Just before the Maine River meets the Loire, you will find the medieval city of Angers, capital city of the Anjou province. It is dominated by the fortress-like Chateau d’Angers, stronghold of a 9th century warlord, and it is the home of Cointreau. An RV rental holiday will give you the opportunity to explore every corner.
Rent with confidence thanks to Motorhome Republic
Motorhome Republic has just on 100,000 customers who have booked their holidays with us. When you check out our comprehensive website, you can read feedback from our independent review site, TrustPilot. All you have to do to follow suit is input details of your plans into the search engine, and you will be able to compare all available campers at a glance, across a number of rental brands. While you can book securely online, you can also call and speak to our multi-lingual motorhome experts. They are available around the clock. Finally, you have the back up of a lowest-price guarantee.
Further Afield: An Angers Road Trip
Angers has its own airport: Angers-Loire.ButNantes-Atlantic Airport is the closest international airport, 80km away. Angers is also accessible on the ‘Tres Grande Vitesse’, taking around an hour from Paris.
Near to Angers is Saumur, famous for its sparkling wine, mushrooms and horse riders, the Cadre Noir. You can visit the National Riding School over summer to watch these elegant experts train their horses, or attend a show.
The Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park crosses the Loire River and is 253,000 hectares of heritage, both natural and man-made.
In case you would like to venture further afield, you could easily go to Nantes, Tours, Rouen or Paris.
Motorhome camping in Angers
Camping Du Lac de Maine is a campsite handy to Angers on the Maine Lake. It has a pool and lakeside walks. It is a drive back to Angers, but there is a large Carrefour supermarket within walking distance.
A little further into Saumur is Ferme du Bois Madame, an organic farm which breeds Cob Normand, native French draft horses. They have a campsite which can accommodate up to 65 people.
Food and Drink in Angers
There is plenty to keep the gastronome happy in Angers. The Anjou region is the home of Chenin Blanc, which is made into wines that range from dry to sweet. The most commonly planted red grape in the Val de Loire is Cabernet Franc. Start with tastings at the Maison des Vins de Loire right in Angers, before heading out for a vineyard visit. Chateau La Variere is a showpiece Anjou vineyard, covering more than 100 hectares where they have been making wine since the 15th century.
For night-time dining there are plenty of authentic, family-run bistros to try. Chez Remi is a tiny restaurant on Boulevard du Marechal Foch, with an open kitchen. While the menu is small, the list of ingredients and local suppliers sits along the cafe wall, and is comprehensive. They serve local and often organic wines. Meanwhile Benoit, also in Angers, is one on France’s finest chocolate shops.
Angers Attractions: What to see and do
Any visit must start at the Chateau, which dominates the landscape with its massive drum towers. Inside, the main attractions are the Apocalypse Tapestries. These recount, in incredible detail, the visions of St. John in the Book of Revelation. Fully restored from the chaos of the French Revolution, they sit in a purpose-built gallery over 100m long.
To get around the rest of the city, take a seat on Angers’ modern trams. For small change you can glide through the pedestrian-friendly city centre on a 24 hour, go-anywhere ticket. The tram has its own bridge over the River Maine, and a backwards-facing seat will provide a magnificent photo-op of the Castle and Angers’ Cathedral.
Take a tour of Espace Cointreau to learn how sweet and bitter orange peels can be made into such a memorable drink, with time for tastings – so be sure to leave the campervan rental parked up.
Driving tips, staying safe in the Loire Valley
France is the land of the good life, so be aware of how much alcohol you are consuming. If planning an all-day vineyard tour, designate your motorhome driver at the start of the day.
