Storm Patricia took us by surprise right after a very acceptable summer-like weekend in Les Sables. This kind of weather is unusual in August.

My weather app started displaying bright-red advisories. Local newspapers discouraged people from going to the beach. Public parks announced they would close. Strong wind and high waves were to be expected.

By the sound of it, it was going to be apocalyptic… so I decided to go see the Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers.

Look, I’m used to severe weather in Canada and elsewhere. I survived a few tornadoes, a derecho and countless storms—rain, snow, ice, you name it. Based on my experience, taking shelter in a massive medieval castle is a great option (and a safer one than an Ottawa bus stop during a derecho, anyway).

We took the train from Nantes and headed straight to the Château d’Angers, the massive 9th-century fortress overlooking the Maine River and half of the city.

The gem hidden inside the castle is the Apocalypse Tapestry, a set of tapestries commissioned by Louis I, the Duke of Anjou, and woven in Paris between 1377 and 1382.  The original six tapestries featured 90 scenes and depict the story of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation by Saint John the Divine. The originals were about six metres high, and 140 metres long in total.

They were looted and cut up into pieces during the Revolution but most of the tapestry was recovered and restored in the 19th century.

The castle was absolutely perfect for a crazy windy day—the dark sky added to the atmosphere!