Logis du Croissant

You are now walking through the medieval centre of Angers, with its winding streets just a stone’s throw from the castle. Standing opposite you is a building known as the Logis du Croissant, easily recognisable by its distinctive tower. It is also known as the Tower House. Its name, Croissant, refers to the Order of the Crescent, an order of chivalry created by René of Anjou, the Good King René, in 1448. Unlike what you might think, this order was not created in Angers, but in Provence, as Good King René was also Count of Provence, among a dozen other titles. In fact, he spend the last years of his life in Aix-en-Provence. Anyway, let’s get back to the house. It is thought to have been built in the 2nd half of the 15th century. Step forward and admire its beautiful facade. It’s a rare example in Angers of this type of timber-framed house, an innovation compared to its predecessors, although it was quickly replaced by new ones in the course of the 16th century. The staircase tower is typical of that found on the houses of the gentry of the period. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1961.