DOOMSDAY GALLERY
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Gallery in an Angevin fortress, featuring the medieval tapestry of the Apocalypse, a masterpiece by Jean de Bruges
Preserved in the semi-darkness of a purpose-built building within the castle walls, the Apocalypse Tapestry, listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World register since May 18, 2023, can only be seen by the curious who have passed through the Angevin fortress. At 4.50 meters high and 100 meters long (the original being 140 m long), it is the oldest and most important medieval tapestry in the world. This masterpiece by Jean de Bruges, already recognized as such in his own time, is made up of six pieces, each featuring a major character and fourteen biblical scenes taken from the Apocalypse according to Saint John. It bears unprecedented witness to the artistic processes of the period, from the beginnings of realism to the interest in three-dimensionality. On permanent display since the 1950s, it was restored in the 1990s. Offering several levels of interpretation, it illustrates the historical, political and social context of France during the Hundred Years' War. Commissioned around 1375 by Duke Louis I d'Anjou, brother of the King of France, it was cut down around 1760 and used as a blanket for horses and to protect fruit trees... The gallery that houses it is air-conditioned and lit in such a way as not to damage the fragile original colored pigments. It exudes a very special atmosphere, both mystical and traditional. Guided tours provide a better understanding of this major work of French heritage, which requires a great deal of explanation.
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