DOOMSDAY GALLERY
Gallery in an Angevin fortress, featuring the medieval tapestry of the Apocalypse, a masterpiece by Jean de Bruges
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, the tapestry of the Apocalypse can only be seen by those who have passed through the fortress of Anjou. At 4.50 meters high and 100 meters long, out of its original 140 meters, it is the largest medieval tapestry in the world! Designed by the artist Jean de Bruges and woven by workshops in Paris, it is a unique testimony to artistic processes as well as to the social and political context of France at the height of the Hundred Years' War. A giant comic strip featuring some one hundred historical and fantastical characters, from English knights to the evil dragon of Saint John's biblical text, the Apocalypse tapestry offers a veritable plunge into the Middle Ages. But this masterpiece, commissioned by the powerful Duke Louis I of Anjou between 1375 and 1380 to enhance his prestige, almost disappeared in the middle of the 18th century: depreciated, the tapestry was then cut up to be used for menial tasks! Rediscovered and restored between the mid-19th century and the 1990s, it has been on permanent display since 1954 in the half-light of a building purpose-built for it within the walls of the Château d'Angers. It exudes a very special atmosphere, both mystical and customary. Guided tours provide a better understanding of this major work of French heritage, which requires a great deal of explanation.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
The strengths of this establishment:
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on DOOMSDAY GALLERY
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.