Current Time in Angers, France

Angers is the capital of the Maine-et-Loire department in the Loire Valley region of western France, situated on the Maine River just before it joins the Loire. Gateway to the western Loire Valley, Angers is a city of considerable historical and cultural significance, best known for the extraordinary medieval tapestry cycle of the Apocalypse housed in its magnificent château, and for its position at the heart of one of France's finest wine-producing regions, where the wines of Anjou and the Saumur appellation have been celebrated for centuries.

With a population of approximately 155,000, Angers is the largest city in the historic Anjou region and a major university center with over 35,000 students at the University of Angers and several other institutions. The city has a youthful energy balanced by its deep historical heritage, and its compact historic center, dominated by the château and the cathedral, is easily explored on foot or by bicycle.

The history of Angers is shaped by its strategic position at the heart of the Plantagenet empire, the dynasty that ruled both England and much of western France in the 12th and 13th centuries. Angers was the capital of the powerful Counts of Anjou, and the most famous of these was Geoffrey Plantagenet, father of King Henry II of England, from whom the entire Plantagenet dynasty takes its name. The city remained a major center of French royal power throughout the medieval period and was the seat of the Dukes of Anjou, a cadet branch of the French royal family.

The Château d'Angers, built between 1228 and 1238 by King Louis IX (Saint Louis), is one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in France, its massive black schist towers with white stone bands encircling a large courtyard. Within the château is housed the Apocalypse Tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world and one of the most extraordinary artistic creations of the 14th century. Commissioned in 1375 by Louis I, Duke of Anjou, and woven in Paris by Nicolas Bataille, the tapestry originally stretched to approximately 140 meters and depicts scenes from the Book of Revelation in vivid colors and extraordinary narrative detail. Despite significant losses over the centuries, the surviving 103 meters of tapestry remain breathtaking in their scale and artistry.

The Cathedral of Saint Maurice of Angers, with its magnificent Plantagenet Gothic nave vaulting, contains important 12th-century stained glass windows and represents one of the finest examples of the distinctive Angevin vaulting style that originated in this region. The old town of Angers offers Renaissance townhouses, the remarkable Maison d'Adam half-timbered house, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts with a collection spanning from antiquity to the 20th century including important works of Flemish and Italian painting.

The wines of Anjou, including the Muscadet and Chenin Blanc whites, the Cabernet Franc reds, and the celebrated sweet Coteaux du Layon dessert wines, are among France's most distinctive regional productions. The wine route through the vineyards surrounding Angers provides a beautiful introduction to this viticultural heritage.

Angers is connected to Paris by TGV high-speed train in approximately 90 minutes, and regular train services link it to other Loire Valley destinations and the Atlantic coast. The city's exceptional medieval tapestry, impressive château, Loire Valley wine heritage, and vibrant university culture make it a destination of genuine distinction in the heart of France's most celebrated river landscape.