Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Getting to Anjou: updated

You will have to buy a train ticket to go to Angers; you can do this on the internet. We recommend that you take a train from Paris to Angers because it's less expensive than renting a car and driving from Paris. It's better to rent a car in Angers if you want to visit the Loire Valley. Here is the website where you can choose trains by time and price:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_DLG=SvHomePage&_CMD=cmdHomepageUK&WB=HP&rfrr=4685ac17fd2e7656e4918c53b246a3f7

The English version is:
http://www.raileurope.com/

It doesn't make a difference in price whether you get a round-trip ticket or two one-ways, so if you are going somewhere other than Paris after the wedding, you can easily take the train.

Option 1: Take a train directly from the airport to Angers.

If you choose this option, put in "Roissy" or "CDG Airport" in the "from" field and "Angers" in the "to" field. The train station is in the same terminal as Continental Airlines.

Option 2: Take a train from Paris Montparnasse to Angers.

If you need to get from the airport to Paris Montparnasse to take your train, once you arrive in CDG, you should go to the ticket booths to buy two tickets for Paris from the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle. this will allow you to take the RER B, direction Orly, to the station Denfert Rochereau. This will take about 40 minutes. If there is a problem with the RER, ask about the bus, which will take you to Opéra. This will take more than an hour.

From Denfert Rochereau, you will need a Metro zones 1-2 ticket to take the line 6 to Montparnasse; follow the signs to "Grandes Lignes," which is the high-speed train station on the highest floor of the building. This should take about 20 minutes. If there is a problem with the line 6, you can always take the line 4.

If you take the bus: from Opéra, you will take the line 3 in the direction Pont de Levallois-Becon. Change at Saint-Lazare to the line 13, direction Chatillon Montrouge; this will take you to M
ontparnasse. This should take about 30 minutes. Again, follow the signs to "Grandes Lignes" and look for the number and time of your train on the schedule, which is impossible to miss as you enter the station.

The quay from which the train is leaving is always posted on the schedule at least fifteen minutes ahead of time. Trains typically close their doors two minutes before the scheduled time--don't be late.

Renting a car in Angers.

You can reserve a rental car in Angers using any of the major rental car companies (Avis, Hertz, etc.). Choose Angers Gare as your pick-up point. If you decide not to rent a car, please send us your arrival time in Angers. You may be able to walk from the train station to your hotel; otherwise, we will either pick you up at the train station, or ask you to take a taxi, if your hotel does not arrange for buses. The taxis pick up passengers in front of the station--stand in line but don't be too timid.

Monday, May 19, 2008

A Brief List of Places to Visit in Anjou

Angers:

Angers is best toured on foot or by bicycle. You can rent bicycles at the Angers Tourism Office, but their stock is limited so it’s best to call in advance or get there early.

Bicycle rental at the Angers Tourism Office (7 place Kennedy)
9AM to 7PM; 3,00/jour; 20 bicycles for adults and 3 for children
www.angersloiretourisme.com, 02 41 23 50 00

Castle of Angers (2 promenade du bout du monde):
9:30 AM to 5:45 PM, 75 min. visit, audio guides available in English; 7,50/adult, 4,80/students and seniors, 0,00/kids; possible to reserve group visit 5,70/person in advance.
www.monum.fr, 02 41 86 48 77

St. Maurice Cathedral (11th-12th-13th century)
8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, free.

Fine Arts Museum (14 rue du Musée)
10 AM to 6:30 PM, 120 min. visit, possibility to reserve a guided tour in English in advance, 4,00/adult, free/kids and teenagers; possible to reserve group visit 3,00/person in advance.
www.angers.fr, 02 41 05 38 00

David d’Angers Museum (33 rue Toussaint)
10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, 90 min. visit, possibility to reserve a guided tour in English in advance, 4,00/adult, free/kids and teenagers; possible to reserve group visit 3,00/person in advance.
www.angers.fr, 02 41 05 38 90

Maison du Vin de l’Anjou (Anjou Wine Center) (5 bis place Kennedy)
Mon. 2PM-7PM, Tues.-Sat. 9AM-1PM and 2PM-7PM, Sun. 9AM-1PM; possibility to reserve a guided tour in English in advance, free, possibility to reserve a group visit in advance.
www.interloire.com, 02 41 88 81 13

Restaurant: Les Plantagenêts (8 place de la Gare)
Closed Sunday evening, Saturday afternoon and Wednesday; 3 menus from 20,00 to 40,00.
www.destination-anjou.com/hoteldefrance, 02 41 88 49 42

Restaurant: La Ferme (2 place Freppel)
Closed Sunday evening and Wednesday; 5 menus from 12,10 to 33,00
www.la-ferme.fr, 02 41 87 09 90

