Apocalypse Tapestry, Medieval tapestry series at Château d'Angers, France
The Apocalypse Tapestry is a monumental wool work at Château d'Angers that extends about 100 meters in length and stands 4.5 meters tall. The 74 scenes depict stories from the Book of Revelation with intricate medieval craftsmanship throughout.
A Duke of Anjou commissioned this wool tapestry between 1377 and 1382, with a notable artist creating the designs and a producer overseeing production in Paris. The work was made during an era when such large textiles were primarily crafted for noble families.
The scenes weave together religious stories with medieval imagery, showing dragons, angels, and demons alongside fortified towns and armed figures. These wool panels reveal how people of that era imagined sacred narratives and used textiles to teach about faith.
The work sits in a climate-controlled space that protects the wool structure and ensures its longevity. Visitors should plan time to move slowly through all the scenes, as the tapestry is rich with details worth taking in at a steady pace.
During the French Revolution, portions were used as floor coverings and insulation material before being rediscovered in 1848 and carefully restored. This recovery allowed visitors today to see nearly the complete original work.
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