Once the capital of Anjou county, Angers is dominated by the Château d'Angers, perched majestically on a 32-meter-high crag above the Maine River. Built in the 13th century as a fortress, this vast citadel is enclosed by stout defensive walls, with 17 round towers.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, court life flourished here under the Dukes of Anjou, patrons of the arts. The château is known for its tapestry collection, most notably the Tapestry of the Apocalypse, an important work of medieval art. One of the fun things to do while visiting the castle is to take a walk along the ramparts, which afford panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
In the old town of Angers, the Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d'Angers surprises visitors with its unusual architectural details. The spacious interior features three large domes (constructed in the 12th century) known as "Angevin Gothic" or "Plantagenêt" vaulting.
Another dazzling impression comes from the cathedral's medieval stained-glass windows, in particular the "Glorification de la Vierge" window. A short walk south of the cathedral, the Musée des Beaux-Arts has a superb collection of fine art housed in a stately 15th-century hôtel particulier. Also not to be missed is the Collégiale Saint-Martin, a Romanesque church with elements dating to the Merovingian (5th and 6th centuries) and Carolingian (10th-century) eras, as well as the Gothic period.
Other cultural attractions include the Galerie David d'Angers, which displays the sculptures of Pierre-Jean David in a renovated 13th-century abbey church; the Musée Jean Lurçat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine, which showcases contemporary tapestries; and the Musée Pincé, devoted to Greek, Egyptian, Roman (and other) antiquities.
Topping the vacation to-do list for families with kids is to spend a day at Terra Botanica, an amusement park with a botanical-themed twist. (The park is a 10-minute drive outside the historic part of Angers on the Route d'Epinard.)
Within the extraordinary gardens of Terra Botanica, around 275,000 diverse plant species thrive: roses, dahlias, orchids, water lilies, rare vegetables, herbs, spices, tropical palms, cactuses, and thousand-year-old trees. Grown-ups will adore the beautiful Rose Garden and the traditionally landscaped Grandma's Path, while kids will love the play area, boat rides, Butterfly Greenhouse, and the hanging gardens on Elves' Island
