What to See and Do

The Château d'Angers (in English, Castle of Angers) was built in the ninth century by the Counts of Anjou over an old roman settlement and was expanded to its current size in the 13th century. It is considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in France.

As it was common in the middle ages, this Castle was not only an aristocratic residence but also a military fortress, protected by seventeen large towers and 3 meter thick walls (9.8 ft.).  Each of the towers was once 40 meters (130 ft) tall, but later they were adapted to the use of more modern and heavier artillery pieces, losing some of their massive height. The Tour du Moulin is the only tower which conserves its original dimensions and can still be seen as it was in medieval times, giving the visitor a good perspective of the original castle layout.

The famous Apocalypse Tapestry (in the original French “Tenture de l'Apocalypse”), which is stored and can be visited in the Château d'Angers, is considered to be one of the masterpieces of French cultural heritage. It was commissioned by Louis I, Duke of Anjou and took five years to complete (from 1377 to 1382). It is the joint work of two masters:  Jean Bondol, a Flemish artist who drew the sketches that served as model for the tapestry and Nicholas Bataille, the master who guided several teams of weavers during the exhaustively detailed weaving work of this piece of art.

The thematic of the tapestry revolves around the Apocalypse according to the Book of Revelation by Saint John the Divine. The six sections, each one of them 23m wide (78 ft.) wide by 6m high (20 ft.), comprised 90 different scenes, from which only 71  survived until today. The scenes display the confrontations between good and evil and feature spectacular battle scenes between angels and demons.

The Maison d’Adam (Adam's House) is located in a small square behind the cathedral of Angers, right in the center of the old town. It is considered to be one of the oldest buildings in town, having been built around the year 1500 in the classic Anjou style, with an ornate facade made out of stone and wood. 

Build after the original Romanesque building burnt down in 1032, Anger's Cathedral, also known as Saint-Maurice’s Cathedral was constructed under the orders of bishops Guillaume de Beaumont and Normand de Doué.

It was the first building erected in what is now known as the Angevine Gothic, a style that quickly spread became popular in France and some parts of Italy after the conclusion of the Cathedral.

Saint-Maurice’s Cathedral is also famous for its magnificent assortment of stained glass windows dating from the 12th, 13th and 15th centuries. Among all its fine masterpieces one stands out:  the stained glass window  of Saint Julian is considered one of the most important pieces of of French 13th century glasswork.

The house of the famous brand of triple sec “Cointreau” promises to be an “up-close look into the secrets of the production of the world famous liqueur”.

The orange-flavoured liqueur made from the dried peels of bitter and sweet orangse was first produced in 1849. The first bottles were sold in 1875 and today is estimated that 13 million bottles are sold every year,  used mostly in the composition of popular cocktails such as the Margarita or the Cosmopolitan, in addition to being consumed neat or just with ice. The visit to Carré Cointreau will take you through the history and curiosities associated with this drink and finish with a tasting experience in the end of the tour.

A wine producing area since early days, the  Loire Valley is famous for the quality of its wine production and offers exciting opportunities for wine drinkers and connoisseurs.  In the countryside around Angers, many estates offer a chance to walk around the vineyards, talk to the wine producers, visit the cellars and taste their produce.

Some of the most famous wines produced in the region are the AOC Savennières, the Coteaux de l’Aubance and the Anjou Village-Brissac.

Loire Valley

For those staying for a longer visit, the Loire Valley, (in French "Val de Loire") also boasts magnificent sights, lovely landscapes and the world-renowned Loire castles. The area has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site due to its beautiful landscape and impressive number of historical villages and buildings (over 300 castles and palaces). For more information visit the Experience Loire website.