The Fortress of 17 Towers: Angers and the Medieval Masterpiece

The Black and White Fortress: A Stone Sentinel on the Maine

While many Loire Valley cities are known for delicate white chateaus, Angers is home to something much more formidable: the Château d’Angers. This isn't a fairytale palace; it is a massive, "striped" fortress built of dark schist and white limestone. With 17 enormous towers guarding the River Maine, it was the power base of the Dukes of Anjou—a family that once sat on the thrones of England, Naples, and Hungary.

Walking into the dry moat today, you won't find soldiers, but rather the lush, manicured gardens that have earned Angers its title as the "Greenest City in France."

A Miracle in Thread: The Apocalypse Tapestry

The true heart of the castle, however, is a treasure that almost didn't survive. Housed in a climate-controlled gallery is the Apocalypse Tapestry, the oldest and largest medieval tapestry in the world.

• The Scale: Commissioned in 1375, it measures over 100 meters in length and depicts the Book of Revelation in a "medieval comic strip" style.

• The Survival Story: During the French Revolution, it was considered a useless relic. It was cut into pieces and used as floor mats, horse blankets, and even covers for orange trees! It was only in the 1800s that it was rediscovered and painstakingly stitched back together.

• UNESCO Status: In 2023, it was officially added to the UNESCO Memory of the World register, making it a global must-see for anyone visiting the region in 2026.

2026 Lifestyle: Why People are Moving to Angers

Looking ahead to 2026, Angers remains one of the top-rated cities for "quality of life" in France. For those looking to move, it offers a refreshing alternative to Paris (which is just 1.5 hours away by TGV).

• Sustainable Living: As the largest horticultural center in Europe, the city is famous for Terra Botanica (a world-first plant-themed park) and its commitment to urban green spaces.

• Economic Value: The cost of living is significantly lower than in larger hubs, but with a vibrant student population of over 40,000, the city feels young, innovative, and alive.

Whether you are there to taste the local Cointreau (which was born here!) or to marvel at the medieval timber-framed Maison d'Adam, Angers is a city where you can live surrounded by history without sacrificing a modern, green future.

Watch the full Angers relocation series here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSlrYNJEU6ROiTu1TGHzuiLuuGfTTCRad

Watch Part 1 of the relocation series on Saturday February 14th at 10am est: https://youtu.be/cEDkIhmY84M

Photo Credits:

Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

Photo by Clemens van Lay on Unsplash

Kimon Berlin, user:Gribeco, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons