Editing Angers (section)

== Geography ==

=== Location ===

[[File:Aerial photograph of Angers and confluence of Loire and Maine rivers - 20050911.jpg|thumb|The [[confluence]] of the Maine and the Loire some {{convert|4|mi|sp=us}} south west of Angers{{sfnp|EB|1878}}]]
Angers is located at the geographical center of the [[Maine-et-Loire]] department, on the road ([[A11 autoroute]], ''L'Océane'') which connects [[Paris]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The city is situated just south of the confluence of the [[Loir]], [[Mayenne (river)|Mayenne]] and [[Sarthe (river)|Sarthe]], which form together the river [[Maine (river)|Maine]]. The Maine crosses Angers and heads south towards the [[Loire]]. The confluence of the three rivers and the proximity of the Loire make up a natural crossroads which favoured the foundation of the antique ''Juliomagus''.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Angers is located {{convert|91|km|0|abbr=on|sp=us}} from [[Nantes]], {{convert|124|km|0|abbr=on|sp=us}} from [[Rennes]], {{convert|132|km|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} from [[Poitiers]] and {{convert|297|km|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} from [[Paris]]. It is also {{convert|118|km|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} far from [[Pornic]], the closest sea resort, situated on the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

Elevation varies {{convert|12|to|64|m|sp=us}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].<ref>[http://professionnels.ign.fr/ficheProduitCMS.do?idDoc=5323862#top ''Elevations''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502050806/http://professionnels.ign.fr/ficheProduitCMS.do?idDoc=5323862#top |date=2 May 2011 }}, Institut geographique national</ref>

Angers is a hilly town, particularly marked by a rocky promontory dominating the lower valley of [[Duchy of Anjou|Anjou]]. This was the site of the ancient city and still houses the town's [[château d'Angers|castle]], [[Angers Cathedral|cathedral]], and medieval quarters.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

At the north and south, where the river Maine arrives in and leaves Angers, the landscape is formed by islands, ponds and floodplains which are a haven for birds and a typical flora of the [[Val de Loire]]. The [[étang Saint-Nicolas]] and [[Lac de Maine]], both artificial, are among the biggest green areas of the city.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

=== Metropolitan area ===

The commune of Angers is bordered by ten other [[commune (France)|communes]] which form various suburbs. These are, clockwise, [[Avrillé, Maine-et-Loire|Avrillé]], [[Cantenay-Épinard]], [[Écouflant]], [[Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou]], [[Trélazé]], [[Les Ponts-de-Cé]], [[Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire]], [[Bouchemaine]] and [[Beaucouzé]]. 22 other communes situated farther form with them the [[Communauté urbaine Angers Loire Métropole]]. All these peripheral communes are situated within {{convert|17|km|0|sp=us|abbr=on}} from Angers proper. Together, they have around 272,400 inhabitants.

=== Climate ===

Angers has an [[oceanic climate]], with moderate rain year-round. Winters have scarce frosts and snowfalls, and summers are warm and sunny.

