What to do and see in Maine et Loire, Pays de la Loire: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do

The apparent austerity of this shale and limestone fortress, which the young king Louis IX had built on the edge of his kingdom in the 13th century, contrasts with the tranquil grounds inside the castle walls and the pleasant residence of the Dukes of Anjou, composed of buildings constructed at the end of the Gothic era. To transform and embellish the castle into a more welcoming home for the Anjou court, terraces and gardens were laid out, galleries built and the gateway erected. The star attraction within the walls of the Château d’Angers is the Tapestry of the Apocalypse or woven in 1375. With its 104 metres in length, it is the largest medieval tapestry anywhere in the world. Open: > 2nd May to 4th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. > 5th September to 30th April: from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Last admission 45 minutes before closing time. Closed: > 1st January, 1st May and 25th December.

Brissac is among the most impressive of all the Loire Valley Castles ! It is nicknamed " The Giant of the Loire Valley" !! And it is the home of the 13th duke of Brissac. It treasures inside a beautiful collection of ancient paintings and fine furnitures . The visit also includes the discovery of a unique private theater dedicated to Opera by a duchess of Brissac in the late XIX th century . Visitors will enjoy a wine tasting in the cellars of the wines produced on the estate ( especially the Rose of Anjou ) A beautiful landscaped gardened park of 200 are invites visitors to stroll alongside 5 romantic "promenade" ...

Situated at 12m underground in the centre of Saumur, the Louis de Grenelle wine cellars have been producing, in the purest tradition, Cremant de Loire and Saumur Brut ever since 1859. In this former tufa quarry, you will discover the secrets of traditional wine-producing methods. After the guided tour there will be a commented wine-tasting session. You will also be able to discover wine in a wine-dedicated space.

Unique in its kind, Pierre et Lumière is an underground route where you can admire impressive sculptures representing the monuments and heritage of the Loire Valley. Hundreds of tons of stone were cut, cut and chiselled to the smallest detail. Nearly 3 years of work have been required to realize the sumptuous sculptures of castles, towns, villages and churches of our region, often carried out in low relief from the rock. A subtle luminous staging reveals the beauty of volumes and details. Lighting evolves, turns, changes colour to sublime every facet of the work. At the end of the visit, an unforgettable experience for children! A tuffeau stone, tools and wise advice. Here they are ready to create a memory that will remain etched in the stone and in their hearts.

The former Toussaint abbey church, dating from the 13th century, was restored in 1984. It is now covered with a glass roof, an audacious feature of modern architecture, and houses the works of sculptor, Pierre-Jean David, known as David d’Angers (1788-1856). David d’Angers’ work is scattered throughout France and Europe. Therefore, the main interest of the gallery in Angers is that it showcases the quasi-totality of his sculptures as plaster models, the preparatory studies for the final work, the latter being cast in bronze or sculpted in marble and stone. An idyllic promenade where the light reveals the beauty of the sculptures!