Origins of Angers Castle
Angers Castle is a superb example of feudal architecture. It was built between 1228 and 1238 under King Louis IX to replace an old 9th-century fortress.
The rampart had then 17 towers, each 40 metres high and topped with a pepper-pot roof. The terrace of the north tower housed a windmill, hence its name, the Tour du Moulin – Mill Tower.
The height of these towers was deliberately reduced, and the rampart walkway was built to facilitate movement during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, providing better visibility of attackers.
The ramparts still offer exceptional views of the city and the picturesque Maine River and valley below. Their eastern section now houses a charming medieval garden planted with all the medicinal and decorative plants of the period.
The moats, originally dug in 1485, have since been filled in, giving way to impeccably maintained French-style gardens that highlight the medieval ramparts.
All that is left of Angers Castle
Angers Castle was severely damaged during the Second World War. However, many vestiges remain, such as the Logis Royal (Royal Lodgings), Galerie du Roi René, chapel, Grande Salle des Cérémonies (Great Hall of ceremonies), Logis du Gouverneur (Governor’s Lodgings), and the Châtelet (gatehouse).
The castle grounds were once divided into two distinct parts: the Cour Seigneuriale (lord’s courtyard), which housed the Royal Lodgings, the King René Gallery, and the chapel, as well as ancillary building, such as staff quarters and the kitchens. The lower courtyard housed the garrison.
1- The Great Hall or Grande Salle, once a symbol of royal power, was built in the 9th century and enlarged to an impressive 500 square meters in the 11th century. Today, only a facade, a monumental fireplace, and the 12th-century entrance, still intact, remain.
2- The foundations of the Saint-Laud Chapel, which was in use until the 14th century, were discovered during the construction of the Apocalypse Gallery in 1953.
3- The current chapel, commissioned by Yolande of Aragon in the early 15th century and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, is a superb example of Angevin Gothic architecture. It features the coats of arms of Yolande of Aragon and Louis II, a single rectangular nave, and vaulted bays.
4- Part of the Royal Lodgings – Logis Royal, erected in 1410 by Louis I of Anjou, still stands near the present-day chapel.
5- King René Gallery – Galerie du Roi René was built between 1435 and 1453, and is a masterpiece of architectural finesse. Its facade, reinforced by four gables and buttresses, boasts a fabulous interior that includes a staircase and fireplace, decorated with the emblems of the House of Anjou and the Cross of Lorraine, symbol of the House of Anjou.
Indeed, legend has it that the Dukes of Anjou returned from the Crusades with a fragment of the Cross, which they entrusted to the monks of a nearby monastery. When King René travelled to Eastern France to marry Isabelle of Lorraine, took this relic with him, then known as the Cross of Anjou.
After René of Anjou’s victory over Charles the Bold at the Battle of Nancy, the Cross became known as the Cross of Lorraine.
6- The Governor’s Lodgings – Logis du Gouverneur boasts two 18th-century wings flanking a tower staircase dating from the late 15th century.
7- The fortified gate, Châtelet, was built by René of Anjou in 1456. Its asymmetrical silhouette, buttressed walls, and pepper pot-topped towers clearly reflect its defensive character.
8- Finally, the Apocalypse Gallery – Galerie de l’Apocalypse, erected on the site of former kitchens, staff quarters, and the Saint-Laud Chapel, houses one of the finest medieval tapestries, the Apocalypse Tapestry.
Counts of Anjou, one of the great feudal dynasties
The formation of the great feudal dynasties dates back to the conquest of northern France by Clovis, King of the Franks, who laid the foundations of what would become the Kingdom of France.
The king rewarded his loyal vassals with vast territories in exchange for unwavering allegiance. However, over time, these vassals grew in power to the point that their territories evolved into distinct feudal domains.
The Norman raids of the 9th century prompted these vassals to seek permission from King Charles the Bald to build their own fortifications, thus strengthening their autonomy. Conscious of their strength, they then demanded the right to pass on their titles and lands to their descendants, refusing to pledge allegiance to the King of France until their demands were met.
