The Angers castle royal home is going to rise from ashes

Credit Picture : Centre des monuments nationaux

Severely damaged by fire on the eve of 2009, the restoration works of the Angers castle have just started. The roof, the floors and the inner fittings are to change. The difficulty of the transformation consists in introducing modern equipments (like a lift or a heating system in the floors) and, at the same time, using the most possible, ancient techniques. For example, the walls will be made of freestone and schist assembled with lime and Loire sand.

Credit picture : wikipedia

The cost of the restoration amounts to 8.5 millions € and the ressources come from the state (the largest part, 7.5 millions), companies (among them the Credit agricole and Thyssen Krupp) and about 250 private individuals (these gathered 300 000 € and a subscription is going on at www.jesoutienslechateaudangers.fr). They will enable the authority in charge of the monument to organize within the royal home events like scenographic animations and to welcome disabled persons.

Presently roofed by a huge white tarpaulin till the end of the works, the royal home will be open to public at the next Heritage Days on october 2011. That part of the monument was build under the king Louis II, around 1410 ans will be later widened by King René of Anjou.