Historic Loire Valley Towns

Angers

Angers is located 300 kilometres south of Paris and its inhabitants are known as Angevins.

With a population of around 270,000 for the metropolitan area, Angers is one of the largest cities in the Loire Valley. The city traces its roots to early Roman times. Straddling the Maine River it is known for its historic nurseries and market gardens which still occupy the banks – famous for its fresh produce and flowers. Angers is known as the "most flowered city in Europe".

Angers is France’s 16th largest city and quite a lovely place to visit. Angers is 1 and a half hours by TGV train from Paris. Angers is the perfect location for enjoy a short break, with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of things to do.

Angers is the former capital of Anjou and lies along the Maine River 8km above its junction with the Loire River. Angers is famous for its fortified castle which was built by Blanche de Castille and his son Louis IX.

Angers is the seat of a bishopric dating back to the 3rd century, a prefecture, a court of assizes and a court of appeal.

Getting to Angers from Paris is very easy as it is well served by Autoroutes, and by the TGV. Angers is located 300 km south-west of Paris and is known it’s impressive Chateau d' Angers. The castle is best known for being the home for Roi René, prior to the reign of Louis X1.

The town itself is an archetypically picturesque French village, extending from the castle walls, and on virtually unmarred by modern construction. Pierced with wide, straight streets, well endowed with public gardens, and surrounded by historic, treelined boulevards, beyond which lie new suburbs, Angers is one of the truly pleasant towns in France.

The prosperity of the town was historically due to the great slate-quarries of the region, but the distillation of liqueurs from fruit, cable, rope and thread-making, and the manufacture of boots and shoes, umbrellas and parasols are also still leading industries.

Up until the French Revolution, Angers was the seat of a celebrated university, which was founded in the 14th century. The city is still host to the L'Université Catholique de l'Ouest (UCO), one of five Catholic universities in France and the Université d'Angers which is a state university.

Angers today has a population of 160,000, of which, 40% of the population is under 30 years old, mainly due to the 30,000 students in its two Universities. This dynamic little city combines research and education with leisure and culture.

Angers Events:

Angers Accroche-Coeurs Sep 2007 (annual)	150,000 partygoers turn out to enjoy Angers' annual Accroche-Coeurs street festival
Anjou Theatre Festival 12 Jun - 7 Jul 2007 (annual)	The Anjou theatre festival presents high-quality productions in front of the region's most striking monuments - putting the spectacle in front of the spectacular
International Scoop and Journalism Festival Nov 2007 (annual) Centre de Congrès	Media-focused International Scoop and Journalism Festival, which celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2006. France's top journalists and photographers converge on Angers for this event and award ceremony.
Mondial du Lion Oct 2007 (annual)	Major equestrian event which welcomes Olympic competitors from 15 countries to Angers. The Haras, where the event is held, is a beautiful park surrounding a vast, imposing castle and makes it well worth the visit.

Special Offers: