Angers in 2 days

Angers, the former capital of Anjou, is a city of art and history on both banks of the river Maine. Its historic centre is easy to explore on foot: from Place du Ralliement, the château is about ten minutes’ walk. Here is the itinerary we recommend for a weekend.

Day 1: the château and the old city

The Château d’Angers and the Apocalypse tapestry

Start with the city’s landmark. The Château d’Angers is a 13th-century fortress whose walls have 17 towers striped with schist and limestone. You can walk round the ramparts, with views over the Maine and the city’s roofs, then stroll through the gardens.

Inside, a gallery built specially for it houses the Apocalypse tapestry, the largest surviving medieval tapestry in the world. Woven in the 14th century, it now stretches 104 m across 67 panels, and it has been on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register since 2023. Allow about two hours for the whole visit, and book tickets online in high season.

Saint-Maurice cathedral

Leaving the château, walk up through the lanes of the old city to Saint-Maurice cathedral. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is a fine example of Angevin Gothic, with its distinctive domed vaults, and it keeps remarkable stained glass. From the forecourt, the Montée Saint-Maurice steps lead down to the Maine.

The Maison d’Adam

Just behind the cathedral, on Place Sainte-Croix, the Maison d’Adam is one of the finest half-timbered houses in France. Built at the end of the 15th century, its façade posts are covered in carved figures. Take time to look at them closely.

The David d’Angers gallery

A few minutes away, the David d’Angers gallery shows the work of this Angers-born sculptor in the former Toussaint abbey church, topped with a glass roof that floods the sculptures with light.

Evening around the Ralliement

End the day around Place du Ralliement and its Grand Théâtre, then the shopping streets around rue Lenepveu. For dinner or a drink, rue Saint-Laud and the nearby pedestrian streets have plenty of restaurants and bars.

Day 2: the Doutre and the gardens

The Doutre quarter

Cross the Maine by the Pont de Verdun to the Doutre, the quarter “beyond the Maine”. Its lanes still have many half-timbered houses, especially around Place de la Laiterie. From the quays, the view of the château across the river is the finest in the city.

The Jean-Lurçat museum of contemporary tapestry

In the Doutre, the former Hôpital Saint-Jean, founded in the 12th century, houses Le Chant du Monde, a monumental tapestry cycle by Jean Lurçat. This 20th-century work answers the Apocalypse you saw the day before: the two visits go well together.

The Jardin des Plantes and the Jardin du Mail

In the afternoon, enjoy the calm of the city-centre gardens. The Jardin des Plantes, with its tall trees, lawns and pond, is an English-style garden much loved by locals. The Jardin du Mail, in front of the town hall, is a formal French garden with a fountain and flower beds.

Going further

• The Lac de Maine, west of the city, for a walk or a summer swim.
• The Carré Cointreau in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, to tour the distillery of the famous Angers liqueur (booking required).
• Terra Botanica, a plant-themed park north of Angers, open in season.
• The Anjou châteaux, less than an hour away: our guide to châteaux near Angers helps you choose.

Getting around Angers

The centre is best seen on foot. For outings further afield, the tram serves the city centre, including the Ralliement and Hôtel de Ville stops, and Saint-Laud station is about 15 minutes’ walk from the centre.

Where to stay in Angers

Our two flats, Le Cocon Angevin and Coup de cœur Angevin, are in the very centre, at the foot of boulevard Foch, 200 to 300 m from Place du Ralliement and the gardens. The whole itinerary can be done on foot from your door.