MORNING
The great walls of Angers’ castle
dominate the city. Once through
the gates, climb the ramparts for
stupendous views of the city and
river below. The chateau was once
the home of the dukes of Anjou,
who were serious patrons of the
arts. They held court here in the
14th and 15th centuries and the
internal rooms tell their story. Also
within the walls is the Tapestry of
the Apocalypse, 328t of exquisite
embroidery produced over seven
years in the late 14th century,
telling the story of the Book of
Revelations. Stop for lunch at
the chateau’s restaurant, serving
hearty mains from €10 (£8.45).AFTERNOON
An easy way to check out the
city’s other attractions is to
follow the blue line painted on
the pavement — it guides visitors
around the best sights for more
than a mile. From the chateau, it
goes to the medieval Cathédrale
Saint-Maurice. Just behind the
cathedral is La Maison d’Adam,
also known as the House of
Artisans, a six-storey building
dating from 1491; its half-timbered
facade features carvings of
bawdy igures. For more elegant
historical decor, nip into the
Galeries Lafayette, where the
glass roof is an shining example of
Angers’ art deco architecture.EVENING
The warmer evenings in Angers
tempt visitors outside: cycle or
walk along the river to one of
the many guinguettes bars for
great food and live music. The
entertainment isn’t limited to the
bars: you can also check out one
of the many festivals happening
over the summer. Trelazé Music
Festival is a series of free concerts
in July and August, while riverside
villages such as Écoulant, Loire-
Authion and Savennières host
numerous events. There’s also a
new cycling festival — Nature is
Bike — at the end of June with
road routes, of-road trails and
night-time rides on ofer.DAY ONE RAMPARTS & RIVERSIDE BARS
IMAGES: ALAMY; GETTY
TOP 5
City escapesÎLE BÉHUARD
Wander around this secluded
island in the middle of the
Loire about 30 minutes
south of Angers to discover
winding streets of rustic
stone cottages, hollyhocks
and hydrangeas, La Croisette
riverside restaurant, and a
tiny chapel built atop a rock
in 1453 by King Louis XI after
his boat capsized in the river.
lacroisettebehuard.comBOUCHEMAINE
Located at the conluence
of the Maine and the Loire,
the village of Bouchemaine’s
peaceful riverside paths are
excellent for watching boats
as they sail up and down the
river. In early evening, pop
into La Noé bar-restaurant
for an aperitif. le-noe-
restaurant-angers.frCHÂTEAU DU
PLESSIS-BOURRÉ
With its quintessential
moat and turreted fort, the
15th-century Château du
Plessis-Bourré is the castle
of fairytales. Take a tour to
admire its exquisite painted
ceiling, commissioned by the
chateau’s irst owner Jean
Bourré — a friend of Louis XI
— and whose heart is buried
in the castle chapel.
plessis-bourre.comTERRA BOTANICA
This family-friendly theme
park celebrates the world
of botany. Expect gentle
rides, gardens abundant with
tropical and exotic plants,
a butterly house and a
tethered hot air balloon ride
for views of the park and the
surrounding countryside.
terrabotanica.frGIFFARD DISTILLERY
Giffard’s many fruit liqueurs
are a staple of cocktail bars
worldwide. Its distillery, in
the suburb of Avrillé, has a
small museum that explains
how it began with local
pharmacist Émile Giffard who
invented Menthe-Pastille,
a mint liqueur, during the
1885 heatwave. You can see
the factory, learn how the
liqueurs are produced and
taste the various drinks the
company produces.
giffard.comThe medieval La Maison
d’Adam, also known as
the House of Artisans,
which features elaborate
carvings on its exterior
LEFT: Bikers on the
picturesque Loire à Vélo
cycle route on their way
back to the cityApril 2020 49