Sightseeing in Angers - what to see. Complete travel guide

France always welcomes its guests, regardless of the city that they plan to visit his time. Many settlements in this country are famous for their ancient history, and local landmarks are a great way to see this history come alive. The French city of Angers is one of these renowned places. This is the center of the ancient provincial settlement of Anjou. Angers is situated not far from Paris, about 300km. The Maine River provides its crystal clear water for the city. Local people often call their motherland the “Black Anjou” because this was an important center of stone and slate mining in the past.

First people appeared in the territory of the Anjou province approximately 400 thousand years BC. This is when the history of this region started. The Andecavi people founded their first settlement here in the 5th century BC. This was a well-protected hilltop village. However, local people didn’t have a peaceful life. They were constantly scared of new invaders and wars – things like that happened very often. At a certain period of time, blood-thirsty Vikings almost completely destroyed Angers. This sad event took place in the 9th century.

The problem persisted until the 10th century. This is when the Counts of Anjou took over control of the region. Starting from that time local people could stop being constantly scared because their life became a lot safer. Year after year, the dukes did all they could to strengthen their properties. They achieved their target, and Angers became a powerful center of a small empire of Anjou. Later, the counts expanded their territory by making strategic marriages between counts of the city and neighboring lands. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Local cuisine is quite simple to cook. Moreover, local chefs prefer healthy food. This is why you will not find many spices and unusual ingredients in local dishes. All chefs try to keep the original taste of products. Even sauces, which are served together with various dishes, have a light taste. Tourists are advised to order goose meat pate, as well as various dishes with the rabbit, pheasant, and poultry. Do you like veal? If yes then local chefs can cook mouthwatering dishes with veal for you. For dessert, many gourmets prefer to order baked apples with blue chocolate.

What places should tourists visit in Angers? Having arrived and checked-in, make an excursion to Château D' Angers. In the past, this was a residence of the Dukes of Anjou. The castle was built in the 13th century. The doors of this gorgeous building are open for tourists every day so everyone can see La Chapelle Sainte-Geneviève (the Chapel of Saint Genevieve) that dates back to 1410. Visitors can walk in the Royal Logis and see beautiful tapestries created in the 15th – 16th centuries.

The most famous tapestry in Château D' Angers has gained worldwide recognition. The Apocalypse Tapestry attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world. At the end of the 14th century, the Duke of Anjou commissioned the creation of a true masterpiece that could become a French miracle. The giant tapestry depicts scenes from the Book of Revelation by Saint John the Divine. Apocalypse is the main theme of this masterpiece.

In Angers, there are many museums that tourists will find interesting to visit. These museums tell about the history of the region and the development of mining. The former Hospital St-Jean is the first museum that tourists will find interesting to visit. The building is a gorgeous example of the architecture in the 12th century. The Museum of Fine Arts exhibits paintings of famous painters, and Musée de l'Ardoise is dedicated to mining and building technologies of past centuries.

After excursions in local museums, it is so pleasant to relax and have fun. Local orchestra Pays de la Loire makes daily performances for tourists. Theatre art aficionados will find it interesting to visit the local modern theatre. If dancing is your passion, there is a dancing school in Angers. Besides this, the city regularly hosts various film festivals, street concerts, and festivals where young talents show their skills.

Do you like flying? You can fly to Angers from Nantes, Paris, and Bordeaux. Trains deliver passengers to the famous Anjou city from all parts of France. If Gare Montparnasse is your starting point, you will be in Angers in one hour or one and a half hours. The ride from Nantes will be even faster – 45 minutes. If you plan to rent a car, Le Mans is the best starting point as the distance to Angers is only 95 kilometers. However, tourists need to keep in mind that many roads in France are paid.