The Middles Ages in the Anjou is marked by the important figures of the Plantagenet dynasty. Henri Plantagenet, through a game of matrimonial unions and legacies, became the head of an “empire” which stretched from Scotland to the Pyrenees. However, from the beginning of the 13th century, the Kings of France reasserted their rights to the possessions of the Plantagenets. At the end of the Middle Ages, Anjou is definitely under the rule of the French crown. Back in the Capetian fold, Anjou became one of the “key ” regions against the threat of the Anglo-Britons. The 13th and 14th centuries brought an increase in the population of Anjou, and unprecedented economic, religious and cultural development. The 17th century is marked by the hardening of the monarchy to the provinces, and a return to Paris as the seat of Power. Richelieu and then Louis XIV layed
siege to the town of Angers during the Fronde Rebellion. Strife continued and the French revolution came. The conflicts finally subsided at the beginning of the 19th century. The region bore a new face, that of agriculture, specialized farming and town redevelopment. However, the area kept clear of the industrial revolution, allowing it to grow more graciously into the 20th century.

At it’s historical peak the Loire Valley stretching from Tours to Angers and beyond became the playground of nobility and Kings. Many, many magnificent edifices were built, and can be seen throughout the region. The châteaux and abbeys which are the pride of Anjou were built in “tuffeau” (sandy chalk stone), but this stone from Saumur hides a rare treasure. More than 1,000 tunnels still remain. They are now converted into cellars, museums and art galleries. The magnificent castle-fortress of Angers was built by King Saint Louis between 1228 and 1238 , and it was Louis I of Anjou who commissioned the magnificent tapestry of the Apocalypse, which is the oldest and largest tapestry in the world and is still housed in the castle, now a museum.

The chateaux of France's Loire Valley represent a nation of builders starting with the necessary castle fortifications in the nine hundreds to the splendor of those built a thousand years later. When the French kings began constructing their huge chateaux here, the nobility, not wanting or even daring to be far from the seat of power, followed suit. Their presence in the lush, fertile valley with its moderate climate, began attracting the very best landscape designers. Before long, and to this day, it is known as the "Garden of France".

By the middle of the 15th century, King Francois I, had shifted the center of power in France from the Loire back to the ancient capital of Paris. With him went the great architects but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where most of the French royalty preferred to spend the bulk of their time. The ascension of King Louis XIV in the middle of the 17th century permanently made Paris the permanent site for great royal chateaux when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favor and the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing chateaux or build lavish new ones as their summer residence in the Loire.

The French Revolution saw a number of the great French chateaux destroyed and many ransacked, their treasures stolen. The overnight impoverishment of many of the deposed nobility, usually after one of its members lost their head to the guillotine, saw many chateaux demolished.

Today, these chateaux, some privately owned, serve as homes, a few opening their doors to tourist visits, while others are operated as museums. Below are a few nearby for your pleasure.

Angers

The Château of Angers is a fortress. It was built by St. Louis in the 13th century (1230).This fine example of the defensive architecture of the Middle Ages is located on a Gallo-Roman site. It has seventeen towers and there is nearly a kilometre (1/2 mile) of walling. It is a schist and “tuffeau” (sandy chalk stone) construction. Behind the wall, the building now keeps watch on a masterpiece of inestimable value. This chef d’oeuvre is the Apocalypse tapestry. It was commissioned by the Duke of Anjou, Louis I, in 1375, and it is the biggest collection of medieval weaving in the world. The Château of Angers is open all year round.
For further information:
Web : http://www.monum.fr
Tel.02.41.87.43.4

Le Plessis-Macé

The castle of Le Plessis- Macé was built out of black schist stone at the end of the 11th century. It was transformed into a magnificent sporting residence in the 15th century. The whole building bloomed in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The "tuffeau" balcony and the chapel, within which is a rare Gothic tribune, are its finest examples. Nowadays, one can appreciate the contrast between the 15th century buildings and the remains of the old 13th century castle. There are many things to do at the castle of Le Plessis-Macé. It can be visited , it can be rented out for seminars or a family event , or one can take part in educational workshops there. It is the setting for the "Très tôt en scène" theatre festival and the Anjou Festival.

Saumur

The Château of Saumur has an unforgettable panoramic view of the Loire and the City. It was christened "the castle of love" by King René, because of its fairytale like silhouette. In the 15th century it was rebuilt for the purpose of sporting and other pleasures.

