Angers, a city in the Maine-et-Loire department in northwestern France, is about 300 km south-west of Paris. There are 150,000 people in the city of Angers and close to 270,000 in its metropolitan area. Angers, capital of the ancient county of Anjou, stands majestically on the banks of the Maine, which feeds the Loire just south of the city with the waters of the Mayenne, Sarthe and Loir rivers.

The city traces its roots to early Roman times. It occupies both banks of the Maine, which is spanned by six bridges. The district along the river is famous for its flourishing nurseries and market gardens. It is well known for its fresh produce and cut flowers.

Long known as "Black Angers" from the gloomy-coloured slate and stone quarried here since the ninth century, it is actually a very pretty, friendly town, with a lively atmosphere and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in France.

The site of a massive and ancient château, the city is also noted for the impressive twin spires of the twelfth century Cathedral of Saint-Maurice. Other noteworthy churches around Angers include St. Serge, an abbey-church of the 12th and 15th centuries, and the twelfth century La Trinité. Ruins of the old churches of Toussaint and Notre-Dame du Ronceray are also nearby. The Logis Barrault, houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts, which has a large collection of paintings and sculptures. In the middle of a main boulevard near the museum stands his bronze statue of Duke Rene d'Anjou.