Things to see and do Angers

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.

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.

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.

In 2016, Angers obtained the label, «Fleur d 'or», which a municipality can only obtain once every 6 years, and which rewards the city's efforts in landscaping. With over 100,000 trees, 800 hectares of green spaces, 43 parks and gardens, 300,000 plants produced in municipal greenhouses, Angers is certainly a green city. In the nineteenth century, greenhouses, nurseries and fruit gardens forged a horticultural identity that lasted since Angers created in 2005 Vegetates, a pole of competitiveness of the plant, bringing together companies, training and research centers, which makes it an international reference in the field of plant innovation. An ideal city to stroll through the greenery: in the city center, the Jardin des Plantes, with its romantic atmosphere made possible thanks to its English layout in 1901, has 70 remarkable trees while the Jeanne-d 'Arc lanes have disappeared for young shoots. In spring and summer, the Mail garden bloom offers beautiful colors in the eyes of walkers. They can also enjoy the 110 ha of Saint-Nicolas Park, which will also delight athletes, children (playgrounds and animals) and nature lovers of all kinds. Its history is ancient since it is Foulque Nerra who dug the pond to create quarries and mills. Much more recently, Balzac Park extends its roads and woods along Maine and is regularly flooded. Its creation is the result of numerous consultations which ensure the sustainable and ecological management of these ancient landfills and alluvial meadows rich in biodiversity. The Arboretum is a pleasant place to relax with flowers, greenhouses and water bodies. There is a small semi-enclosed area in which all the biotopes in the region have been recreated with information signs. Terra Botanica, the first playful and pedagogical green park, offers nearly 110,000 m ² of gardens and aquatic areas with a quarantine of attractions.