Choo-chooing in Angers

We biked into Angers/Anjou around a lake so no traffic and a nice outlook. Then up to the 13th C++ chateau of the Ducs of Bretagne. It's on a rocky spur over the Maine river (apparently the shortest river in Europe at only 10 km long. It joins the Loir and Sarthe in some strange convolution). There were neolithic and Gallo-Roman remains found during excavations, so the site has a long past.

The castle is admired for its bands of tuffa and granite.

Probably the foremost reason for visiting is the Apocalypse Tapestry. Some massive 15th C tapestries depicting the Book of Revelations that ends the NT. You've seen it all in horror movies, TV shows and Terry Pratchett books so no need to go into it in detail here. Death and destruction, Satan and his helpers, four horsemen, plagues and pestilence. Big battle, Christians triumphant.

Death gathering souls

Satan (the dragon), the beast of the land (Donald Trump) and the beast of the sea (with the 7 heads). Apparently frogs symbolise lies and deception. That's St John the Narrator on the left of each panel. 

The Beast of the Sea with the Great Whore on its back.

Babylon, and its satan worshippers, destroyed.

The room created to house the tapestry. You can see the shape of the towers too.

Of course the castle changed over time so later exhibits showed those changes, including severe damage from bombing in 1944.

The other side of the river, not originally part of Angers as it was Norman territory. 

The chapel and an unexpected vineyard.

 

Hmmm. A cheesy tourist train. How we disdain people on those.

The moat is now a colourful formal garden.

Still some original paint to be seen on the chapel.

After leaving we were diverted by a rather large truck and trailer trying to u-turn in a rather small road. (Reduced in size due to workers parking there vans on a key corner.) As we watched the tourist train arrived, blocking the truck in. So of course we boarded so we could have a seat watching the fun. Add a firetruck to the mix, a laundry van and half a dozen cars and it was most amusing.

Does her bum look big in this?

Truck + train + firetruck + cars = chaos.

It was very difficult taking pictures from a moving train. On the right is a monastery. Most of these had to be bought back from the state after they had been taken over in the revolution.

View across the river (from a moving fake train)

After the fake train ride we went back for lunch and for a closer look at some of the sights.

Last glimpse of the castle

On lots of ancient churches you can see hints of buildings like these in the stonework of the walls - angled lines where roofs used to be for example. These are possibly the first we've seen that are still extant.

The skies were threatening so we cycled home quite a bit faster than we'd come in, arriving in time to avoid some rain. Another lovely shower, enlivened by a couple bonking in nearby stall.

Fortunately, we could then relax, and start thinking about leaving France. So much to do. Where will Reggie go for winter? Where will we stay? How/where will we quarantine? Etc.