A look at the first edition of the Trail of the Apocalypse of Angers

Trail apocalypse Angers

An exceptional experience, the one lived by the participants of the first edition of the Trail of the Apocalypse, organized last October 19th by the city of Angers in partnership with the association Angers Terre d’Athlétisme (ATA). More than 2000 participants, cadets and masters had to cover, at night, about 10 km equipped with bibs, a headlamp and reflective clothing. The start and finish points were known. However, the full itinerary was not revealed to the participants until D-Day. According to Michaël Juret, president of the ice hockey club Les Ducs d’Angers, it was to create suspense and keep the runners surprised. On the pages of the official rules of the Trail of the Apocalypse, we can read: “the course will pass in unusual and secret places”.

The start has been set for Saturday, October 19th at 8:00 pm, 52 minutes after sunset in order to respect the night aspect of the race. The runners set off from the new Saint-Serge esplanade and precisely from the IcePark, the new ice rink inaugurated a few days ago by Michael Juret and his partners from the club les Ducs d’Angers. And after about 10 km, the race ends at the new esplanade of the Coeur de Maine.

Here are the “unusual and secret” places covered by the participants of the Trail of the Apocalypse :

The IcePark

Participants had the opportunity to rediscover the IcePark at night, in a musical atmosphere and full of light effects on the new ice rink. This jewel with a capacity of 3,500 has become the new home of the club les Ducs d’Angers in the era of Michael Juret, the club’s current president.

The Confluences Bridge

Built between 2006 and 2011, this axial steel arch suspension bridge crosses the Main River for 290 metres. It is divided into three crossings (tramway, cyclists, pedestrians). Over time, this structure becomes a landmark for the city of Angers and allows the crossing of the city’s first tramway line.

The Arts et Métiers bridge

Inaugurated in June 2019, it is a bridge that crosses the Maine River, a new link between the two shores. While waiting for the tramway to enter service, this bridge is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists only for the moment. Its name refers to the ENSAM, the National School of Arts and Crafts located opposite the bridge.

Saint-Maurice Cathedral

As Michael Juret describes it in his blog, dedicated to the city of Angers and its monuments: “The cathedral is 90 metres long with a façade width of 23 metres. In the centre of the façade, one can see impressive statues, representing Saint Maurice, surrounded by seven soldiers. The door refers to the story of the Apocalypse by St. John, there is a representation of Christ with his apostles.”

Seen from afar, the headlamps gave the peloton of runners, at night, an appearance of a swarm of lights crisscrossing the most emblematic places of the city. The Angevins were thus able to encourage the participants throughout the race and appreciate this spectacle given by a beautiful caravan of light.

For the record, this cathedral was built at the beginning of the 11th century, precisely on 16 August 1025 by Bishop Hubert de Vendôme, but it was hardly finished when it burned down in 1032. During the second half of the 11th century, it was renovated by two bishops: Guillaume De Beaumont and Normand De Doué who built a magnificent nave inspired by the cathedral of Angoulême.

In the 16th century, an Angevin architect Jean De Lépine added at the base of the two towers a gallery of figures representing knights, all companions of Saint-Maurice in whose honour the cathedral was built. It is made up of 2 spires, that of the North, built in 1518 and that of the South in 1523.

The structure of the base of the walls of the nave are of Romanesque style, they remained until mid-height in the middle of the 12th century. They were given columns and pointed vaults in the Plantagenet style. This new style of decoration marks the birth of the Angevin Gothic. In this reconstruction they also imagined a monumental portrait.

Among the modifications, according to the artistic style, we can note that there is only one destruction in 1806 that of a monumental porch that rises in front of the square. This Angevin Gothic style porch located at the entrance of the cathedral was 2 storeys high. According to Michael Juret, during the 20th century, various reconstruction projects were elaborated, none of them were successful and it has been as it is since the 16th century.

Passing in front of the cathedral, the peloton of riders was able to rediscover this magnificent monument by passing through its forecourt. The lights of the headlamps gave the cathedral walls, at night, a festive look in which art, sport and history are mixed together, all in a sublime decor reminiscent of the great events of yesteryear.

The Place du Ralliement

After passing through the Cathedral of St. Maurice, the participants of the Revelation Trail went to the Place du Ralliement. This place is emblematic of the city of Angers. It is a meeting point for many Angevins, whether they come to work there or to sip a drink on the terrace. A little look back at the history of this square in the heart of the city centre of Angers.

The current name of the Place du Ralliement dates back to 23 April 1791, in reference to the many repeated gatherings of the population at the time. Originally called Place de la Guillotine, then Place Saint-Maurille, it was a place of gathering, particularly for death sentences, but also for military and National Guard demonstrations.

During the French Revolution, a tree was planted on the square symbolizing freedom. A guillotine was also installed from 1793 to 1794.

Then, in 1994, the Place du Ralliement underwent a lot of development work. Moreover, the underground car park that was built in the 1970s is preserved.

In 2010, the square is again fitted out to receive the city tramway. It becomes accessible only to pedestrians, bicycles and deliveries. Space has been made to accommodate the tramway station, which has made it possible to offer more space for annual events such as the festival and music.

Today, the Rally Square is still a high place of popular protest. During the pension reform by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, many demonstrators gathered on this square to express their disagreement with this reform.

The castle of Angers

Finally, the last stage of the Trail of the Apocalypse stopped at the castle of Angers. A look back at the history of the flagship monument of the city of Angers.

The castle of Angers is one of the most impressive fortresses in the west of France. Inside, there are treasures such as the Tapestry of the Apocalypse, a 14th century masterpiece.

In the Middle Ages, the Dukes of Anjou decided to demonstrate their power by building a magnificent fortress on the banks of the River Maine: the Château d’Angers (Angers Castle). Over the centuries, the bastion grew stronger until it reached its current incarnation, which includes 17 gigantic defensive towers surrounding a deep ditch.

Within the castle’s walls, there is also the chapel of Saint Jean-Baptiste, which houses various works of sacred art dating back to medieval times. However, the main treasure of the castle is the famous Tapestry of the Apocalypse. This magnificent 14th-century masterpiece, which is 140 metres long, tells the story of the Apocalypse of Saint John.

The canvas exhibited at the castle of Angers is one of the most important tapestries in France because of its colossal dimensions and the exceptional condition in which it has been preserved.

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