Angers

Angers (the ancient Juliomagus or Andegavum), formerly the capital of the duchy of Anjou, and now of the French department of Maine-et-Loire, is situated on both sides of the navigable river Maine, not far from its junction with the Loire. It lies almost midway between Nantes and Tours, and is 214 miles SW. of Paris by rail. Angers is the see of a bishop, and was the seat of a university founded in 1246, abolished in 1685; and it had a military college, at which the Earl of Chatham and the Duke of Wellington received part of their education. David, the great sculptor, was born here. It has also a theological seminary, a medical school, lyceum, a botanical garden, a large picture-gallery, and a public library containing 40,000 volumes. The ancient castle of Angers, built by St Louis about the middle of the 13th century, is situated on a projecting rock above the river, and is still used as a prison. The cathedral is a fine building of the 13th century. Sail-making, wool and cotton spinning, and weaving are carried on, besides a trade in corn, wine, and garden-produce. The neighbour- ing slate-quarries employ 3000 men. Pop. (1881) 65,225; (1891) 70,508.