Angers: A Medieval Dream

Accompanied by my classmate, Ann, from my home college, we ventured to Angers on a cold final March weekend. This town is graceful and simply elegant with the Chateau d'Angers as its vocal point.

The castle is a beautiful structure built in the 9th century and is home to the Apocalypse tapestry. Much of the castle was closed off and from what we experienced it is only worth venturing inside on a warm sunny day. You are able to see most of its beauty for free from the outside.

The Musée de Beaux Arts is very impressive according to my travel partner Ann who is a lover of galleries and it appeared so to my eyes also. We stumbled upon a gallery full of fantastic sculptures next to the Musée, housed in a restored church building with a glass roof. It was most certainly the find of the day.

Walking around this charming town is an attraction in itself. The cobbled streets go uphill and downhill and are full of pretty flowers and dainty shops. Adam's House is a well known tourist spot and a very different shop with many wonderful crafts.

The tourist office in Angers are extremely helpful and you can cover all of the sights in a few hours. Apart from the magnificent castle my highlight of the day was the grounds of the Jean-Lurcat museum. The following photos will hopefully do it some justice...

I would have to admit that Angers is the most beautiful of the few towns I have visited so far. With its castle, clean sandy coloured buildings and streets, and beautiful tourist spots it really is a gem. The only element missing that day was the sun! A must for those who wish to explored a medieval and picturesque town.

Like Mother like Daughter

Just found some old photos of my mother's trip to La Rochelle in 1975 when she lived with a French family. She was 15 then. A bit of history repeating itself I suppose.

La grand-mere francais et ma mere avec la tour de la lanterne

                                                               La Rochelle 1975

The Beautiful Town of La Rochelle

This pretty port town is a must visit during the Summer or late Spring. We were blessed with the weather the weekend we went.

Three of us Irish girls travelled here. We walked around all day Saturday and explored this enchanting, medieval town. There are signs of its ancient past all around the old town and this is especially true when one sees its Hotel de Ville (or mayor's office). It appears as more of a medieval castle inside than the usual large house one is accustomed to when visiting a French town.
We also took the boat to Fort Boyard, a fortress built in the water a few miles from La Rochelle. The sun was shining and we got some great views of both La Rochelle and the surrounding coastline.

Fort Boyard is a very impressive structure and a nice relaxing tour on the water where you can pass by windsurfers, sailboats and trawlers. It is also fascinating to imagine how the structure was built so far from land.

The three towers in La Rochelle are also a nice attraction. We decided to venture to the lantern tower where you can see the graffiti of pirates and sailboat captains among others. If you are a European citizen between 17 and 25 and you present your passport you will gain free admission. The boat to Fort Boyard costs 14 euro.

Things to note: Restaurants by the waterfront can be very expensive. There is a nice Irish run pub called Fitzpatricks on the pier and is a nice spot for a drink and for football and rugby matches. There are also some lovely boutiques and branded stores on the streets of the old town. Overall it is a beautiful town especially on a sunny day. Some beaches are a few kilometres nearby but the town is a great spot for a weekend of sightseeing and shopping.