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Featured property
The Old Walnut Mill Delightful, spacious 2 bedroom 19th Century Loire Valley house for rent in the peaceful village of Barrou in the department of Indre et Loire,France. The village’s location halfway between the regional capitals of Tours and Poitiers makes it an ideal base to explore the Loire Valley and Vienne. Click here to visit owner's web site
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The Château d’Angers, construction of which began in 1230 under Louis IX is different from most of the other chateaux of the Loire as its construction only uses tufa as a decorative feature, as in the bands around its seventeen towers. The main material used is the grey Anjou schist which gives the chateau its formidable, impenetrable appearance. Although the English never actually besieged the structure, it functioned as a place of retreat during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453). It has however been recently damaged by a fire in January 2009 which has meant the closure of the Royal Apartments. Two entrances, complete with draw-bridges, allowed for access. It's towers were at one time much higher and turreted before being lowered to the height they now stand. It remained the seat of power for the Angevin kings throughout medieval times.
The dried up moats are now home to beautifully tended gardens.
The ramparts hide a lovely Renaissance style garden and chapel within the walls of the chateau, appearing unexpectedly as if on an internal plateau.
You can walk the ramparts of the fortress - where it can be quite breezy - overlooking the city and surroundings from its soaring towers and get a feeling of the security it once provided.
The chateau houses a tapestry museum that includes the famous 140 metre long Apocalypse series tapestries of Nicholas Bataille. It is very impressive - and very long - judge for yourself! Practical information Open every day PricesAdults: 6 € (reduced from € 8,
due to the closing of the royal apartments after the
fire of 10 January 2009)
Official website: http://angers.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/ Chateau d'Angers is located in the city of Angers on the banks of the river Maine.
Getting there by train-- Three trains per day make the 1 1/2-hour trip from Paris's Gare de Montparnasse.. From Tours, seven trains per day make the 1-hour trip. The Angers train station, at place de la Gare, is a convenient walk from the château. From Saumur, there are three bus connections a day from Monday to Saturday (1 1/2 hr.). Buses arrive at place de la République.. Driving from
Tours, take A85 exit onto
A11/ Visitor Information -- The Office de Tourisme, 7 place du Président-Kennedy
http://www.experienceloire.com/
http://www.experiencefrance.net/ http://www.loirevalleyexperience.com/ http://www.loirevalleyexperiences.com/
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