Blois

The Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Blois was originally the Church of Saint-Louis of the Jesuit College and was built in the 17th century following plans by architects of the Jesuit Order; construction spanned decades and was completed with donations from Gaston of Orléans. It later received the name of Saint Vincent de Paul. The facade adheres to the Baroque Jesuit style; inside, the altarpiece from 1670 and two commemorative monuments from 1677 are noteworthy. Our Tip: Check the current opening hours before visiting, as the church is not always open.

The Monument to Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin in Blois commemorates the illusionist (1805–1871), born in the city, who is considered the father of modern magic. He moved magic from the fairground to the elegant stage and worked with mechanical automatons. The American escape artist Harry Houdini chose his stage name in homage to him. Practical Tip: Combine your visit with the Maison de la Magie (House of Magic) opposite the castle, which showcases his life and inventions.

The Lapidarium, part of the Château royal de Blois, displays stone sculptures and architectural elements that were removed from the castle's facades during restorations and replaced with copies. On view are capitals, friezes, coats of arms, and figural decorations, which you'd only recognise from a distance on the original buildings.Our tip: Visit the Lapidarium as part of your castle tour, before heading into the inner courtyard. Afterwards, you'll more easily recognise many details on the facades.

Blois Castle showcases the evolution of French architecture in a single building and was residence to seven kings and ten queens. Four wings from different eras encircle the courtyard: the medieval Estates Hall, the Late Gothic wing of Louis XII, the Early Renaissance wing of Francis I, and the Classical wing of Gaston of Orléans. The open, richly sculpted spiral staircase in the Francis I wing is particularly famous.The castle is also historically significant as the scene of the assassination of the Duke of Guise in 1588. The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the Louis XII wing. Plan enough time for the royal apartments.Our tip: Visit the castle first thing in the morning or late afternoon, when it's less busy. In the evenings, a sound and light show with video projections runs on the four courtyard facades.