A 13th-century fortress with 17 towers on the banks of the River Maine, the Château d'Angers is one of France's most imposing medieval strongholds — and it's just become a better reason to visit the Loire Valley. From September, the Tour du Moulin reopens to the public for the first time in 20 years after nearly five years of restoration. Climb the 83 steps to a platform 40 metres up for a 360-degree view over Angers, plus a virtual orientation table inside. Two more towers will open for the very first time, one devoted to the medieval fortress itself, the other to games played at the court of King René.

The castle's story is a busy one. Built between 1230 and 1240 under Blanche of Castile and Louis IX — an entire district of the city was demolished to make room — it was later softened into a princely residence by Duke René of Anjou. Its towers were chopped down during the Wars of Religion to fit artillery, and the castle was occupied by German forces in the Second World War before Allied bombing badly damaged it. Post-war restoration saw it welcome visitors in 1948.

Inside waits the real showstopper: the Apocalypse Tapestry, commissioned in 1373 by Louis I of Anjou and woven to designs by Jean de Bruges. At around 100 metres in its surviving form, it is the oldest and largest medieval tapestry cycle in existence, and it's UNESCO-listed. Think of it as a graphic novel from the 1370s — more than 70 scenes of dragons, angels and apocalyptic beasts in vivid reds and blues on gold-and-blue backgrounds. It's displayed in a purpose-built, dimly lit gallery that protects the fragile dyes, and it rewards a slow walk. Remarkably, it survived six centuries of war, revolution and rough handling, returning to the château in 1954 after 500 years away.

There's more than one reason to time a trip. From July 2026 to January 2027, the royal lodgings host 'HeROIc. Du merveilleux médiéval à la Fantasy', an exhibition tracing how medieval legend — knights, dragons, Grail quests — has been endlessly recycled into modern films, novels and video games. Curated with two historians known as Les Geekstoriens, it puts real swords, armour, grimoires and potion bottles next to their pop-culture descendants, and ends with 'Respawn', an installation by artist Floryan Varennes rethinking heroism itself.

For travellers, Angers makes an easy, manageable stop between the bigger-name Loire châteaux. Practical details: from May 2 to September 4 the château opens 10am–6.30pm; the rest of the year, 10am–5.30pm. The address is 2 Promenade du Bout-du-Monde, 49100 Angers. Give the tapestry gallery a proper hour — it's the highlight — and save the tower climb for a clear day.

Thanks to France Today for the original report.