guide
What is there to do in Angers for a weekend? The “ville noire”, nicknamed so for the slate of its roofs and the schist of its castle, hides one of the treasures of European medieval art, the Apocalypse Tapestry, but also an old town full of charm, renowned gardens and the easy way of life typical of Anjou.
Here are our visit ideas, the tips for enjoying the town at a low cost and the campsites for staying between Angers and the Loire.
| Information | In brief |
|---|---|
| Must-see | The castle and the Apocalypse Tapestry, the cathedral, the maison d’Adam |
| Good deal | Castle free on the first Sunday of the month, from November to March |
| For families | Lac de Maine, Terra Botanica |
| Specialities | Anjou wines, Cointreau, quernons d’ardoise |
| Getting around | On foot in the centre, tram and bike along the Maine |
| Suggested duration | One day for the town, a weekend with the Loire |
The fortress of the dukes of Anjou is impossible to miss: its 17 towers, striped with schist and tuffeau, have dominated the Maine since the 13th century. Inside, you can stroll along the ramparts, through the gardens and up to the royal lodgings.
The highlight of the visit is the Apocalypse Tapestry, commissioned around 1375 by Duke Louis I of Anjou. About a hundred metres long in its present state, it is the largest surviving set of medieval tapestries in the world, displayed in a gallery built specially for it. Allow around ten euros for entry. Good deal: the castle is free on the first Sunday of the month, from November to March.
At the foot of the castle, the cathedral quarter lines up lanes and old houses. The Saint-Maurice Cathedral, with some of the oldest stained glass windows in France, can be visited freely. Just behind, the maison d’Adam, a 15th-century half-timbered house with carved beams, is one of the finest in the west.
On the other side of the Maine, the Doutre quarter has kept its half-timbered houses and houses the former Saint-Jean hospital, now the Jean-Lurçat museum, where you can discover The Song of the World, a large contemporary tapestry in response to the Apocalypse.
Angers presents itself as a green city, and with good reason. The jardin des Plantes and the jardin du Mail are free to access in the heart of town. To the west, the Lac de Maine offers a beach, paths and water sports, ideal for families. For a themed outing, Terra Botanica, a few kilometres away, is a park dedicated to the plant world, with attractions and gardens.
The banks of the Maine can be walked or cycled, and the Loire à Vélo route passes a few kilometres away, at Les Ponts-de-Cé.
Angers is an ideal gateway to the Loire Valley, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In under an hour you can reach Saumur and its castle, the troglodyte caves, Fontevraud Abbey or the villages of the Anjou vineyards. Liqueur lovers can also visit the Cointreau distillery, at Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, on the outskirts of the town.
Our selection lists 5 verified campsites around Angers, most of them on the banks of the Loire: at Les Ponts-de-Cé, Rochefort-sur-Loire or Brissac-Loire-Aubance, less than half an hour from the centre.
To combine Angers and Saumur, the Camping Les Nobis d’Anjou, in Montreuil-Bellay, is an ideal base for exploring the south of Anjou, between castles, troglodyte caves and vineyards. Also find all our cheap campsites in Maine-et-Loire.
Angers deserves far more than a stop on the way along the Loire. The castle and the Apocalypse Tapestry alone justify the trip, and the town is easy to discover on foot, between gardens and old lanes. Come on a first Sunday of the month in winter to visit the castle for free, or in summer to enjoy the Lac de Maine and the banks of the Loire.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.