Charles the Bald yielded to their demands, using their financial and military support against the Normans. The result was a fragmented France, composed of numerous independent kingdoms and principalities. However, despite their newfound autonomy, the major vassals remained mired in perpetual territorial conflicts, thus maintaining a state of internal strife within the kingdom.
Angers Castle – Dynasty of the Counts of Anjou
Fulk the Red – Foulques le Rouge, Viscount and Count of Anjou, founded the first Angevin dynasty in 898, and took residence at the Angers Castle. This title was passed down from generation to generation.
His son, Fulk II the Good – Foulques le Bon, expanded his domain by acquiring Maine.
Fulk III (987-1040), known as Fulk Nerra for his complexion, left a lasting mark on French history. An ambitious and cunning statesman, as well as a formidable warrior, he ruthlessly annexed territories such as Blois, Touraine, and Saintonge.
Geoffrey Martel, son of Fulk Nerra, secured the County of Tours and reconquered Maine before his death, leaving the succession disputed among his nephews and resulting in territorial losses for the French monarchy.
Fulk IV suffered further territorial setbacks, losing Maine, Saintonge, and Gâtinais.
Fulk V the Younger – Foulques Le Jeune (1109-1131) skillfully exploited the Franco-English rivalry, consolidating alliances through strategic marriages. He acquired Maine and forged marriage alliances with both French and English monarchs.
Geoffrey V (1131-1151), nicknamed Plantagenêt because of the sprig of broom he wore on his headdress, founded the Plantagenet dynasty and ruled over Anjou, Maine, and Touraine. His descendants, kings of England from Henry II to Richard III, perpetuated this name.
In 1152, Henri Plantagenêt married Eleanor of Aquitaine, inheriting vast territories, including Aquitaine and Toulouse. Ascending the English throne as Henry II, their possessions eclipsed the kingdom of France, provoking a conflict with Louis VII.
Their descendants, kings of England from Henry II (1154) to Richard III (1485), bore this name.
Anjou and Touraine thus remained key regions in the territorial conflict between the Plantagenêts and the Capets (kings of France descended from Hugh Capet) until Philippe II seized them. However, a rebellion supported by the English took place after his death in 1223, and Anjou briefly fell under English rule.
The regent Blanche of Castile and her son Louis (the future Louis IX) took advantage of a truce to fortify the castle of Angers.
Angers Castle – Dynasty of the Dukes of Anjou
In 1346, King Louis IX (Saint-Louis) reconquered Anjou and gifted Angers Castle to his younger brother, Charles of Anjou.In 1360, Anjou was elevated to the status of a duchy, and during the Crusades, the Dukes of Anjou extended their territorial influence by acquiring Provence, Sicily, Naples, Albania, and Jerusalem.
Charles I commissioned the construction of numerous castles in the valley, and Louis I commissioned the famous Apocalypse Tapestry, now displayed in a dedicated gallery within the castle.
King René, son of Louis II and the last Duke of Anjou, was born at the castle. Renowned for his many talents as an artist, poet, musician, and mathematician, he established himself as one of the most cultivated minds of his time.
A master of communication, King René also forged close ties with his subjects, organising lavish festivities and reviving the traditions of chivalry. His passion for botany led him to introduce the famous Rose of Provins and the carnation, making Anjou a vital centre for plant cultivation and breeding.
For 33 years, King René enjoyed a happy marriage with Isabelle of Lorraine up to her death in 1453. He then married Jeanne de Laval, finding happiness again. Despite the annexation of Anjou by Louis XI, King René accepted his fate philosophically and retired to his county of Toulouse, where he died at the age of 72.
Department of Maine-et-Loire
Coordinates Angers Castle: Lat 47.470000 – Long -0.560000
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Gerd Eichmann CC BY-SA 4.0 – Great hall and Châtelet, chapel and Tour du Moulin and Logis du Gouverneur by Sémhur CC BY-SA 4.0 – Logis Royal by Manfred Heyde CC BY-SA 3.0 – Châtelet by Mith CC BY-SA 3.0 – Galerie du Roi René by Pj44300 CC BY-SA 3.0 – Roi René d’Anjou by Nicolas Froment (1430–1484) Public domain
