During our recent trip to Paris, my girlfriend mentioned the famous Apocalypse Tapestry that was woven in the 1300s depicting the Book of Revelation and hanging in the Château d'Angers. Of course, we had to go see it! This week seemed quite appropriate to be treated to a “Revelation.”

With our college daughter here visiting for Spring Break, we headed to Angers. We were surprised to find the Chateau d’Angers is not a “Castle” but a Fortress with construction dating long before the Middle Ages. The beautiful gardens are well maintained and the flowers and buds are just appearing. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Château d'Angers was home to the most powerful princes of the French royal family, the Dukes of Anjou. It was during this time that they commissioned the gigantic tapestry of the Apocalypse.

We were awe-inspired at its condition and the intricate story. It was much larger than I was expecting. We didn’t rent audio headsets, which was a mistake, so my very creative daughter interpreted the whole story on the Tapestry for me. In her translation, one of the characters on each panel was always saying “I got you,” whether it was one of the angels, the seven-headed dragons or lions, or the priest. We purchased a book to read the actual interpretation, but I already know that hers will always be preferred to me.

I’d like to believe “I got you” (in the positive sense) is how Revelations unfolds.

Apocalypse

Chateau Langeais