Crammed with crammed with postcard-pretty villages, limitless quantities of chateaus and stylish cities I believe the Loire Valley is among the most lovely locations to discover in France. Angers, the capital of the Maine-et-Loire division in western France, is one in all these charming cities!
It’s not massively often known as a vacationer vacation spot as a substitute it attracts extra discerning guests within the know however me and Scott Balaam flew out to discover this intriguing metropolis on a protracted weekend.
I discovered it was elegant however laid-back place crammed with attractive half-timbered structure, wonderful museums, spectacular chateaus, artwork galleries galore and a few significantly nice buying! However there have been only a few issues I didn’t like as properly and I’ve outlined these on the finish of the article…
I began with one of many metropolis’s most iconic landmarks the positive and really placing Château d’Angers, a medieval fortress that has stood guard over the Maine River for over 800 years.
It was a really photogenic place with towering ramparts, imposing towers, and durable partitions. Inside, I particularly cherished the intricate Tapestry of the Apocalypse which depicts the top of the world! Yikes!
I fell in love with the town’s historic centre which was dripping with architectural treasures, from the elegant Renaissance facades of the Adam Home, often known as the Home of Artisans.
This was a surprising and really well-preserved instance of Renaissance structure that after we took a wander inside found now homes workshops and studios for native craftsmen.
As we strolled across the metropolis, we stumbled throughout the zen-like Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Angers which was housed in an impressively preserved former abbey product of stone. Inside it showcased an excellent assortment of work, sculptures, and ornamental arts spanning centuries of European historical past.
I used to be a giant fan of its tranquil courtyard which was dotted with trendy artwork together with some sculptures, a few of which was very quirky!
We additionally stumbled throughout Musée Pincé, a hidden gem tucked away in a positive former mansion overlooking the Maine River.
Right here, we wandered by its richly embellished rooms, admiring its huge assortment of work, sculptures, and ornamental arts spanning centuries of historical past.
Fairly buildings apart, I personally thought that Angers was an unimaginable place to buy and I cherished wandering round its many unbiased boutiques, searching for elegant French garments and equipment in addition to quirky trinkets and souvenirs.
The primary sq. was known as Place du Ralliement and I actually favored this attractive historic sq. which was additionally the vigorous hub of the town’s social and cultural life.
From early-morning strolls to late-night gatherings, the sq. buzzed with life as locals gathered to take pleasure in a leisurely meal, sip espresso and people-watch in out of doors cafe, or just absorb the charming environment.
Surrounded by elegant buildings, vigorous cafes, and bustling retailers we sat in the course of the sq. people-watching on a deck chair with a cocktail in hand and thought it was an ideal place to spend a couple of hours within the sunshine.
Elegant store fronts and ornate balconies line the sq. however to me the Grand Théâtre d’Angers actually stood out. It was housed in a surprising neoclassical constructing and it regularly hosts cultural occasions equivalent to operas, ballets, and theatrical performances all year long. We stumbled throughout a chic mild present projected on the entrance of the constructing on our journey.
