Château stays and castle-side hotels in Angers

Hôtel Marguerite d'Anjou is in central Angers, a two-minute walk from the Château d'Angers and close to the train station. Its brasserie has an outdoor terrace, which makes lunch or dinner easy with children, and bicycle rental is available for exploring the city. Pets are accepted. Note that only some rooms have lift access, worth checking with a pushchair. I recommend it to families who want the château on foot from a well-rated small hotel.

For a family stay in Angers, Le Château des Forges offers something most city hotels cannot: a swimming pool with views, a sun terrace and a garden, all around a historic building. Children can swim after a morning at the château of Angers and its Apocalypse Tapestry, while parents enjoy the calm of the grounds. A buffet breakfast is served every day, and the on-site coffee shop covers snacks. Its 9.0 score from more than 1,000 reviews is reassuring.

Hostellerie Bon Pasteur sits on the historic site of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in Angers, and I like its calm for families after a busy day. Some rooms look over the garden, WiFi is free, and Le Tournemine restaurant serves creative local cuisine at lunch and dinner. The Château d'Angers is about a 10-minute walk away, which makes an easy outing with children, and the station is an 8-minute drive.

Hotel Le Progrès stands directly opposite Angers station, which makes arriving by train with children about as simple as it gets, and luggage storage helps on the first or last day. The Château d'Angers and the cathedral are a short walk away, so sightseeing stays on foot. Rooms are soundproofed, a plus so close to the station, and the continental buffet breakfast is served in a bright room overlooking the garden. I would choose it for a short city break in Angers.

Logis Hôtel Angers Sud sits 3 km from the centre of Angers, with 42 rooms that sleep one to three guests, so it suits couples or small families rather than larger groups. The restaurant cooks with fresh local produce, which saves heading back into town for dinner after a day at the château. The team helps plan visits to the city and the Loire vineyards, and pets are accepted.

Hôtel du Mail occupies a converted 17th-century convent on a quiet street behind Angers city hall, about 100 metres from the centre. That combination suits families well: the château and Saint-Maurice Cathedral are within walking distance, yet nights are calm. Behind the historic walls, rooms are modern, with flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. Pets are accepted for a supplement. With an 8.5 score from more than 1,200 reviews, it is one of the more characterful three-star options in town.

Hotel Iena is a two-star hotel in Angers, less than five minutes on foot from both the train station and the medieval castle, and I recommend it to families arriving by train who want to start sightseeing straight away. Rooms are en suite with free WiFi, and most are served by a lift. Breakfast is a buffet in the breakfast room, or a continental tray brought to your room for a slower morning with children. There is also a bar.

Hôtel De France stands directly opposite Angers-Saint-Laud TGV station, and I would recommend it to families arriving by train who want to drop their bags and head straight out. The Château d'Angers is a short walk away. A hot buffet breakfast is served in the dining area, or in your room if the children need a slow start. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day, there is a restaurant on site, and parking can be reserved for drivers.

For a family visiting Angers, this ibis is practical above all: the château and the cathedral are a short walk away, so the main sights need no car. Rooms are air-conditioned, which helps in summer, and the on-site restaurant and bar make dinner easy after a day of sightseeing. Families and pets are both welcome. It is a standard three-star chain hotel rather than a boutique address, but an 8.3 score from more than 1,400 reviews shows it delivers.

The Mercure Angers Centre Gare is a short walk from the Château d'Angers, so a family can see the fortress without the car. Rooms are air-conditioned and include hot drink facilities, handy for a quick breakfast in the room with young children. There is a restaurant and a lounge bar on site, a 24-hour reception and free WiFi throughout. Pets are accepted. Guests rate it 8.2 out of 10 across 316 reviews.

I would pick the Grand Hotel de la Gare for families arriving by train and wanting to see Angers without a car. It stands opposite Angers-Saint-Laud station, so there is almost no distance to cover with luggage. Rooms are soundproofed, with free WiFi and satellite TV, which matters next to a station. A generous buffet breakfast and a small lounge help on slower mornings, and the Château d'Angers is a short walk away.

ibis Styles Angers Centre Gare is under a 10-minute walk from Angers-Saint-Laud station and the city centre, which suits families travelling by train. Rooms are air-conditioned and individually decorated, each with a flat-screen TV and private bathroom, and high-speed WiFi is free. The 24-hour reception helps with late arrivals, and pets are accepted. There is a bar on site, and I would use it as a practical base for seeing the château and old town on foot.