It now holds one of the finest decorative art collections in France and it has a remarkable horse museum. The Château of Saumur is open daily from April to September, and every day except Tuesday from October to March.

For further information:
Tel: 02 41 40 24 40
Web: http://www.saumur-tourisme.net/chateausaumur.html

Montsoreau

Le Château of Montsoreau is located on a strategic site and it is an exceptional tourist site. It overlooks the Vienne and the Loire, and it is only a few kilometres from the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. From the top of its towers there is a good view of the Anjou and Touraine area. is open from April to June and Mid September and October every day except Tuesday, and daily from July to Mid September.

Chateau Brissac

The Château of Brissac The classic walls of Brissac, the tallest chateau in France, soar from the centre of a splendid park full of age-old trees.

For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.91.22.21
Web: http://www.chateau-brissac.fr/

Serrant

The Château of Serrant is immense, powerful, and splendid. Napoleon would have said of it "I finally see a Château in France". Inside it, the most beautiful collections of privately owned furnishings in France are to be admired, such as tapestries, paintings, priceless effects, rare furniture, and especially the exceptional library containing 12,000 books.

For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.39.13.01
Web: http://www.chateau-serrant.net/

Brézé

This Château harbours wine cellars, storerooms, granaries and troglodyte bakeries lodged in the walls of the deepest (dry) moat in Europe. From the roofs of the Château of Brézé, there is a magnificent view of the vineyards that have been in production for over 800 years. The Château of Brézé is open from May to September, every day except Sunday.

For further information:

Tel: 33(0)2.41.51.62.06
Web: http://www.chateaudebreze.com/

Its mild climate and environment as well as the enthusiasm of its men have brought to the Anjou a large quantity of gardens and parks, each more amazing than the other. The valleys are full of this natural heritage, the Angers valleys being one of the most beautiful regions in Europe. The garden tradition continues in the Anjou. Here is a selection of the most original parks:

* Parc du château de Lathan: on the theme of gallantry in love.
* Jardin du château du Pin with 18 levels and 48 clipped yews.

* Jardin potager of the château de Montriou, a wonderful kitchen garden, and its collection of cucurbitaceae.
* The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, which has a collection of rare tree species.
* Chemins de la rose à Doué-la-Fontaine, one of the finest rose gardens in France.
* The Oriental Park of Maulévrier for a walk that will give you a serene change of scenery in its Japanese gardens.
Web: http://www.parc-oriental.com/
* The medicinal and aromatic plant garden of Chemillé for an initiation to natural medicine.

Horses are a very important part of the regional life in Angers, and this can be seen throughout its history. Two famous characters stand out, these being the King René and the owner of the Lorie Château. These great men have passed down their passion in the form of the Cadre Noir in Saumur, and the Lion-d'Angers National Stud, as well as famous sports competitions (Mondial du Lion (Lion World Championship)), and also beautiful riding paths. The two emblematic faces of horse riding in Anjou are of course, Saumur and Lion-d'Angers. The cavalry riding school was set up in Saumur at the end of the 17th century and gave its first "carroussels" in 1828. The national riding school and its Olympic stadium are, the scene of a complete set of international events and of world show-jumping events. Colbert founded the Lion-d'Angers in 1685. This national stud is located on the 160 hectares (395 acres) of the Isle- Briand estate. This center breeds stallions and trotters and is very much in the eye of the general public. It is also the place where one of the major complete horse riding events takes place, this being the Mondial du Lion (Lion World Championship).

The Anjou has kept from its past a considerable network of navigable rivers. In total, there are more than 400 km (248 miles) of rivers open to the public. Follow the local boatman and fisherman and their tracks along the rivers. On the banks or, on board cruising boats which you can rent or be chauferred in, take the time to discover the Anjou slowly and enjoy a calmer, more peaceful natural vision of the region.

The Loire is the first river to have been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's natural heritage. This natural paradise will arouse your five senses. It is a pleasure to the eyes with masses of landscapes just waiting to be admired. It is a pleasure to touch its old stones and its plants, and then there are the tastes and smells, which come from the local products and the restaurants. There are lots of animal species happy to be in Anjou, to look at and listen to. To appreciate the local plant and animal life, don't forget to stop over at the Valley of Anjou Observatory and the Loire-Anjou-Touraine nature reserve. Anjou also has a huge choice of restored and working mills to be admired by the visitor. The force of paddle wheels powered water mills. The water mills of Sarré in Gennes and Chenillé-Changé can be visited. Discover: Aurillée, Moulin de la Croix-Cadeau, Doué la Fontaine, Moulin Cartier (Tower)

There is a total of more than 2,700 kilometres (1,677 miles) of walking trails that are protected and signposted. A series of guides are available at the County Tourist Office in Angers and other towns.