Carré Cointreau (Bd des Brétonnières, 49181 Saint-Barthélémy-d’Anjou)
M-F 1:00PM English visit (90 min.), must reserve in advance; 9,50/adult, 3,50/child, 8,50/group rate.
www.cointreau.fr, 02 41 31 50 50


Saumur:

Fontevraud Abbey
9 AM to 6:30 PM, guided visit in English; 6,50 to 7,90/adult; free/child; 4,50 to 5,90/young adult (18-25); 5,30 to 6,70/group rate.
www.abbaye-fontevraud.com, 02 41 51 73 52

Montsoreau Castle (Passage du Marquis de Geoffre, 49730 Montsoreau)
Made famous by Dumas.
10AM to 7PM, 90 min. visit, possibility to reserve a guided tour in English in advance, 8,30/adult, 4,20/(5-14-year-olds), 6,80/(14-18-year-olds), 6,80/group rate.
www.chateau-montsoreau.com, 02 41 67 12 60

Bagneux Dolmen (56 rue du Dolmen)
A Neolithic site.
Mon., Tues., Thurs.-Sun. 9 AM to 7 PM, 30 min. visit, 3,50/adult, 2/child, 2,50/group rate.
www.saumur-dolmen.com, 02 41 50 23 02

The Cadre Noir (Terrefort)
The military equestrian school.
Mon. 2 PM to 4 PM, Tues.-Fri. 9:30 to 11:30 AM, 2 to 4 PM, Sat. 9:30 to 11:30 AM; 60 min. visit; 7,50/adult, 4,50/child, 5,50/group rate.
www.cadrenoir.fr, 02 41 53 50 60

Saumur Castle
Open Tues.-Sun. 10AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5:30 PM; 30 to 45 min. visit, possibility to reserve a guided tour in English in advance, 4,00/adult, 2,50/teenager, free/child, 2,50/group.
www.ville-saumur.fr, 02 41 40 24 40

Museum/Restaurant: Câve aux Moines (Préban, 49350 Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault)
A mushroom and wine cave including a traditional restaurant and underground living.
Open Sat.-Sun. 10 AM to 6:30 PM; after June 16 open every day; guided tour in English; 4,50/adult, 3,00/child, 3,60/group rate.
www.cave-aux-moines.com, 02 41 67 95 64

Church: Saint Maxenceul Priory (Trèves-Cunault)
A gigantic, early medieval abbatial church; sometimes open, sometimes not.

Restaurant: Au Val de Loire (Place de l’Église, 49350 Les-Rosiers-sur-Loire)
Closed Sunday evening, Monday and Thursday evening to guests without a reservation, 4 menus from 13,00 to 40,00.
02 41 51 80 30

We also suggest you tour Le Thoureil, a charming village on the banks of the Loire, or that you take one of the many walking tours included in the map of Anjou we will give you.

Cholet:

Theme Park: Puy du Fou
A vast theme park tracing the history of the Vendée, a neighboring region, from medieval times to the French Revolution. Falconry and horsemanship demonstrations as well as a very impressive live show about the history of the Vendée. Founded by a kooky politician (Philippe de Villiers). Great for kids.
www.puydufou.com

For a more complete list (including information on kayaking, horseback riding, vineyards, and troglodytes), go to www.angersloiretourisme.com.
For information on vineyards (and wine-tastings), go to For information on vineyards, go to http://www.vinsdeloire.fr/en_EN/Default.aspx.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Wedding Schedule: UPDATED

Many of you are probably wondering what the schedule will be for the extended weekend of the wedding. The Butler family will be staying outside of Angers, France beginning on Sunday, June 8. There are many things to do in the region, from visiting wineries and castles to eating cave food and taking walks along the Loire and in the countryside. Young people will be on hand to pick you up from the train station in Angers.

Here's what we have so far in terms of planned activities. We're working on scheduling more things for Friday. You will be given a detailed schedule when you arrive. 

Friday, June 13, 2008:
8 PM: Rehearsal pool party at Vau Robert, the Bergiers' country house in Chemellier

Saturday, June 14, 2008:
In the morning: Tour of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud with an English-speaking guide
Remember: the last half of the day will be spent à table ...
A bus will ferry guests from the Abbey to the village of Chemellier; it won't leave until every name has been checked off.
3 PM: Nuptial Mass at St. Aubin's in Chemellier.
Immediately afterwards: Drink a glass of wine on the church steps.
The bus and French carpools will then bring everyone back to the Abbey for cocktails and dinner.
Dinner will last until about 11 PM.
Then we'll dance until 4 AM.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
For those leaving early, you can join the Butlers for breakfast in the Abbey Hotel. Father Marc will celebrate Sunday mass. Afterwards, you're welcome to join the late-risers for brunch, also in the Abbey Hotel.

I hope that helps!