 1588 murder of the duke of Guise,
which took place in these apartments. In the late 1500s, the devastating Wars of Religion
pitted Protestant against Catholic, and took a huge toll on this politically and religiously
divided city—including the powerful Guise brothers. King Henry III (Catherine de Médi-
cis' son) had the devoutly Catholic duke assassinated to keep him off the throne.
Skip the Neoclassical wing (no English and little of interest), and end your visit with
a walk through the small
fine-arts museum.
Located just over the château's entry, this
16th-century who's-who portrait gallery lets you put faces to the characters that made this
château's history.
Other Sights and Activities
House of Magic (Maison de la Magie)
The home of Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, the illusionist whose name was adopted by
Harry Houdini, offers an interesting but overpriced history of illusion and magic. Kids en-
joy the gift shop. Several daily 30-minute shows have no words, so they work in any lan-
guage.
Cost and Hours:
Adults-€8, kids under 18-€5, €15 combo-ticket with château, €20
combo-ticketincludeschâteauandsound-and-lightshow;daily9:00-12:30&14:00-18:30,
“séance” schedule posted at entry—usually at 11:15, 14:15 or 15:15, and 17:15; at the op-
posite end of the square from the château, tel. 02 54 90 33 33,
www.maisondelamagie.fr
.
Wine Cooperative
Sample wines from a variety of local vintners on the château square, next to Le Marignan
café (free, 8:30-12:30 & 14:00-17:30).
A Walk through the Historic Center
There's little to do along the river except to cross Pont Jacques Gabriel for views back to
the city. But Blois' old town is well worth a wander. Although much of the historic center
was destroyed by WWII bombs, it has been tastefully rebuilt with traffic-free streets and
pleasing squares.
For a taste of medieval Blois, head to Place Louis XII, ground zero in the old city;
from here, walk down Rue St. Lubin. Follow along as the street (now called Rue des
Trois Marchands) curves to the left; continue until you see the church of
St. Nicholas
on
your left. The towering church, with its flying buttresses, dates from the late 1100s, and