Museums in Angers .......

The Jean Lurçat Museum

This museum is housed in the old St. Jean's Hospital buildings, which were founded at the end of the 12th century by a charitable layman. What remains of this hospital is the immense patients' ward with a Plantagenet Gothic vaulted ceiling dating from the 12th century, its 12th century apothecary room, the chapel, the cellars built into the schist mound and the timber framed attics. Since 1967, "Le chant du monde" (the song of the earth) by Jean Lurçat is displayed in the patients' ward. This is a modern wall-hanging which includes the ten tapestries woven between 1959 and 1965 in the Aubusson workshops. This symbolic wall-hanging is a modern replica of the Apocalypse tapestry of Angers, which Lurçat discovered in 1937.

For further information:
Tel: 33 (0)2 41 24 18 45.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Beaux Arts)

Since 1796, it has been housed in the Barrault residence, a late 15th century private home, recently extensively enlarged and renovated. French and primitive painting by painters such as Chardin, Barbot, Watteau, Fragonard, Boucher, David, and Ingres, are well represented in this museum There is also a remarkable selection of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance artefacts (Goldsmith's work, enamel, and ivory arts), European painting is also well represented with a fine collection of northern and Italian paintings.

For further information:
Tel. 02 41 05 38 00 33 (0)
Web: http://www.angers.fr/mba
Address: 14 rue du Musée, 49100 Angers

The Pincé Museum

This museum is located in the 16th century Pincé residence (see facing photo by Pierre David). It is a place where one is totally immersed in classical antiquity, such as the Greek and Roman (represented by pottery, glasswork and bronzes) and the Egyptian civilisations (Gods, funeral rites, scripts, daily life). There is also a Japanese art collection (theatre masks, pottery, porcelain, laquerwork), a recreation of a tearoom and a Japanese etchings room. Chinese art is also represented here (fabrics, tobacco containers, etc.) Temporary exhibitions are organised on a regular basis.

For more information:
Tel: 33(0)2 41 88 94 27.

The Modern Tapestry Museum

Not far from St. Jean's Abbey, the old orphanage was restored in June 1986 and became the Modern Tapestry Museum. Permanent collections of Jean Lurçat's and Thomas Gleb's work are to be admired upstairs. The museum also has a rare collection of paintings, drawings, book illustrations, pottery, war and post-war tapestries.

For more information:
Tel: 33(0)2 41 24 18 48.

The David d'Angers Gallery

The (Toussaint) All Saints Abbey is one of the biggest 13th century abbeys in Angers. Since 1984, it houses a collection of plaster models, medallions, marble and bronze statues sent by Jean-Pierre David (1788-1856) to his home town's museum. There is a gallery of modern busts (Balzac, Hugo, Goethe, Paganini, etc.) upstairs, and a selection of the artist's 500 medallions. These show how much David d'Angers was interested in the human face.

For further information:
Tel: 33 (0)2 41 87 21 03

The Regional Angers Marcé Air Museum

This museum was created by some aviation enthusiasts who were determined to safeguard in our memories the role of those great men of the great flying adventure, such as Roland Garros, René Gasnier, etc. The aim of this museum is to give us an opportunity to discover a collection of light and winged aircraft. Temporary exhibitions, guided conferences, and restoration of the "vieux coucous" (old cuckoos) demonstrations are also organised.

For further information:

Tel: 33 (0)2 41 33 04 10
Web: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/museeregionalgppa/

JANUARY
"Premiers plans" festival in Angers : European Young Cinema Festival.

FEBRUARY
Industrial Tourism Week : a dozen companies open their doors to the general public.

MARCH TO OCTOBER
"Les Rendez-vous horticoles" (horticultural meetings) : discover the horticulture of Anjou around Angers, Saumur and Cholet.

APRIL
National Books and Wine fair : This is a cultural meeting in Saumur, with books and wine for subject. Many famous authors and actors are present at this fair.

The Cholet Carnival : for 3 days its carnival in Cholet, much to everyone's pleasure, especially the young.

MAY
Loire Cruise in Song : From Saumur to Nantes, enjoy a taste of the times of old by visiting the markets, exhibitions and old gaffers.

Upstream Salt Waterways of the Loire : from Guérande to Saumur, follow the old river boatmen paths.

