Château d'Angers - Tapestries of the Apocalypse

 There were many reasons why I might have been drawn to the city of Angers.  It was the first weekend of our holiday, an easy train trip on the TGV after a night flight from Canada, and a propitious choice for these first days where we are fighting sleep and working on adjusting to European time frames.  The city is quite stunning.  Our hotel was situated within a 10 minute walk of the train station and only 15 minutes from the old section of town. 


Once settled in our lovely corner room with the sun streaming through the windows, we head off on a reconnaissance trip, attempting to find our bearings in order to take full advantage of the next day.   Within a short time, we fell upon the castle, its vast moat and the impeccable gardens laid out in typical medieval fashion.  Maybe not by accident, we found the Cave à Vin in very close proximity.  We could anticipate an enriching time the next day once refreshed from our travels since not only would we visit the castle and taste some great wines, we would have the opportunity of seeing the famous Apocalypse tapestries (www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6hQkh5wixA).

The Tapestries of the Apocalypse is a remarkable piece of 'art'.  Commissioned by Louis Ier of Anjou,  coordinated and financed by Nicolas Bataille,  designed by Jean Bondol and executed by the work shops of Robert Poisson, a Parisian weaver, the final work measured 140 metres long by 6 metres high.  The work was done over a period of 5 years between 1373 and 1382.  With the passage of time and inevitable damage through  almost 700 years of its existence, the current dimensions now measure 103 metres by 4.5 metres.  It is a miracle that this work survived some of the most destructive periods of history.


The Château of Angers is a perfect resting place for such a significant work relating with majesty the visions of the St. John the Apostle as written in the last text of the New Testament.  Since 1954,  it hangs in a gallery  especially conceived for the work.