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The essence of the monument
Do not be put off by the apparent austerity of this shale and limestone fortress, interspersed with 17 towers, which the young Saint Louis had built on the edge of his kingdom in 13th Century…
Cross the drawbridge and inside the castle walls you will find the pleasant residence of the Dukes of Anjou, composed of buildings constructed at the end of the gothic era and gardens. Other marvels await you, amongst which the highly exceptional Apocalypse tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry known to exist (it is 104 metres long), and the famous mille-fleurs and Passion tapestries…
The Monument
Situated on a Gallo-Roman site, around the palace of the first counts of Anjou, who belonged to the Plantagenêt dynasty, the fortress of Angers dominates the city with its 17 towers built by Saint Louis between 1230 and 1240. It was one of the most formidable military constructions in the kingdom of France, and it still remains the best preserved one in the north of the Loire river.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the dukes of Anjou settled their princely court there. Just like that of Burgundy or Berry, the court of Anjou exerted its influence over the political and artistic life of the kingdom of the De Valois family. It succumbed to first Italian influences of the Renaissance, as one can see in the Logis Royal gallery (royal suite).
The castle was made yet more beautiful by the king René in the 15th century. After being threatened of destruction during the wars of religion, the stronghold was transformed by the governor Donadieu de Puycharic, who fitted out artillery terraces on the former curtain walls.
A new presentation was created in the gallery of the castle in order to preserve the very famous tapestry of the Apocalypse. This masterpiece is more than 100 metre long and 6 metre high. It was woven for the duke Louis I of Anjou towards 1735 and then bequeathed to the Saint-Maurice cathedral by the king René of Anjou. It is the most famous medieval tapestry.
The Visit
- The Chapel
Louis II and Yolande d’Aragon had this beautiful chapel built around 1410.
All the windows in the chapel are modern, with the exception of the West stained glass window portraying King René.
The most striking feature is undoubtedly the elegant noblemen’s loggia or oratory, which, with its fireplace, enabled the Duke to attend services in comfort.
- The Royal Lodge
This building is the only remaining part of the residential buildings that occupied the northern corner of the château.
To appreciate the original state of the lodge it is best to enter the noblemen’s courtyard. On the main façade (on the side of the gatehouse facing the town), a spiral staircase served the two residential floors.
Each floor of the lodge contained two rooms. Inside the rooms are displayed tapestries dating from 16th and 17th Centuries. Amongst them, the tapestry of the Passion (16th century) and tapestries known as mille-fleurs (a thousand flowers) from 15th and 16th Centuries.
- The Gallery of the Apocalypse
During the restoration of the château in 1950 the question arose of how to accommodate the famous Apocalypse tapestry commissioned by Louis 1 of Anjou to Jean de Bruges and Nicolas Bataille at the end of the 14th Century.
It was decided that two new wings should be built to replace the previous buildings, to form a gallery in which the entire tapestry, which is over 100m long, could be displayed.
The gallery was renovated in 1996 to provide the best possible conditions for the preservation of the tapestry and for the visits of the latter’s administrators.
- King René’s gatehouse
One of the most remarkable features of the château is the gatehouse which provides access to the former noblemen’s courtyard.
This gatehouse, built by King René’s architects, is striking by its irregular and asymmetrical appearance.
There is no shortage of decoration on this symbolic gateway, confirming the aristocratic and exclusive nature of the noblemen’s courtyard.
Lodging
See the listing of the Hotels in Angers
Practical informations
Château d’Angers
2 promenade du Bout-du-Monde
49100 Angers
Going there
From Le Mans: motorway A 11 or main road N 23 towards Nantes
From Nantes: motorway A 11 or main road N 23 towards Le Mans
From Tours: motorways A 85 and A 11 towards Nantes
From Rennes: main road N 157 to Laval, then main road N 162 to Angers
At the intersection of the Paris/Nantes and Rennes/Poitiers roads
49 km northwest of Saumur
95 km southwest of Le Mans
Opening / Closing
Open
from May 2 to September 4 : 9.30-6.30 pm
from September 5 to April 30 : 10-5.30 pm
Last entrance 45 min before closing time
Closed
January 1, May 1, November 1, November 11 and December 25