{{Weather box
| location = Angers (located in [[Beaucouzé]], 1991–2020 normals)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 17.1
| Feb record high C = 21.2
| Mar record high C = 24.8
| Apr record high C = 29.7
| May record high C = 32.8
| Jun record high C = 40.1
| Jul record high C = 40.7
| Aug record high C = 38.7
| Sep record high C = 35.7
| Oct record high C = 30.5
| Nov record high C = 22.2
| Dec record high C = 19.0
| year record high C = 40.7
| Jan high C = 8.8
| Feb high C = 9.9
| Mar high C = 13.3
| Apr high C = 16.4
| May high C = 19.9
| Jun high C = 23.5
| Jul high C = 25.8
| Aug high C = 25.9
| Sep high C = 22.4
| Oct high C = 17.4
| Nov high C = 12.3
| Dec high C = 9.2
| year high C = 17.1
| Jan mean C = 6.0
| Feb mean C = 6.4
| Mar mean C = 9.0
| Apr mean C = 11.3
| May mean C = 14.7
| Jun mean C = 18.1
| Jul mean C = 20.0
| Aug mean C = 20.1
| Sep mean C = 16.9
| Oct mean C = 13.4
| Nov mean C = 9.1
| Dec mean C = 6.3
| year mean C = 12.6
| Jan low C = 3.3
| Feb low C = 2.9
| Mar low C = 4.6
| Apr low C = 6.3
| May low C = 9.6
| Jun low C = 12.6
| Jul low C = 14.3
| Aug low C = 14.3
| Sep low C = 11.4
| Oct low C = 9.3
| Nov low C = 5.9
| Dec low C = 3.5
| year low C = 8.2
| Jan record low C = -15.4
| Feb record low C = -12.8
| Mar record low C = -10.6
| Apr record low C = -3.4
| May record low C = -1.6
| Jun record low C = 2.3
| Jul record low C = 4.5
| Aug record low C = 5.1
| Sep record low C = 2.5
| Oct record low C = -3.2
| Nov record low C = -8.0
| Dec record low C = -13.4
| year record low C = -15.4
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 69.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 54.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 52.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 54.7
| May precipitation mm = 59.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 48.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 45.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 48.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 56.5
| Oct precipitation mm = 71.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 72.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 74.9
| year precipitation mm = 709.3
| Jan precipitation days = 11.4
| Feb precipitation days = 9.5
| Mar precipitation days = 9.4
| Apr precipitation days = 9.7
| May precipitation days = 9.2
| Jun precipitation days = 6.8
| Jul precipitation days = 6.1
| Aug precipitation days = 7.1
| Sep precipitation days = 7.6
| Oct precipitation days = 10.6
| Nov precipitation days = 11.9
| Dec precipitation days = 11.7
| year precipitation days = 110.9
| Jan snow days = 1.7
| Feb snow days = 1.9
| Mar snow days = 1.4
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.1
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.4
| Dec snow days = 1.3
| year snow days = 7.0
| Jan humidity = 88
| Feb humidity = 84
| Mar humidity = 80
| Apr humidity = 77
| May humidity = 77
| Jun humidity = 75
| Jul humidity = 74
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 80
| Oct humidity = 86
| Nov humidity = 89
| Dec humidity = 89
| year humidity = 81.3
| Jan sun = 68.4
| Feb sun = 97.7
| Mar sun = 142.3
| Apr sun = 179.6
| May sun = 205.0
| Jun sun = 224.2
| Jul sun = 235.3
| Aug sun = 225.3
| Sep sun = 191.7
| Oct sun = 120.9
| Nov sun = 84.1
| Dec sun = 70.8
| year sun = 1845.1
| source 1 = [[Meteo France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_49020001.pdf
| title = Beaucouze (49)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 21 July 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Infoclimat.fr (humidity, snowy days 1961–1990)<ref name="Infoclimat">{{Cite web |title=Normes et records 1961–1990: Angers-Beaucouzé (49) - altitude 50m |url=http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07230-angers-beaucouze.html |access-date=9 January 2016 |publisher=Infoclimat |language=fr}}</ref>
}}

=== Urban morphology ===

[[File:Angers vers 1850.jpg|thumb|Angers around 1850, with the river Maine at the middle, the [[Château d'Angers|castle]] and the medieval town on the right bank and La Doutre and its river port on the left bank]]
The oldest streets and buildings in Angers are located on the promontory where the [[Château d'Angers|Angers castle]] stands. The urban structure there dates back from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fasti Ecclesiae Gallicanae - Extrait du volume d'Angers |url=http://fasti.univ-paris1.fr/extrait_angers.php |website=fasti.univ-paris1.fr}}</ref>

A military presence there was attested from the 3rd century<ref>[http://www.archives49.fr/histoire-de-lanjou/il-etait-une-fois-lanjou/iiie-siecle/ Archives 49 : il était une fois l'Anjou] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712202540/http://www.archives49.fr/histoire-de-lanjou/il-etait-une-fois-lanjou/iiie-siecle/ |date=12 July 2014 }}.</ref> and some remains of an antique city wall are still visible on the castle grounds.<ref>Angers, le château, Inventaire général des monuments et richesses artistiques de la France, 1991</ref> This wall was built to protect the city from the Germanic invasions of AD&nbsp;275 and 276.

