Tour des Anglais, Medieval watchtower in Angers, France.

Tour des Anglais is a stone defensive tower on the Maine River in Angers with thick walls and arrow slits that reveal its military purpose. The structure sits near the Haute-Chaîne bridge and shapes the riverbank with its solid form.

The Tour des Anglais was built in 1448 under King René of Anjou to control traffic on the Maine. It belonged to the city's riverside defences, which guarded trade and security. Its name recalls the English threat the fortifications were meant to counter.

The tower's name recalls the English mercenaries who held Angers for Henry II of England in the 12th century, before the present structure was built. Its riverside position made it a checkpoint for goods entering the city, and boatmen paid tolls here. Look for the worn stone courses at the base, marked by centuries of flooding on the Maine.

The tower is accessible from the riverside promenade and can be viewed year-round from the outside. The best vantage point is from the embankment, where visitors can see the stone structure and its details up close.

The tower's name comes from the English troops who occupied Angers in 1449 during the Hundred Years' War. The chain across the Maine was anchored at the tower, letting its garrison halt river traffic and collect tolls.