We were woken this morning by a thunderstorm that was clearing the air following yesterday's high temperature but which itself had passed by 8.30ish and for about another hour we had a slight drizzle - it was a welcome relief from yesterday's 35 degrees. However it is only a slight reprieve as tomorrow is due to be back around 37 in Poitiers where we head to.
Today we did the recommended tourist walk which was said to take 2hr30min but took us 6hr30min with stops at various locations and for lunch - I guess we also don't walk as fast as we used to!
Angers has a very well maintained historic area dominated by the Chateau D'Angers which houses the Apocalypse Tapestry.
The Chateau is a fortress built on a rocky promontory overlooking the River Maine a promontory which has been occupied by man since the Neolithic period i.e from 2500BC.
Over the many years it has been added to, rebuilt, destroyed and built again. The perimeter is nearly a half a kilometre long and there are 17 towers standing 30 metres high
A castle within a castle
The tapestry housed within the fortress is the oldest surviving set of tapestries. It is a highly prestigious work commissioned in 1375 by Louis I and took seven years to make.
The dimensions are staggering - it consists of six pieces each measuring 6 metres by 23 metres i.e. 828 square metres of work. Also it is made entirely of wool and there is not a knot visible in the backing of the tapestry
These two photos when joined together form the bulk of the tapestry!
There were many other grand sites on the walk but they really are too many to mention or provide photos of.
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