In a secluded corner of Saint-Gervais-la-Forêt, near Blois, a grand residence appears to be hidden behind overgrown trees. Let's open the gate and begin to approach this house. As we get closer, we travel back in time, stopping in the latter half of the 19th century, in front of the house of one of the most famous magicians of his time: Robert-Houdin.
There are a few photographs of this house, taken at different moments in its history. The one above is undoubtedly one of the oldest, showing a scene of life at the Blésois master's house. The photos below, on the other hand, are from a later period.
At the entrance to the estate, a white-painted door welcomed visitors. On it was a gilded copper plaque bearing Robert-Houdin's name. A knocker was placed below this plaque, and a clever electrical installation produced the following effect: as a visitor knocked on the door, Robert-Houdin could remotely activate the door's opening, and "at the same time as the lock operates, the name Robert-Houdin suddenly disappears and is replaced by an enamel plaque, on which the word: 'Enter!' is painted in large characters."
The house's first magic trick has just been performed in front of a 19th-century visitor who, let's remember, was not yet accustomed to the wonders of electricity!
The priory's mailbox was also innovative in that the Blois master could know, without leaving his home, the number of letters received and their type (newspapers, letters, etc.). Everything in the house had been automated, from the clocks to feeding Fanchette, the house horse.
A bench had also been set up to move autonomously, taking visitors from the estate entrance to the master's residence. Everything had been arranged for the comfort of the house's inhabitants, thanks to Robert-Houdin's genius in the electrical field.
It's regrettable that this house is no longer what it once was, hidden behind thick trees, invisible from the outside, and with almost no electrical amenities left.
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