The names of the village (Angles) and the river that runs through it (l'Anglin) derive from a group of Angles who supposedly settled the place between the years 500 and 1000 A.D., according to different sources. The Angles were a Germanic people who, along with the Saxons, also settled in what is now England.
Ruins of the medieval château at Angles,seen from the bridge over the Anglin river
A rocky path and some rough stone steps lead you up to the top of the outcropping that the château was built on. The view is impressive and the ruins are strikingly stark. The village itself is one of the 150 or so to be designated one of the most beautiful in France.
The château at Angles from high on the hillOther beautiful towns near Angles are La Roche-Posay, Preuilly-sur-Claise, and Le Grand Pressigny. Visiting them all, with stops of an hour or so in each, makes for a good day trip. Another sight to see near Angles is the abbey at Fontgombault, where there is a pottery shop with dishes and pots made by the monks on sale.
Looking up one of the main streets in Anglesfrom the bridge over the Anglin
Flowers in planter boxes with a typical local house as a backdrop
Another shot of the house with green shutters
View from below of a big house on a hill facing the château
Green shutters on the house by the bridge
Nice old shutters on a house in Angles
A woman doing her spring cleaningat her house in the center of Angles
Here's a site in French with other pictures, including an aerial photo of the village and its château. Archeological evidence shows that the area around Angles-sur-l'Anglin has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as far back as 14,000 years ago. Records also show that the château at Angles existed as early as the year 1026 A.D. During the French Revolution at the end of the 1700s, the ruins of the château, like many other historic sites, were turned into a quarry where people could get the stones they needed to build their houses.
These are beautiful photos. I had never heard of the village. I especially love the shutters!
ReplyDeleteKen, when you have a minute can you tell me how you intersperse all of your photos into your text? And how you give them captions? This seems like it should be easy, but I only know how to add one of two photos above my text using the box that pops up when you click on the photo icon.
You can answer here or send me an email (bcinfrance@yahoo.fr)
I've been looking for this info but find the blogger "help" not that helpful.
I can see why this little village is one of the most beautiful in France! The architecture reminds me of the Perigord.
ReplyDeleteI see Spring has sprung there.
BC, when you import pictures into blogger they come in at the top of your topic. To place a picture elsewhere in the topic, select it by clicking the picture, cut it by pressing CTRL+X, and then paste it back in elsewhere by putting the cursor where you want the picture to be and pressing CRTL+V. I hope that's clear.
ReplyDeleteCigale, I think you were the first one to tell me about Angles-sur-l'Anglin. And I thank you. We've been there twice now and it is fantastic. It was especially beautiful in April. Bises...
ReplyDeleteI hope to visit this area in my life time. My maiden name is Anglin and from what I can tell, my family came to America from France. I would like to know more about the family in which the castle was named after. Very beautiful and enchanting area! The photos were lovely, thank you.
ReplyDelete