Angers, Medieval fortress city in Maine-et-Loire, France
Angers is a city in the Maine-et-Loire department, positioned where the Mayenne, Sarthe and Loir rivers meet before joining the Loire. The built-up hills are covered with traditional slate roofs that create a continuous gray skyline across the residential and commercial districts.
The settlement began as the Roman town of Juliomagus in the 2nd century and later became the seat of the Counts of Anjou. The royal fortress with its 17 towers from the 13th century marks the period when Anjou became part of the French crown lands.
Local life centers around neighborhood markets where producers from the Loire valley sell vegetables, flowers and wine produced in the surrounding countryside. Residents gather along the riverbanks throughout the year to attend festivals and outdoor events that reflect the region's agricultural traditions.
The city is well connected by rail with regular services from Paris taking around 90 minutes to reach the main station. The old quarter and main sites lie within walking distance of each other, making it easy to explore the center on foot without relying on local transport.
The castle gardens hold an exceptional collection of rare plant species maintained by botanists from across Europe. The town also hosts a major seed conservation center where thousands of plant samples are stored for research purposes.
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