Place du Ralliement

The Place du Ralliement is the central square of Angers, in the Maine-et-Loire department, and the place where the city's streets converge. It is a few minutes' walk from the castle and the cathedral, in the middle of the commercial centre, and it has long been the traditional meeting point of the Angevins. The square is lined with elegant buildings of the nineteenth century in the pale stone and dark slate that are typical of Anjou, and its main architectural feature is the Grand-Théâtre, the opera house of the city, built in the 1870s, with a neoclassical facade facing the square.

Since 2010 the whole square has been pedestrianised, which has made it a calmer place, free of traffic, where people can walk, sit and talk. It is lively throughout the day, with shoppers, office workers and students crossing it on their way, and cafés and restaurants around its edge put out terraces in fine weather. In the evening it is a gathering point, and on certain occasions it becomes the stage for public events, concerts, demonstrations and celebrations, so the programme depends on the season. In the winter months a Christmas market sets up stalls on the square and in the surrounding streets, with lights and decorations, drawing visitors from the region.

The square is a good starting point for exploring the old town. From it, the streets lead to the Château d'Angers, the great fortress of the dukes of Anjou, built in the thirteenth century on a rock above the Maine river, with its seventeen towers of dark schist and white tuffeau stone. Inside the castle hangs the Apocalypse Tapestry, a monumental work of the fourteenth century that is the largest medieval tapestry in the world, and it is one of the major sights of France. The Cathédrale Saint-Maurice, a Gothic church with an unusual vaulted nave, and the Maison d'Adam, a medieval half-timbered house with carved figures, are also in the old quarter. The Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers, the Musée Jean Lurçat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine and the Quartier Saint-Aubin are all within walking distance.

The square is public and open at all times, with no charge. It suits visitors who want an easy orientation in the city and a place to sit with a drink and watch the activity. Allow half an hour. Anjou is also known for its wines, the Savennières, Coteaux du Layon and Saumur-Champigny among them, and the cafés and restaurants nearby are a good place to try them.