Just below the Château on rue St-Laumen, the church of St Nicholas (daily 9am–6.30pm) once belonged to an abbey, and the choir is a handsome example of the humble Benedictine treatment of the Romanesque style. Children are unlikely to be convinced by the rather shoddy optical illusions housed in the cavernous Maison de la Magie, facing the Château on the far side of the esplanade (daily: July & Aug 10am–6.30pm; April–June & Sept 10am–noon & 2–6pm; €7.5), still less the stuffy room dedicated to local impresario, Robert-Houdin. The afternoon magic shows are in mime, so at least there's no need to understand French. More instructive is the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, rue Anne de Bretagne (daily except Mon 2–6pm; €2.40), with some good dioramas showing the different environments of the region, and the birds and animals that live in them.At the top of town, the superb Musée de l'Objet, 6 rue Franciade (mid-May to mid-Sept Tues–Sun 1.30–6.30pm; mid-Sept to mid-May Sat & Sun 1.30–6.30pm; €4), celebrates modern sculptures created from found objects rather than traditional materials. A forest of hammers hanging from the staircase ceiling gradually morphs into handbags, and the two long, spacious galleries are filled with similarly witty or alarming artworks, including some by major figures in modern art. Alternate spellings:: France, Beyond the Château, Beyond the Château, Beyond the Chateau
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