Our next stop in France was Angers (pronounced “ahn-hey”), a city in Western France southwest of Paris, on the Maine River a tributary of the Loire. The city has just over 150,000 people and is most known to tourists as the home of the “Apocalypse Tapestry.”
As we found common in France, Angers had a great market full of various food goods and produce. We enjoy shopping these markets, visiting with the various sellers as best we can (mostly using their limited English rather than our extremely limited French), and then making meals out of our delicious purchases.
Part of a very small park, somewhat hidden between buildings on the way from our Airbnb to the market. Thanks Google Maps for the route!Cheese truck in the marketProduce stand in the marketOur market haul on our first tripDelicious lunch created from items from the market
This was another Airbnb with a yard, where we spent a lot of time. We ate lunch and dinner here each day of our stay.
Dinner enjoyed in the yard of our AirbnbYard of our Airbnb. The wall seemed as if it could be quite old.Beautiful chrysanthemum in the garden of our Airbnb
We enjoyed a few walks along the Maine River, which had a nice path and some interesting houseboats and a small marina.
Many fisherman on the Maine; they all had quite an elaborate setupSmall barge/house boat on the Maine. This one has a sail rig, which is somewhat unusualWalking path on the MaineThe Maine, with the Chateau d’Angers on the left
This was a very livable and enjoyable city for us without seeing any “tourist” sights. But, as a bonus we visited the Chateau d’Angers, a castle with an interesting history and beautiful grounds. The Chateau is also where the remains of the Apocalypse Tapestry are displayed. The castle was founded in the 9th century and expanded to its current size in the 13th century. The tapestry was commissioned by Loius I, Duke of Anjou, around 1373. The tapestry is in amazingly good condition given its age, some of the detail and colors are very impressive.
Crossing the moat into the castle. Aparently this was always a “dry” moat and not filled with water.Gardens below the moatThe Maine and part of Angers from the castle wallsOne of several former residences, chapels, etc. within the castleVineyards, gardens, and buildings within the castle grounds. It appears as if an estate in the countryside. The vineyards and gardens include plants depicted in the 14th century tapestry displayed on the groundsMore of the grounds within the castle seen from the castle walls, with parts of Angers in the backgroundCastle walls and Angers. The neighborhood immediately near the castle has several midieval buildingsA portion of the Apocalypse Tapestry. It is in several panels and continues around the wall further on both sides.This and the following are some of our favorite portions of the tapestry
We enjoyed our time in Angers and I would recommend it as somewhere off the typical tourist path in France.
I view it as a good sign when there is a piano player at the train station
As always thanks for sharing !
Just the food alone you get to experience would make me happy, let alone all the sights, sounds and people…. Enjoy