Founded originally by the Gauls, Angers began to develop during the Gallo-Roman era. Part of the vast Plantagenêt empire during the XIIth century, which stretched from England to Aquitaine, Angers was later joined to the French royal territories. At first, the capital of an earldom and, then, from 1360, a dukedom, Angers experienced, during the XVth and XVIthe centuries a long period of prosperity. The XIXth century is marked by the powerful urbanization of the city, during which the present look of the city centre started to take shape. Since 1950, Angers has been full urban, economics and cultural expansion and ranks nowadays as the sixteenth French city. Angers knows how to bring the best out of its assets: Hightech and bio-plant technologies, a harmonious living environment and rich cultural heritage.

Angers castle is a 13th century fortress perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Maine. The earliest signs of human occupation of the site in fact date back 4000 years. The counts of Anjou first built a stronghold here in the 9th century to defend themselves against the attacking Normans. In 1230 the young Saint-Louis began building an anormous fortress of some 25,000 sq.m around the old count´s stronghold to defend his realm against the threat posed by the neighbouring duchy of Brittany. This construction was flanked by 17 towers and had only two doors. In 1360, the dukes of Anjou started to erect new buildings inside the fortress, including the Royal Lodge, the chapel, and the inner castle. The gardens are also worth a detour.

At Angers you have the possibilty to visit different Museums. Here you are for example the "Beaux - Arts Museum", with a rich collection of paintings and sculptures from the 14th century to the present day or the "History of Angers", follows the city´s development through archaeological objects and works of art, from Neolithic times up to the present day.
If you like textiles, than "The Jean Lurcat and modern tapestry Museum", will be the right place for you. These collections bring together works putting the art of textiles into its historical context.
"The Natural Science Museum", allows you to discover the extraordinary variety of life forms that have appeared on earth during hundreds of millions of years of evolution.

With more than 40 square meters of green space per inhabitant, Angers was awarded the National first prize for the deoration of town with flowers, in 2003.
The "Jardin des plantes: English style" is a 4-hectare space English-style garden, dated from 1905. Its footpaths,waterfalls and statues give it a highly romantic atmosphere.
An other big garden at Angers is the " Le Jardin du Mail:Neoclassical style". This garden, created during the 17th century, is based on the "jeu de mail", an early form of croquet.
One of the Park to visit, is the "Aboretum park: a garden of collections". The city council decided to offer garden-lovers a special permanent space and observe a wide range of ornamental plants.

The Public Park " Lac de Maine" is only 5 minutes from the town center. It is located on a 540- acre area of an exceptional beauty combining water and green area.
This park offerts, tennis-,volleyball-,football-, and basketballarea. Here you can make an barbecue or just a little picnic. The beautyfull lac give the oppurtunity of swimming, kite flying or boomerangs. Here you can feel like holiday at the beach.

The Loire district is a fertile place where a rich farm land is spread on both sides of the Loire river, that is the reason why it is oftenly called the "garden of France". There are more than 30 castles and abbeys between Orleans and Tours, so it is called the Valley of the Kings.
French kings had settled in the Loire valley since the Middle Age. Little by little, strongholds had become magnificent castles of the Renaissance, which had been restored during the 17th and 18th centuries. These castles tell about the suprising history of the great kingdom of France. You will find there, still lively, the enchanting charm of this fabulous past.

Lying in the heart of the Val de Loire, the third largest AOC (Appellations d'origine contrôlée) wine region in France and the leading region for restaurants, the Anjou and Saumur vineyards are well known for the quality and a variety of their wines. Their selected types of vine, well-adapted to the microclimates linked notably to the mild climate of the Anjou region, are dominated by Chenin blanc for white wines and Cabernet franc for reds and rosés.