Things To Do in Angers
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Angers Attractions
If you have time for shopping, wander to the pedestrian zone in the center of town. Its boutiques and small shops sell everything from clothes and shoes to jewelry and books. To satisfy your sweet-tooth stop in at Benoit, 2 rue Lices (www.chocolats-benoit.com; tel. 02-41-88-94-52). The best chocolate shop in Angers was passed from father to daughter and Anne-Francoise’s new recipes have garnered her enough awards and renown to open q boutique in Paris.
Oenophiles will not be disappointed with the selection at the Maison du Vin de l’Anjou, 5 bis pl. Kennedy (www.vinsdeloire.fr; tel. 02-41-17-68-20), where you can learn about the area’s vineyards and buy a bottle or two for gifts or a picnic.
A libation unique to Angers is Cointreau. Two confectioner brothers set out to create a drink of “crystal-clear purity.” The result was Cointreau, a twice-distilled alcohol from the peels of two types of oranges, bitter and sweet. The factory has turned out the drink since 1849. Cointreau flavors such drinks as the cosmopolitan and the sidecar. Recent marketing campaigns, including one featuring seductress Dita Von Teese, have helped modernize the brand and today some 13 million bottles of Cointreau are consumed annually.
La Carée Cointreau, 2 bd. des Bretonnières (www.carre-cointreau.fr; tel. 02-41-31-50-50), is in the suburb of St-Barthèlemy, a 10-min. drive east of the town center. If you call ahead to reserve, you can take a 1.5-hr.-long guided tour of the distillery and then visit the showroom, where you can sample and stock up on the fruity liqueur. Hours are variable; tours run on Saturdays only from October to April, and Tuesday through Saturday the rest of the year (12€–20€ adults depending on tastings, 4.50€ children 12–17, free for children 11 and under).
- Cathedral
Cathédrale St-Maurice
The cathedral dates mostly from the 12th and 13th centuries; the main tower is from the 16th century. The statues on the portal represent everybody from the Queen of Sheba to David at the harp. The tympanum depicts Christ Enthroned. The stained-glass windows from the 12th through the…Around Town
- Castle
Château d’Angers
The château, dating from the 9th century, was the base of the comtes d’Anjou. At the end of the 11th century the notorious Black Falcon, Foulques III d’Anjou, who conquered much of the Western Loire, lived here, and in time, the Plantagenets took up residence. From 1230 to 1238, the…Around Town - Museum
Musée Jean Lurçat
There are actually four museums in town, but the most interesting is in the Ancien Hôpital St-Jean. A hospital established in 1174, visitors now come for its famous tapestry, Le Chant du Monde (The Song of the World), created by Jean Lurçat between 1957 and 1966. This monumental work…Around Town
Angers Nightlife
If you head to place du Ralliement or rue St-Laud, with its many bars and cafes, you'll find yourself in the center of Angers's nightlife. For a great night of beer drinking with friends, go to Le Kent, 7 place Ste-Croix (tel. 02-41-87-88-55). The Irish pub serves some 50 beers and 70 brands of whiskey. If a night of dancing seems the perfect antidote to a day of château gazing, consider Disco Le Boléro, 38 rue St-Laud, adjacent to the place de Ralliement (tel. 02-41-88-61-19). From June to September, it's open Tuesday through Friday 11:30pm to 3am, Saturday 11:30pm to 4am. There's no cover, but beer costs around 8€. The club attracts a lot of singles, ranging in age from 18 to 45. At the disco Studio 49, 8 place Vigan (tel. 02-41-48-15-28), patrons range in age from 20 to 50, and the entrance fee is 10€, including a beverage.
