Car Hire Angers - Mini guide to Angers

Angers, capital of Anjou, is situated on the banks of the Maine, which feeds the Loire just south of the city. With over 30,000 students, Angers is a vibrant town, rich in culture and national heritage.

One of the reasons for visiting Angers is to see two prize tapestries, the 14th-century Apocalypse and the 20th-century Le Chant du Monde. The chateau, a robust fortress that sits by the river, is well worth visiting. From here, it's just a fifteen-minute stroll east to the cathedral and a few smaller less opulent churches.

Across the Pont Verdun from the chateau is the picturesque suburb of La Doutre, where the Hospital St-Jean boasts the apocalyptic tapestry, Le Chant du Monde. Out in the suburbs are a few interesting museums, exhibiting everything from early aeroplanes to Cointreau and examples of various communication methods.

The streets around place du Ralliement and place Romain have many delectable bars and restaurants offering traditional regional dishes, none too expensive. Late-opening bars are situated around rue St-Laud - Bar du Centre, below Hotel Centre, and Le Louisiane are the liveliest places in town.

With your own transport, or by train or bus, it’s worth visiting the vineyards scattered around Angers. The Savennires vineyards and St-Aubin-de-Luigne, 20kms southwest of Angers and just south of Rochefort, are wonderful places where you can rent rowing boats during the summer. The Chateau de Serrant, just outside St-Georges-sur-Loire, would also make for a memorable visit.

Angers has its own small airport. The Gare SNCF (train station) is south of the centre, about a ten-minute walk from the chateau, and receives regular trains from Paris. The nearest long-haul international airport is Paris Orly. There are also local airports at nearby Tours and Nantes.