Things to see and do Pays De La Loire

Located in the former Lu biscuit factory, this multidisciplinary artistic space has become the city's emblematic cultural den, envied nationally and internationally. With a performance hall, a modular exhibition space and workshops on the upper floors, it explores visual arts, theatre, dance, circus, music, literature, philosophy, architecture and gustatory arts, all in an effervescent atmosphere and a warm mix of cultures and audiences. The Unique Place also has a bar, a restaurant, a bookshop, a hammam and offers a visit to the LU Tower. More than a cultural place, a real place to live! Check the website for the agenda.

It was commissioned on 18 October 1975, after three years of construction, and is one of the largest cable-stayed bridges in Europe. The cable-stayed metal structure is 720 m long; the total length of all the structures is 3,356 m, making the Saint-Nazaire bridge the longest bridge in France. It spans the Loire estuary, rises to 61 m and covers a distance of 3,356 m between Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Brévin. At the time of its construction, it was the longest bridge built in France and also held the world record for a cable-stayed bridge. The bridge replaces the old ferries that used to cross the Loire. Remains of the pier can still be seen on both sides of the river. Access has been free since 1994. The speed limit is 70 km/h. Some or all vehicles may be prohibited from driving in strong winds. The General Council has set up a bridge lane management system, which makes it possible, depending on specific events, to dedicate a second lane to the most heavily used traffic direction. Unique in France, this system went into service on August 25, 2010. The second edition of the race Les Foulées du Pont took place on September 30, 2018. There were already nearly 1,800 runners the first time.

A glass roof in place of the collapsed roof of an old church is an original idea to highlight the works of a sculptor from Angers, whose most famous works are far from his native town. You will see some preparatory drawings, statues, busts and medallions because, as you may have guessed, this was the speciality of David, known as d'Angers (not to be confused with the painter Jacques-Louis David, with whom he also trained). Most people know this artist thanks to the many streets that bear his name, but we often ignore his art. The sculptures of David d'Angers, which were generally commissioned, are to be found in the Espace Européen Gutenberg in Strasbourg as well as on the pediment of the Panthéon and in Père-Lachaise. In the former Toussaint abbey church, the plaster moulds of his works are on display, which he sent en masse to the Beaux-Arts of Angers in order to thank the city for having granted him a scholarship to study in Paris and then in Italy. The busts made by the sculptor are arranged on a mezzanine from which one can admire both the works as a whole and the elegance of the place, which would certainly have pleased this artist who himself nourished the architectural heritage by contributing to the Concorde bridge in Paris. This museum is out of the ordinary while reflecting a certain classicism, in the image of the artist that David d'Angers was, singular and yet admired by the Academy.

Built on the Lecourbe by François II (th century) to connect the neighbourhoods of La Trinité and Notre-Dame. Its massive construction offers the particularity of presenting five finger and six waterways of unequal dimensions, which allow it to withstand the strength of the current and divert the trunks of trees adrift.

The Halles de Clisson, classified as a Historic Monument since 1923, are in the heart of the medieval city. These halls, which housed the markets, were built in the 15th century on the initiative of Duke Francis II. They have had black chapters, as in the Vendée wars; this place served as a refuge for fighters from both sides. Restored many times, they have kept their original look. They are supported by a remarkable framework composed of different species (fir, chestnut, oak), the architectural opulence testifies to the intensity of the trade practiced in Clisson and the richness of the city. The halls extend from Saint-Jacques Street to the southern end of Place Notre-Dame. Today, they still house its famous market on Tuesdays and Fridays.

In its forest, on the edge of the water plan, this small commune houses a workshop to manufacture statues of lead known worldwide by the collectors! For two centuries, the same specific gestures… founded in 1785 in Paris and installed since 1994 in Anjou, the workshop has been perpetuating the great tradition of lead soldiers for more than two hundred years. Each figurine is always cast, mounted and carefully painted according to ancestral processes.

This 112-hectare park is a haven of peace for joggers with its 4, 5 or 8 km of paths around the Saint-Nicolas pond, but also a superb playground and discovery area for children, with its toy boat basin, its pedal carts and its animal enclosures. Come and (re) discover this pleasant park for a stroll, a picnic, to enjoy the refreshment bar in good weather, or why not for a little ride on the merry-go-round for young and old alike.

What an emblem! The Lu Tower is best visited from the outside. The two 38-meter high Art Nouveau towers erected by the famous cookie maker from Nantes were demolished in the 1970s. One of them was rebuilt identically in 1998. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, after climbing its 130 steps. At the top, the visit begins with the gyrorama: a machine that turns with a crank. It continues with the descent of the staircase, where we discover the history of the factory, via a video and archive photos.

Located a few meters from the banks of the Maine River, this museum is composed of two very distinct places. On the one hand, the Saint-Jean Hospital, in its magnificent 12th century room, houses Le Chant du monde, a masterpiece by Jean Lurçat. These ten panels, 80 metres long, are inspired by the famous tapestry of the Apocalypse by John of Bruges. The part known as the former orphanage dates from the 17th century and houses some sixty works exhibited chronologically, mixing temporary works and the museum's own collection (Jean Lurçat, Josep Grau-Garriga and Thomas Gleb).

Founded in 1801, the Beaux-Arts are housed in several buildings in the historic centre, including a magnificent 15th-century town house, the Logis Barrault, in the flamboyant Gothic style. Covering 3,000 m², the museum has two sections: one devoted to sculpture and painting (particularly primitive and classical), the other to the history of Angers (objects from archaeological excavations). It also includes a graphic arts room and a garden decorated with statues which, in the 20th century, replaced the orchard where the famous Doyenné du Comice pear was invented.