About The City

Located in western France, Angers is considered one of the gems of the Loire Valley. It is situated on the Maine River in the heart of one of the largest forested regions of France. Angers enjoys its reputation as the most flowered city in Europe, with 1,297 acres of parks and public gardens and 222 acres of lakes and ponds. LPI students in Angers will appreciate the castles, flowers, fruits, and above all, the quality of the French language. Thanks to the TGV Atlantique, a high-speed train, Angers has become very accessible - only 1 hour and 30 minutes from Paris. As a university and sporting town, Angers has a very young population- 38% of the population is under 25 years of age, including 22,000 students! The Andes Royal Family gave their name to Angers and to the Anjou Region. They were a powerful princedom, with great dynasties of counts and dukes. The main testament to their dynasty in Angers is the Dukes' 13th Century Castle. This château, which is more like a fort than a palatial residence, is a formidable fortress with 17 towers and a 15 meter high wall lining its perimeter. A hearty climb to the top affords a spectacular view of the city. Angers prides itself on its strong artistic community. Most notably, Angers has a rich heritage of tapestry that was left to the city by the Dukes of Anjou. Angers keeps two of the most important masterpieces in the history of tapestry: the contemporary tapestry "Le Chant du Monde," which is kept in the Musée Jean Lurcat, and the Apocalypse, housed in the Dukes' Castle, which is believed to be the oldest and largest tapestry in the world. Angers is also home to the C.N.D.C. (Centre National de Danse Contemporaine), where the best dance companies from around the world come to work; the dramatic New Theater of Angers (Nouveau Théâtre d'Angers) and the Festival d'Anjou. In addition to its art collection, Angers also has two excellent universities as well as 14 institutes and superior schools.