Blois

Blois, a hillside city on the Loire River, is the capital of the Loir-et-Cher department in central France. The late-Gothic Blois Cathedral towers over its cobbled center. Nearby, the Château Royal de Blois is a former royal palace with ornate chambers, and paintings and sculptures from the 16th to 19th centuries. Opposite, La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin explores the history of magic and holds live performances.