Angers is a city in western France, located halfway between Nantes and Tours. In the heart of Anjou, in the Loire Valley, Angers has many assets that make it a popular tourist destination: a rich heritage, prestigious castles, gastronomic tradition and renowned vineyards.
This flourishing Renaissance city combines history and modernity. On the one hand, one can admire its incredible historical monuments, such as the colossal walls of the medieval fortress of King René, Duke of Anjou from 1434 to 1480, and on the other discover the city’s current dynamism, with its contemporary theatre or and its many parks and gardens.
Built in the 13th century, the gigantic royal fortress stretches for almost half a kilometre, providing a formidable impression of power. You can stroll through its extraordinary gardens and even climb the castle towers: from the top you can enjoy a unique panorama of the city.
Don’t miss a visit to the famous Apocalypse Tapestry: at 100 metres in length, it illustrates the text of the Apocalypse of St John, thus exceptionally representing the historical, social and political context of its time.
Surrounded by a charming historical quarter, the Cathedral of Saint Maurice d’Angers is a 12th century building. Located at the top of the Saint-Maurice steps, this church will surprise you with its modest proportions, compared to the Gothic cathedrals of the Ile de France.
Before entering the building, spot the eight statues of saints that adorn the façade. As you enter the cathedral, you can admire the Angevin Gothic style with its domed vaults and ribs. Inside, admire the medieval stained glass windows, which produce an extraordinary play of light, and let yourself be carried away by the sound of the great organs.
La Cité is the historical quarter of the city, where the castle and Saint-Maurice Cathedral are located. Around this area is the city centre proper, with the shopping district and many institutions such as the prefecture, town hall and library.
When strolling through the city centre of Angers, we recommend that you pass by Boulevard du Maréchal Foch3, the street that demarcates the historical quarter of the city. You will find many elegant restaurants and shops. It is at the end of this avenue that you will find Le jardin du Mail4, a green corner in the heart of Angers.
In the city centre, you can admire the Adam and Eve house, also called La Maison d'Adam5, located in Place Sainte Croix. This half-timbered house is a wonderful vestige of the medieval era.
Angers is not only a historical city, but also a young and lively place, full of dynamism and evening life as evidenced by Rue Saint-Laud6, a street full of places to have a drink in a pleasant atmosphere.
Place du Ralliement is considered by many Angevins to be the beating heart of the city. Its history dates back to the French Revolution, when many picturesque buildings were completely destroyed. The square thus became the place where the revolutionaries gathered: renamed ‘Place du Ralliement’, it was chosen as the location for the infamous guillotine.
Since the 20th century, the square has seen a considerable development of prestige trade. Numerous cafés have sprung up here and open-air concerts and cinema sessions are organised. Today, Place du Ralliement is, thanks to its dynamism, one of the liveliest places in the city centre of Angers.
The former convent of La Baumette is a charming 15th-century building, built at the request of King René. The convent was built high up on a rock overlooking the Maine, from which there is a wonderful view.
You can also visit the church and 14 waterfall garden terraces with springs and ponds. It is a place to relax, especially in the cloister, take time to laze a few moments on the benches and enjoy the light that illuminates the river. The family that owns the building will be on hand to share the history of the place with you.
The Jean Lurçat Museum of Contemporary Tapestries houses Le Chant du Monde, the largest collection of tapestries made by the painter Jean Lurçat. The museum is not only of interest to art lovers: it is housed in the former Saint-Jean hospital, one of the best preserved Gothic buildings in the region. It is worth a visit beyond the artistic exhibition it contains.
At the gates of Angers, Terra Botanica is Europe’s first theme park dedicated to plants. Awaiting you are 11 hectares of gardens, water features and greenhouses, more than 275,000 plants, 40 attractions and amusements including 4D films, interactive games, a path through a bamboo forest and tree walks.
Terra Botanica will take you to discover plants in a totally innovative way, through a fantastic journey combining fun and culture. This avant-garde park aims to instil in the new generations respect for the world around us, the preservation of our natural heritage and a lively environmental awareness.
On the other side of the Maine River, on the north bank, hides a small neighbourhood, La Doutre, often forgotten by hurried tourists.
This little corner of Angers preserves well restored old half-timbered houses: stroll through the charming Place de la Laiterie11 and Rue Beaurepaire12: don’t miss at No. 67 the residence of the apothecary Simon Poisson dating from 1582. Continue to Rue des Tonneliers13 and finally admire Trinity Church14, topped by a 16th-century bell tower.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
If you plan to stay a few days in the city of Angers, you might consider purchasing the Anger City Pass, a tourist card, available in 3 variants: 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Angers City Pass includes 25 free visits to cultural sites not only in the city of Angers, but also in the surrounding area. Among the attractions included are the Fortress of Angers with the Apocalypse Tapestry, Terra Botanica, the Collegiale de Saint Martin and the Museum of Contemporary Tapestries.
You will also have access to discounts on the purchase of local specialities and products, and some interesting benefits:
The lively city of Angers is not only a concentration of historical monuments and old buildings. The town is full of evening life, shops to discover, and places to sip the region’s fine wines.
A stay in Angers can be a good excuse to visit the lush vineyards that grow on the outskirts of the town and its wineries. Angers offers a good variety of accommodation for every need: you will find luxury relais in small period manors on the outskirts of the town and boutique hotels in the old town, in elegantly restored buildings.
Angers is about 300 km from Paris and only 90 km from Nantes, the southern gateway to Brittany. You can therefore land either at the international airports of Paris Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle or at the Nantes Atlantique Aeroport.
The most convenient way to reach the town is to take theA11 motorway, which will take you to Angers by car in about 3 hours.
If, on the other hand, you travel by train, a rapid TGV from Paris Montparnasse station will get you to Angers in just 2 hours.
What's the weather at Angers? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Angers for the next few days.
Angers is located on the river Maine, near its confluence with the Loire: it is the capital of the arrondissement of the same name and the historical capital of Anjou, a prosperous duchy in the Middle Ages.
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