Angers France

Angers sits on the Maine River in the western Loire Valley, the historic capital of the Anjou region and now a lively city of around 160,000 with a strong university presence. Its most dramatic landmark is the Chateau d’Angers, a formidable 13th-century fortress built from the distinctive dark local schist that gives the city its nickname of the Black City. Inside the chateau’s walls is the Tapisserie de l’Apocalypse, a 14th-century tapestry stretching over 100 metres and considered one of the greatest surviving works of medieval art in the world. The historic centre is compact and walkable, with a cathedral, covered market halls, and pedestrianised streets lined with the kind of small independent shops and brasseries that make French provincial cities enjoyable to wander. Just outside the centre, Terra Botanica is an ambitious botanical theme park focused on the world of plants - unusual for a city this size and genuinely engaging. The surrounding Anjou wine region produces some of France’s most interesting white wines, including Muscadet, Savennieres, and the sweet Coteaux du Layon from Chenin Blanc grapes. Angers is on the TGV network with journeys to Paris taking around 90 minutes, and it sits within day-trip reach of the Loire’s most celebrated chateaux including Chambord, Amboise, and Chenonceau.

Map