During the Middle Ages, the castle was the core of the city's defence system, composed of tall city walls and river chains which prevented enemy ships from going up the Maine. The walls were last reconstructed between 1230 and 1240, by order of [[Louis IX of France|King Louis IX]].<ref>''Historique du château d'Angers'', Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel</ref> Today, portions of the wall are still visible in Rue Toussaint and on Boulevard Carnot, as are some towers, like the ''Tour Villebon'' and the ''Tour des Anglais''.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Before the first [[cadastre]] (1810), the city had not extended much beyond its medieval limits: on and around the castle promontory, with some dwellings on the other bank of the Maine in a neighbourhood called ''La Doutre''. That part of the city developed quickly during the industrial revolution and became a big river port. Industry was encouraged by firms like Bessonneau (textile factories) and [[Cointreau]] (distillery).{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

After 1850, many suburbs appeared around the train stations and the slate quarries to the south in [[Trélazé]]. Despite the port in La Doutre, demographic growth and urban extension were more significant on the eastern bank of the Maine, where the former Juliomagus had been founded.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The medieval city center was redeveloped and expanded from 1791. The ''Place du Ralliement'', the main square, was then built in place of three churches destroyed during the [[French Revolution]] and, later, ring boulevards planted with trees replaced the city walls.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The architectural style used is mainly [[Haussmann's renovation of Paris|Haussmanian]], but there are also some [[Palladian architecture|Palladian]], [[Art Nouveau]] or [[Art Deco]] buildings.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

After 1945 and the [[Second World War]], several large [[council estate]]s made of tower blocks were built around the city center, the first of them being Belle-Beille in 1953. Industrial activity changed drastically: port activity declined while new factories, such as [[Technicolor SA]] in 1957, were built. During the 1970s, the collective approach to urban development gave way to more individual houses being built for the [[middle class]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

As the metropolitan area continued to grow, commuting became more common. New shopping areas were constructed close to the villages which had been subsumed into the city. Because of the floodplains that surround the city north and south, Angers can only grow significantly on an east–west axis.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

<gallery class="center">
File:Tour des anglais, Angers (1).jpg|The ''Tour des Anglais'', a remaining part of the medieval city walls
File:Ardoise d' Angers.jpg|Traditional slated roof
File:Angers Oisellerie.jpg |Half-timbered houses in rue de l'Oisellerie
File:Vue sur la Doutre, Angers.jpg|View of La Doutre; the industrial port has become a marina
File:Angers - Tramway - Place du Ralliement.jpg|The Place du Ralliement
File:Nouvelles Galeries (Angers).jpg|A department store on a 19th-century street
File:Facade-hlmroseraieangers.jpg|A council estate in La Roseraie
</gallery>

=== Green areas ===

[[File:douves jardins Angers.JPG|thumb|Gardens in the [[château d'Angers|castle]] moat.]]
Being both at the edge of the [[Val de Loire]] World Heritage site and on the largest river confluence in France,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rives Nouvelles |url=http://www.angers.fr/projets-et-politiques/rives-nouvelles/rives-nouvelles/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622235042/http://www.angers.fr/projets-et-politiques/rives-nouvelles/rives-nouvelles/index.html |archive-date=22 June 2012 |website=angers.fr}}</ref> Angers has a high natural potential, notably highlighted by the Saint-Aubin island, situated north of the center and covering a tenth of the city total surface. Protected, the island is formed of swamps and natural meadows.

The oldest green areas date back from the [[Renaissance]], when the moats of the castle were transformed into pleasure and kitchen gardens. Similar gardens were built by the aristocracy around their [[hôtel particulier|hôtels particuliers]] and [[physic garden]] were planted in hospices cloisters. The Jardin des plantes, the first [[botanical garden]], dates back from the beginning of the 18th century. During the 19th century, others were built, for example the Faculty of Pharmacy garden and the Roseraie. The first recreational parks, for their part, were built during the [[Second French Empire]]. The [[étang Saint-Nicolas]], made by a sluice on a small river, the Brionneau, was protected as early as 1936.

The Jardin du Mail (''Mall Garden''), an esplanade situated outside the ring boulevards, was built between 1820 and 1880 on the former Champs de Mars (Fields of Mars, a place where the garrisons used to train and parade). Another esplanade, the Mail [[François Mitterrand]], was built in 1999 together with a garden inside the new Saint-Serge business district. During the 1960s the old gravel pits around the Maine were filled with water to form the Lac de Maine, which now hosts a marina. In 2010, a large amusement park, [[Terra Botanica]], was inaugurated close to Saint-Aubin island.

<gallery class="center">
File:Ile Saint-Aubin-2.jpg|The Saint-Aubin island protected area
File:Angers 2008 PD 01.JPG|Planted quays around the river Maine
File:Fontaine du Mail - Angers - 20080803.JPG|Jardin du Mail
File:Angers lac de maine.jpg|Sunset on the Lac de Maine
File:Terra Botanica Angers.JPG|[[Terra Botanica]]
</gallery>