The Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin in Blois is the only public museum in Europe dedicated both to the history of magic and to live performance. Opened in 1998 and certified Musée de France, it presents the life and work of the illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, who was born in Blois in 1805 and became one of the foundational figures of modern magic. The museum grew out of a collection donated to the city in 1981 by his grandson, Paul Robert-Houdin, and has since expanded to include objects, automata, archival material, and stage apparatus.
former Maison Ballet - now Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin
Maison Ballet
The museum occupies the Maison Ballet, a large 19th-century bourgeois residence built between 1856 and 1862 for François-Marie Ballet, a confectioner. Situated directly opposite the Château Royal de Blois, the house was purchased by the city in 1990. The renovation, led by the architectural firm Roquelaure-Read-Aranguren, included an underground extension to accommodate a 400-seat theatre, bringing the building to roughly 2,000 m² over five levels. Interior refurbishment continued until the museum opened to the public in 1998.
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin
Robert-Houdin was trained as a watchmaker. His mastery of precision mechanics allowed him to design sophisticated automata and create innovative stage devices that transformed magic from a fairground attraction into a theatrical art. Among his most famous illusions were La Suspension éthéréenne and the Pâtissier du Palais-Royal, as well as mechanical marvels such as writing and drawing automata.
Hydra
One of the museum’s most recognisable features is the animated hydra created by James Hodges and crafted by Jean-Pierre and Michell Hartmann. Every half hour, its heads, tail, and claws emerge from the windows facing the château, turning the façade itself into a playful illusion in homage to the art of magic.
Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin with animated hydra
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