Angers

Visit Angers, Pays de la Loire

Angers is located in the Loire, and was once capital of the Anjou region of France - it is the seat of a bishopric dating from the third century and prefecture for the Maine-et-Loire department. A substantial town with much to enjoy, Angers is also officially listed as 'a town of art and history'.

Although Angers is best known for its massive and ancient château, the Chateau Angers, and the 'Apocalypse' tapestry it contains, along with the other tapestries to be seen in the museum here, Angers has many other notable monuments of interest to discover.

The town also features many floral displays - the town is positively obsessed with flowers, bringing a fine splash of colour to the town - and numerous parks and gardens, fountains and statues that bring areas of calm into this bustling modern city. The historical centre also contains numerous impressive town houses dating from the 16th-19th centuries.

Among particular highlights (apart from the castle), the city is noted for:

- the impressive twin spires of the twelfth century Cathedral of Saint-Maurice. Other noteworthy churches around Angers include St. Serge, an abbey-church of the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, and the twelfth century La Trinité.

- The famous abbey of St. Aubin has a courtyard with elaborately sculptured arcades of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and an impressive 12th century tower that dominates the Angers skyline. Ruins of the old churches of Toussaint (thirteenth century) and Notre-Dame du Ronceray (eleventh century) are also nearby.

- The ancient hospital of St. Jean (twelfth century) is now occupied by an archaeological museum.

- The Logis Barrault, a mansion built about 1500, houses the public library and the municipal museum, which has a large collection of paintings and sculptures. The mansion also contains the collection of Musée David consisting of works by the sculptor David d'Angers, who was a native of the town. Standing outside the museum is one of his masterpieces, a bronze statue of René of Anjou, a former duke of Anjou who was born in Angers' chateau.

- The Hôtel de Pincé or d'Anjou (1523-1530) is the finest of the stone mansions of Angers, while standing in contrast there are also many wooden houses of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

- The Palais de Justice, the Catholic Institute, a fine theatre, and a hospital with 1500 beds are the more remarkable of the modern buildings of the town.

Angers city pass

You can buy a pass during your visit that allows access to the chateau (and two smaller castles - Chateau de Plessis-Macé and Chateau de Montriou) along with many museums and other attractions - visit the Angers Tourist Office on Place Kennedy. Price 14 euros, 21 euros or 26 euros for 1, 2, or 3 days respectively.

Nearby

Popular with horse-lovers, the Haras National (National Stud Farm) is nearby at Lion d'Angers, where you can see many impressive horses of various breeds and learn about their breeding, upkeep and training.

The kangaroo park (Jardin des Kangourous) near Savennieres 20 kilometres west of Angers is sure to be a success with the children.

Tourist classifications for Angers: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*; Listed town of Art and History;

Suggested places to visit near Angers, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Bauge 34km; Chateau de Saumur 42km; Saumur 42km; Montsoreau 54km; Candes-Saint-Martin 55km; Fontevraud Abbey 55km; Chateau du Lude 57km; Saulges 58km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Angers

Angers tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins du Pin - remarkable garden (24km) : Chenille-Change - ville fleurie 4* (27km) : Eglise de Notre Dame (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault) - religious monument (28km) : Prieuré de Notre-Dame de Cunault (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault) - religious monument (28km) : Coudray - ville fleurie 4* (37km) : Chateau-Gontier - ville fleurie 4* (42km) : La Fleche - recommended detour (44km) : Montreuil-Bellay - recommended detour (48km) :

French version: see Angers (Francais)