Charming architecture, refined cuisine, renowned vineyards, festivals and monuments, superb parks and gardens, Angers surprises visitors with its wealth of heritage and the quality of its lifestyle.

Take a walk through time in its historic centre. Much of it is now pedestrianised and cobbled. Many of the sites of interest are near each other, so it is an easy stroll to visit the main tourist and cultural highlights.
The château is a focal point from which you can admire the magnificent view of the Maine River. This imposing fortress, flanked by 17 towers, conceals a magnificent château and gardens. The château is famous for its 14th century religious artwork, in particular the ‘Tapestry of the Apocalypse’ which stretches an impressive 103 metres. The Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin, the oldest church in Angers, is also worth a visit, if only to admire the restoration which took over 20 years to finish.

There are other notable buildings to add to your itiniery: the Beaux-Arts Museum housing paintings from some of France’s most popular classical artists; the Jean Lurçat and Cointreau museums; the Galerie David Angers showing the renowned local artist’s sculptures, and Le Quai, a new theatre in a contemporary building reflecting Angers’ rich and diverse culture. Also worth a visit is the The Musée du Génie, which opened in 2009. It has 1,000 sq.m of exhibition space devoted to historical discovery of military engineering seen in relation to history, science, technology and art.  And don’t miss the ‘Maison d’Adam’, a stylish timber framed house adorned with carvings. Here religious zealots removed figures of Adam and Eve from their places by the ‘tree of knowledge’ but overlooked a less prominent figure of a man mooning at passersby! There is so much to do; you’ll wish you could have stayed longer.
The popular university ensures a large number of young inhabitants and contributes to the lively café scene. The university boasts famous alumni including the novelist Francois Rabelais.

Sam's Scoop

Try the 'Le Theatre' for breakfast or elevenses – they bake fresh mini pain aux raisins, croissants and pain au chocolate. So dinky that it doesn’t feel like you are being too indulgent!