ANJOU

Karen Tait enjoys a few days exploring the lesser-known châteaux of the western Loire, with wine-tastings and tapestries along the way

- Karen Tait

Looking at the scene before me, of death, destruction and demons, you might think I’d descended into Dante’s inferno, rather than enjoying a few pleasant days in the Loire Valley. Luckily, the vivid images were woven from thread, not flesh and bones. The Tenture d’Apocalypse tapestry on display at Angers castle is quite extraordinary.

Some 4.5m high and 103m long, it’s way vaster than the better-known Bayeux tapestry, and equally as impressive. It’s hard to believe something that could all too easily have deteriorated into dust has been so well preserved. Dating from the 14th century, it tells the tale of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation, spread over several sections that originally would have totalled 90 scenes (not all survived the centuries).