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🏰 Crossing the Drawbridge: A 360° VR Getaway to Château d'Angers

Shauna September 04, 2018

Explore More: France Adventures > Medieval Towns

🏰 Crossing the Drawbridge: A 360° VR Getaway to Château d'Angers

A wide panorama of the imposing medieval walls and towers of Château d'Angers
The incredible medieval walls of Château d'Angers, France.

Our visit to Angers, France, was such a magical experience. It's this really interesting, very old medieval town with a moat and epic drawbridge, all nestled inside a bustling, modern city.

It was so different from Locronan, which felt like visiting the past because it was so remote. Here, the contrast is immediate. As you cross the drawbridge, you see the modern city all around you, but then the huge, 190-foot-tall walls block out the present, and you feel like you are safe inside a huge, protective fortress.

In This Adventure Guide:

🌟 The Golden Nugget

Don't Miss This: The biggest "wow" moment is crossing the main drawbridge. Don't just rush across! Stop and look at the flags waving, peer into the cool mechanisms that pull the bridge up, and look down into the gorgeous gardens in the moat. It's the perfect spot to feel the contrast between the medieval and the modern.

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO CHÂTEAU D'ANGERS

Wander the grounds, see the moat gardens, and explore the chapel in these 360° views.

The Landscaped Moat Garden:

Entrance to the Château:

Inside the Royal Chapel:

View of the Chapel from the Wall:

"The huge walls block out the present, and you feel like you are in the safely of the huge protective walls."

🗺️ Visit at a Glance

  • 🏞️ Location/Park: Château d'Angers, Angers, France
  • 🥾 Hike/Activity: Exploring a Medieval Castle & Gardens
  • 📏 Distance: N/A (Lots of walking!)
  • 📈 Elevation Gain: N/A (but many narrow spiral staircases)
  • ⏳ Recommended Time: 2-3 Hours
  • 🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: The Drawbridge, the Moat Gardens, Walking the Ramparts, the Royal Chapel.

Adventure Rating:

  • Wow Factor:💎💎💎💎💎[e.g., A 10 out of 10!]
  • Difficulty:⛰️⛰️⚪️⚪️⚪️[e.g., Easy, but lots of stairs]
  • Crowds:🚶🚶🚶⚪️⚪️[e.g., Moderate]

🥾 My Castle Story

A Fortress That's Never Fallen

As I look back on our Tour of France, my favorite places we visited were the medieval cities. Château d'Angers was built around 1230, but its foundations are on a castle site from 718 AD! The 17 towers that piece together the wide wall are 130-190 feet tall, and the walking path on top is at least 10 feet wide.

But probably the most impressive trait: **Château d'Angers has never been taken by an invading force in all of history.** That is amazing!

A Maze of Wonders

Once inside, the quaint royal chapel feels both intimate and inviting. The walk up on the garden was a maze of wonders, finding small gardens tucked into any small places they could find. Walking along the wall, you are again reminded of the contrast, seeing the modern city below while surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and ancient structures.

We also loved walking the narrow spiral staircases in the castle towers, which lead to incredible views and fascinating exhibits of clothes, armor, weapons, and furniture from the era.

Castle Gallery

Here are a few of our favorite photos from exploring the castle grounds.

The grand entrance and drawbridge chains
The grand entrance, showing the chains for the drawbridge.
Looking back through the main gate
The view as you look back through the main gate.
The Royal Chapel inside the walls
The Royal Chapel, an enshrined relic of the Passion.
Inside a castle tower with arrow slots
Inside a tower, with arrow slots and a spiral staircase.
Gardens inside the castle walls
Gardens blooming everywhere inside the walls.
The adorable old castle at the end of the lane
The beautiful, turreted old castle at the end of the lane.

💡 Your Traveler's Tips

  • Don't Skip the Moat: The moat is not filled with water, but with gorgeous landscaping art! It gives you an incredible sense of the castle's scale from below.
  • Wear Good Shoes: To get the best views, you'll be climbing a lot of narrow, medieval spiral staircases.
  • Explore the Ramparts: The walk along the top of the wall is a "maze of wonders," with small gardens tucked into every corner and amazing views of the city.

🔎 VR Video Treasure Hunt!

When you watch the immersive 360° videos, see if you can find these special moments I captured!

  • Find the heavy chains and mechanisms that lift the epic drawbridge.
  • From the wall, look down to see the "landscaping art" in the dry moat, then look out to see the modern city.
  • Find the small, quaint chapel for the royal family.

⭐ Final Thoughts

I was so glad we put Château d'Angers as one of our Tour of France destinations. I loved the medieval characteristics and the gorgeous gardens. It was definitely a 10 out of 10 for me. My daughter even found amazing deals on fun clothes in the city! We all came away from Angers with a bounty of cool memories.

What's the most impressive castle you've ever explored?

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,

Shauna from VRGetaway


Shauna

Posted by Shauna