Quartier de la Doutre

This is a bit of a secret corner of Angers. Located across the river Maine, this neighbourhood is a quiet residential area where locals and students go to eat and drink on the buzzy Place de la Laiterie. This is also home to the Chant du Monde, an impressive contemporary tapestry by modern master Jean Lurçat. The 10 tapestries are set in the 12th-century Hospital of St. John.

Terra Botanica

Take the tram to this theme park entirely devoted to plants. Wander through flower tree lanes and float through rose gardens by boat, or opt to soar above it all – you can also see it from above with a hot air balloon!

David d’Angers Gallery

Dating from the 13th century, this former Toussaint abbey church was restored in 1984. It is now covered with a glass roof, an audacious feature of modern architecture, and houses the works of sculptor Pierre-Jean David, known as David d’Angers (1788-1856).

Museum of Fine Art

After five years of extensive renovations, improvements and extensions (1999-2004), the new look Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Angers reopened its doors to the public in June 2004.

Architect Antoine Stinco, who specializes in museum interior design, was entrusted with the task of transforming the museum’s spaces to marry the collections on display to the diversity of the architectural spaces.

Located in the historic centre of Angers, on an ancient and medieval site, the museum is made up of several buildings from different époques, constructed at various stages down through the centuries: the Logis barrault, built between 1486 and 1493, the vaulted hall and the refectory built in the late 15th century, and the refectory of the great seminary, which was built in the late 17th century.

Saint Nicolas Park

This park boasts 37 hectares of green space with a large pond and crossed by the Brionneau creek. There are different little parks within it, many with walking trails where you can often witness the local fauna, including deer and goats.

Saint-Maurice Cathedral

The first building to present the characteristics of the Anjou Gothic style, the cathedral of St. Maurice (12th-13th century) offers an opportunity to admire its vaulted ceiling with diagonal ribs and a beautiful collection of stained glass from the 12th, 13th and 15th centuries.

The Maine River

This is 12-km river, a tributary of the Loire, was formed by the confluence of the Sarthe & Mayenne Rivers north of Angers. It makes for great hiking or biking as you set out of the centre of Angers and follow the marked route across the river Maine via the Pont de la Basse Chaîne. The rest of the route follows the path of the river, then winds along the banks of the Maine lake, affording great views of Angers at a distance.

La Maison d’Adam

In the heart of Angers, the Maison d’Adam is a classic Angevine half-timber house where you can discover up to 80 craftspeople, wood sculptors, hatters, artistic jewelers, ceramists and more. This is an ideal place for buying unique items or to simply discover original handmade crafts.

The Markets

There is a market every day in Angers but if you’re seeking organic produce, one of the best is the Marché Bio, which only has 10 producers but is 100% organic. It takes place every Saturday on Place Molière from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One the largest markets takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Rue Saint Laud and Place Imbach. It’s an open-air market that spreads into the surrounding streets during the summer, selling everything under the sun.

For flea market lovers, check out the market that happens on the first Sunday of every month on the corner of Rue Toussaint and Place Kennedy.