Angers

About Angers

Angers, in Atlantic Loire Valley, is an artistic city on the banks of the River Maine, that is steeped in medieval history and full of beautiful gardens and parks.

Set in the famous Loire Valley, home of fantastic French wines, Angers is a stunning mixture of magnificent architecture and lush open spaces. Château d'Angers, the unmissable castle at the heart of Angers containing the famous Apocalypse Tapestry, and the Cathédrale de St Maurice are just the largest examples of the incredible architecture on offer in Angers.

Places to visit

The 14th century beauty of the half-timbered Maison d'Adam makes it one of Angers most recognisable landmarks and the house is now home to the Maison des Artisans d'Angers. Angers has many spectacular and wide-ranging museums from the Museum of Natural History to museums about slate, the history of communication, planes and gliders and bonnets and wigs.

The resident Angevins have earned their town several awards for their floral displays and parks and gardens. Take a wander through the majestic plants and trees of the Jardin du Mail and Jardin des Plantes with their statues and fountains making them a pleasant place to spend some time.

Or if you're looking to get more out and about in Angers, the city has lots of cycling and walking trails throughout the town and into the countryside of the Loire Valley - the pretty meadows of the Basses Vallées Angevins floodplains and the farmland of Ile St Aubin.

Nearby, you can explore more of the famous Loire Valley and its vineyards and visit the Château de Brissac. The towns of Saumur, Nantes and Aubigné-sur-Layon are all within around an hour's drive of Angers whilst the Jardin des Kangourous (kangaroo park) near Savennières is a perfect place to entertain the kids.

Shopping and eating

Don't forget to try the local delicacy of rillauds, small pieces of slow-roasted pork belly best enjoyed with a cool glass of Savennières, a local dry white wine. With markets in Angers every day except Mondays, there is always somewhere to shop, whether you're looking for fresh produce, flowers or local craftsmanship. The city also has many shops selling artworks, antiques and home decor alongside the chocolateries and sweet shops.

If you’d like to visit Angers, the closest port is St Malo, which lies just 2 and half hours away in the car. You can get to St Malo from Portsmouth and the drive to Angers takes in the beautiful city of Rennes.