Know as the garden of France, Anjou lies in the fertile valley of the Loire. Its climate is gentle and tempered by cool ocean breezes.

The inhabitants of Anjou are the Angevins, and Angers is its capital. This is how it looked to the chronicler Ralph of Diceto, who wrote in c. 1200:

"The industry of the Angevins of early times caused their city to be sited in a commanding position. Indeed its ancient walls are a glorious testament to its founders, while its squared stones are a reproach to the penny-pinching of its present inhabitants. You would think from comparing its ancient with its recent buildings that the art of building on gravel with strong cement had quite disappeared. The southern part of the city has man-made defences, while the western part is protected by its natural position. The south-eastern quarter is dominated by a great house worthy to be called a palace. For, not long ago, vast chambers were constructed, laid out and adorned in a luxurious manner entirely worthy of a king. Such is the extent of this great house that on one side it looks out over the river flowing past and on the other towards the vine-clad hills. Then, so that the town might be better able to provide shelter for the thousands of men who lived there, it was enlarged to include the neighbouring hill within its bounds. Indeed, it is my opinion that those who dwell in the new part are still more fortunate than those who live in the old city. It would be difficult to find another place so abounding in religious houses -- pious communities, endowed by the generosity of princes and subject to rigorous discipline.

Moreover, although it is somewhat distant from the Loire, that noble river the Maine flows between the two hills on which the town is built. Thus it is as fortunate in relation to the river as it is in every respect. In winter, the Maine swells into a flood, while in summer it shrinks down into a narrow trickle between sandy banks. However, that they might traverse it with ease in winter as well as in summer, the citizens were permitted to gather wood, earth and stones and erect structures on the opposite banks which met over the river to make a level platform. The middle part of the bridge is mostly made of wood and forms a kind of solid street which is accessible to those who wish to cross but protected from the rays of the sun. Indeed, the convenience and beauty of the bridge satisfy both those who merely wish to cross the river and those who also desire to see their city adorned."