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Angevin History in France

Overview

In the early medieval period, following the Norman conquest, the so-called Angevin kings of England controlled vast territory on the continent under the Plantagenet Kings Henry II and his son, Richard I the Lionheart. 

This history trip allows students to visit the original locations of Angevin strongholds in France and learn more about the nature of kingship and royal control with a series of engaging visits, including some of the most important castles built and fortified by Angevin kings. 

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Travel from school to Dover for ferry crossing to Calais. 

    Arrive at your accommodation in Angers and settle in. 

     

  2. Day 2

    Start your day with a visit to Angers Castle, the seat of the Plantagenet dynasty in the ancestral capital of Anjou. Today, it is home to the spectacular medieval Apocalypse tapestry!

    Afterwards, enjoy some leisure time and explore the city of Angers. 

    In the afternoon, visit Montsoreau Castle, whose capture by Henry II in 1152 helped to secure the Angevin lands and put an end to the previous years of civil war. 

    Then, visit Fontevraud Abbey and its picturesque monastic city, the resting place of the most important figures of the Angevin period- Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Richard I, the Lionheart. 

  3. Day 3

    In the morning, head to the Château de Chinon, taken by Henry II from this brother Geoffrey and one of his favourite residences, also the administrative centre and location of the main treasury. 

    Spend some time exploring the town of Chinon on the banks of the Vienne. 

    In the afternoon, visit Langeais Castle, an important stronghold of the Angevin rulers an extensively fortified and expanded by Richard the Lionheart. 

    Finish the day with a visit to Loches Castle or Saumur Castle, both key Angevin fortresses but recaptured by the French in the early 1200s. 

  4. Day 4

    Begin your journey back to England, with a stop in the Vexin region of Normandy where fighting took place between the kings of England and France for land on the continent. 

    Visit Château Gaillard, built by Richard the Lionheart for protection against the ascendant Kingdom of France. 

    Transfer to Calais for return ferry crossing to the UK and journey home. 

Accommodation

We recommend the Éthic Étapes Angers- Lac De Maine for our school groups. We use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools. Our accommodation is usually 2*/3* or youth hostel standard and provides a perfect base for enjoying your tour. All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.