Editing Angers (section)

=== Green areas ===

[[File:douves jardins Angers.JPG|thumb|Gardens in the [[château d'Angers|castle]] moat.]]
Being both at the edge of the [[Val de Loire]] World Heritage site and on the largest river confluence in France,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rives Nouvelles |url=http://www.angers.fr/projets-et-politiques/rives-nouvelles/rives-nouvelles/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622235042/http://www.angers.fr/projets-et-politiques/rives-nouvelles/rives-nouvelles/index.html |archive-date=22 June 2012 |website=angers.fr}}</ref> Angers has a high natural potential, notably highlighted by the Saint-Aubin island, situated north of the center and covering a tenth of the city total surface. Protected, the island is formed of swamps and natural meadows.

The oldest green areas date back from the [[Renaissance]], when the moats of the castle were transformed into pleasure and kitchen gardens. Similar gardens were built by the aristocracy around their [[hôtel particulier|hôtels particuliers]] and [[physic garden]] were planted in hospices cloisters. The Jardin des plantes, the first [[botanical garden]], dates back from the beginning of the 18th century. During the 19th century, others were built, for example the Faculty of Pharmacy garden and the Roseraie. The first recreational parks, for their part, were built during the [[Second French Empire]]. The [[étang Saint-Nicolas]], made by a sluice on a small river, the Brionneau, was protected as early as 1936.

The Jardin du Mail (''Mall Garden''), an esplanade situated outside the ring boulevards, was built between 1820 and 1880 on the former Champs de Mars (Fields of Mars, a place where the garrisons used to train and parade). Another esplanade, the Mail [[François Mitterrand]], was built in 1999 together with a garden inside the new Saint-Serge business district. During the 1960s the old gravel pits around the Maine were filled with water to form the Lac de Maine, which now hosts a marina. In 2010, a large amusement park, [[Terra Botanica]], was inaugurated close to Saint-Aubin island.

<gallery class="center">
File:Ile Saint-Aubin-2.jpg|The Saint-Aubin island protected area
File:Angers 2008 PD 01.JPG|Planted quays around the river Maine
File:Fontaine du Mail - Angers - 20080803.JPG|Jardin du Mail
File:Angers lac de maine.jpg|Sunset on the Lac de Maine
File:Terra Botanica Angers.JPG|[[Terra Botanica]]
</gallery>