Description of the attraction
The Episcopal Palace is one of the landmarks of the French city of Angers, located in the west of the country in the Loire region. It used to be the capital of the County of Anjou and served as a strategically important center. The city stands on a tributary of the famous Loire River - on the Maine River.
The first bishop of Angers was elected back in 372. The episcopal residence itself existed in its unchanged place - in the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral of St. Mauritius since the 9th century. The modern building dates back to the 12th century. It is interesting that the ancient Roman city fortifications of the 3rd century served as the foundation for the walls and towers of the palace, moreover, the castle is located on the site of the Roman Anjou gate, which served as the main entrance to the city at that time.
The palace is made of various materials: sandstone, shale and tuff are distinguished. The building is made in the form of the Greek letter "tau", which is not typical for French architecture. However, the "tau" sign has great symbolic meaning in Christianity - it is believed that the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified was made in this very shape. The lower floor of the building was set aside for office space, and the main halls, including the hall for the diocesan synods, are located on the two upper floors. There are also several living rooms under the roof itself. It is also worth noting the kitchen, made quite unusual - in the shape of a circle.
Since the 12th century, the episcopal palace has been rebuilt several times. In 1438, a spacious hall appeared here, where the library is now located, and in 1508 the monumental main staircase leading to the ceremonial hall was completed, which, however, remained unfinished until 1864.
In the 17th century, arcaded galleries were added to the synodal meeting hall, and in 1751 the ancient round kitchen was slightly altered. In 1861-1864, a new wing was added to the palace, and the entire structure had to be seriously altered in order to maintain the necessary proportions. Unfortunately, in the course of time, the decoration of the northern facade of the building was lost. However, despite all the restructuring, the episcopal palace in Angers is a real architectural masterpiece, surprisingly preserved from the 12th century and escaped destruction during the French Revolution.
Now it houses a museum of religious art, opened in 1910. Among its exhibits, it is especially worth noting elegant antique tapestries.
Since 1907, the castle has been under the protection of the state and is a monument of the history and culture of France.
