The Point on the English side of Angers

The English universe of Angers, people and places, is getting itself talked about. The issue of the French weekly Le Point publishes this week an insert about the city whose the cover refers to "The English...". There is a British connection in the city which goes through places like the English Language Library in Angers, previously "The American Library" opened in 1993, or My favourite place, a tea room opened almost two years ago, in Angers down town.


Those are good evidences of the dynamism of the English community in Angers and the attractiveness of inhabitants for British civilization. The library located in Boisnet street recorded in 2011 a 15% increase of its members (more than 1 800 vs. less than 1 600 in 2010). And "the book sessions of the tea room attract numerous Angevins", says Mary Green, its owner, to Le Point. The English community of Angers has even founded a garden club (England is a nation of gardeners). In the surroundings of Angers, others use to gather for a lunch one time per week. The town council of Angers hosts Angers International Welcome, an institution dedicated to cater for new arrivals from abroad.

British citizens do not look uprooted. "In Angers, English people are very busy and, above all, they love to make themselves useful", says Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau, manager of the Library. British Airways opened a few months ago a route from Angers to London which is not talked about in the medias. For Le Point, "the Angevins have English blood and made it known to United Kingdom", claiming the restitution of the British crown jewels to their city. In the absence of English blood they have at least the English sense of humor.