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Château d'Angers, France | |
| The Angers Château is a fine example of a fortified castle--not one of the romantic châteaux that we associate with the Loire, but just as fascinating. | ||
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The Château d'Angers is an imposing structure, featuring 17 towers and largely built from dark colored schist, alternating with limestone, giving it a bit of an ominous feel. But don't let it put you off; it has lovely gardens and a fascinating history, and also houses the beautiful Apocalypse Tapestry. More...
You enter the château across a drawbridge. Rather than seeing a moat, you look down on some beautiful sculpted gardens. Once in the courtyard, you can begin the visit of the ramparts. This involves various stairs up and down, and you will get a variety of wonderful views of the château, the grounds, the Maine River, and the town of Angers. You can start your visit with a stroll through the Jardin Suspendu, the hanging garden that is up a level from the ground floor entrance. Started by King René I d'Anjou (1409 - 1480), also known as Le bon roi René, the garden contains a variety of medicinal and aromatic plants and other plants that were used for dyeing. As you walk along the ramparts, be sure to look at the various towers. The ramparts were redeveloped in the 14th century, and at that time the towers were levelled: they used to be about 10 meters (33 feet) taller! From the ramparts you'll also get views of the royal residence, the royal chapel, and the seniorial courtyard. The royal chapel has a single nave and lovely 15th century stained glass windows that depicts René d'Anjou and his wife Jeanne de Laval and the Virgin Mary. Built by Louis II and Yolande of Aragon in about 1410, it has played many roles. Like many structures in France, in the 18th century it served as a prison; later, it was bombed in World War II.
You may also see archaeological work being done, as efforts continue to uncover the history of this important château. This site has been occupied since the 9th century by the Counts of Anjou. In 1230, Blanche de Castille (mother of King Louis IX, known as Saint-Louis) had the château built to protect the borders of France. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Dukes of Anjou (Louis I, Louis II, and King René) lived in splendor (and protection) here, culminating with le bon roi René, whose statue graces the square just outside of the château. In 1375, Louis I, brother of King Charles V, commissioned the Tapestry of the Apocalypse. Created over the next seven or eight years, this magnificent tapestry is the oldest woven work of its size. It is beautifully displayed in a purpose-built structure on the château grounds; be sure to allow plenty of time to visit it! More... Château d'Anjou
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Above, The royal chapel and gardens in the Château d'Angers.
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