JUNE
Bike festival : The Loire offers both its banks to cyclists for a magnificent day of cycling with 70 kilometres (43 1/2 miles) scattered with different stages of this event.

The International Festival of Giants and Masks (every second year): for a whole week, Saumur celebrates its masks. These are manufactured here and it has become famous for them.

Military Music Festival (every second year): an army atmosphere invades Saumur: uniforms, brass instruments and marches all follow the music.

The Oriental Festival : Saint-Florent-le-Vieil hosts a traditional oriental music festival.

JUNE and JULY
Anjou Festival : Every year, the exceptional decoration of the Plessis-Macé château (and a few other historical buildings) are the sites for a dozen shows which take place in the open air at night. The atmosphere is unforgettable.

JULY
Rose Week: This is a very famous floral exhibition that takes place in Doué-la-Fontaine. The Saumur Carrousel : There are two shows to view, the equestrian events of the Cadre Noir and a display of armoured vehicles and cars.

AUGUST
Hemp Festival : Montjean-sur-Loire brings us back to the hemp tradition. There is a combination of agricultural work and markets. Meetings of the Imaginary : The Abbey of Fontevraud will carry you away in a nocturnal theatrical and musical event, in which figure the nuns and historical characters who have given the Abbey all its splendour (Henri II the Plantagenet, Aliénor d'Aquitaine, etc.)

SEPTEMBER
"Les Accroche-Cœurs" : for 3 days, Angers is filled with festivals and street shows. National Bonzaï and Japanese Floral Art Show : The oriental park of Maulévrier invites you to a change of scene in the Far East and teaches the art of bonsai and Japanese floral art.

OCTOBER
"Mondial du Lion" (Lion World Championships) : The national studs of Isle Briand, located at Lion-d'Angers is host every year to a great number of riders who come to participate in the world events in this discipline. Thousands of spectators come to admire dressage, show jumping and cross-country events. "Les Hortomnales" : Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne is the scene of a big event, which has cucurbitaceae for theme.

NOVEMBER
International Scoop and Journalism Festival : Every year, the "Centre de Congrès" (Congress Centre) hosts this festival, which awards the best journalism productions (photo, video and press). Many exhibitions are given in the town of Angers.

DECEMBER
The Christmas Markets: Many towns in the county region celebrate Christmas with chalets and arts and crafts trades.

According to the legend, it was St. Martin, the Bishop of Tours, who brought back the first "Chenin" plant from Germany in the 4th century. This vine was to bring nobleness to the great white wines of the Loire.

The well-rounded white wines brought fame to the Anjou region, from the time when the Dutch traders followed the Loire from the Layon, before conveying them all over the world. These wines are the "Coteaux du Layon" with its quince and honey flavor, and the two great wines, the "Quarts de Chaume" and the "Bonnezeaux", the vineyards of which rise above Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Thouarcé. You can't miss the brightness of the golds and greens on the vineyard road. The "Layon" can be drunk as an aperitif or with a foie gras from Anjou.

Another great Anjou wine is the "Savennières", which is a dry white wine, and which is well know for its two "appellations" (certifications): "la Roche aux Moines" and the "Coulée de Serrant". These great wines should ideally be appreciated with a seafood platter or a fish from the Loire.

"Pimpant", the rosé should be drunk chilled and young with sautéed eel or a plate of "rillauds", which is a flavorful pork bacon conserved in lard.

Traditionally a white wine region, the current wine production is now more oriented towards red wines. "Fleuron du Saumurois" and "Saumur-Champigny" are wines that leave you "with your head free after drinking". Their flavor of wild fruits will enchant your palate. On the other hand, the Anjou red wine "Anjou-villages" gives off a scent of raspberry and its color is a gleaming ruby red.

The coolness of the cellars dug into the "tuffeau" stone and the know-how of the wine producers combine to give birth to the "Crémant de Loire". This is a Saumur brut sparkling wine which can be drunk at the start of a party or which will end your meal with lots of exuberance.

Many wineries are open for tastings to delight your palette.

Other pleasures of the table....... Another great wealth of the Anjou is its fruit and vegetables, and this can be seen in its colorful market stalls, which abound in many of the villages almost every day of the week. There are quantities of asparagus, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, melons, apples and plums, all matured in the sun and the warm winds. You must taste the traditional "Pâté aux prunes" plum pastry, which is a pie filled with greengages, and the "Doyenne du Comice", a delicious pear hybrid created in Anjou.

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