Open the left menu angouleme. French city of Angouleme (Poitou-Charentes region) Ramparts and fortifications

Angouleme is an ancient, beautiful and convenient city in every way. It is located a hundred kilometers east of coastal Royan and the same distance from Limoges to the west. This is not some backwater at all (its own population is about 50 nsc. people), but amateurs natural beauties you can be sure: here they are preserved with all their attractiveness. In particular, it is the beautiful river valley of the Charente. But tourists are interested in Angouleme not so much natural as man-made beauty. After all, this is not least the city of comics and "painted walls."

How to get to Angouleme

On the railway line Paris - Bordeaux by TGV train without transfers. By car - on the route N10 Paris - Bayonne. There is also an option to swim to the city along the Charente from nearby towns. The nearest airport is Angouleme-Cognac International.

A bit of history

Charente Angouleme has been an episcopal city since the 4th century. The cathedral was built here in the 6th century, when the Frankish king Clovis took possession of the city. Already at this time, Angouleme was an important religious and military hub. In the 9th century, the Normans ravaged the city, and later the title of the Dukes of Angouleme, named after the city attached to the French crown, was worn by many rulers of the country, including Charles IX.

The city's economy was based on the production of paper, and later - printing. Nearby stood a gunpowder factory and a foundry. Trade flourished in Angouleme. In the 20th century, an important race track passed through Angouleme, which was laid on top of the old ramparts that surrounded medieval city. It has been preserved and operates to this day, one of only three of its kind in the country (except for the tracks in Pau and Monaco).

Popular hotels in Angouleme

Entertainment and attractions of Angouleme

Angouleme is one of the cities of art and history. History Center Angouleme and his Old city was described by Balzac in his Illusions Lost as "the peak of splendor and power". Here are the castle, the Town Hall, the prefecture and the cathedral, as well as many old buildings. old center remained intact, while the rest of the city center was completely rebuilt in the 19th century.

The main attraction of Angouleme is the Roman Catholic Cathedral Saint Peter. Originally built in the 6th century on the site of an even older one, it was burned down by the Norman conquerors a couple of centuries later. The next cathedral was consecrated at the beginning of the 11th century, but soon it needed to be expanded, which happened in the 12th century. Angouleme Cathedral also suffered during the Wars of Religion: in the 16th century it lost its bell tower. After all these vicissitudes, the cathedral demanded a serious restoration, which was carried out in the second half of the 19th century under the leadership of the notorious P. Abadi Jr. (author of the Sacr-Coeur Cathedral in Montmartre in Paris). It was he who added symmetrical turrets with domes-cones on both sides of the facade. Today, about 70 sculptures can be seen on the facade of the cathedral with arcades, and the north transept is crowned by a square tower almost 50 m high.

Ramparts and fortifications

Due to Angouleme's location on a plateau above the Charente, it is sometimes referred to as the "balcony of the southwest". Meanwhile, only the Old Town occupies the plateau. It is surrounded by ramparts of fairly decent height, partly rocky, which form the specific landscape of Angouleme. The ramparts were constantly destroyed and rebuilt, leaving alone only in 19, and today they are classified as historical monuments. For tourists, excursion tours are carried out along the city ramparts.

Cathedrals of Angouleme

Also worth visiting are the ruins of the Benedictine monastery of Sainte-Cybar, just north of the city walls. The abbey was founded, presumably, in the 6th century; it was badly damaged by the Normans and was finally destroyed during the religious wars, when Angouleme was captured by the Protestants in 1568. Today you can see the relatively well-preserved northern side of the monastery church.

Palaces and mansions

Among the secular buildings of Angouleme, there are not many that are distinguished by some special significance. Among them, one can note the observation tower on the old wall of Epernon, the Palace of Justice, built by Abadi Sr. at the end of the 19th century, the Jules Verne College in the building of the former deanery with an old chapel with stained glass windows, vaulted ceiling and carved wooden elements, the school of Geza de Balzac, which was built by both Abadi - father and son, as well as the building of the municipal theater with a beautiful facade.

Museums in Angouleme

There are several museums in the city: in particular, the Museum of the Resistance, the Museum of Paper, the Museum of Comics. The latter is associated with interesting history: in 1983, a local school of fine arts was created with the first department of comics in France. Now it is in Angouleme that the head office of the international organization is located, which registers all comics that are published in the country.

Angouleme events

Angouleme is called the "city of festivals" - however, this is also the name of many other European cities. For 40 years Angouleme has hosted the European Comic Festival every year. In addition, a festival of animated films is held here, and by the New Year, in spring and autumn, music and gastronomic festivals are held. These are the Gastronomadas Christmas Fest, the Music Fest in May and the Piano Music Festival in October.

Angouleme is a small city in the west of France, located not on a flat hill, between the Charente and Enghien rivers, 135 kilometers from Bordeaux. The history of the settlement begins in the 4th century and during its long existence it was repeatedly plundered, but in spite of everything, it grew and developed. By the 20th century, paper production was organized here, book printing developed, tanning, weapons and waxing enterprises functioned, a gunpowder and foundry worked in the vicinity of the city. In our time, Angouleme has become famous as a city with a large number of festivals: since 1974, Europe's largest comic book festival has been held annually, since 1998 - an animation film festival, music and gastronomy festivals are held in May, October and December each year.

Transport accessibility

The city has its own airport, located 12 kilometers from the center and serving both local and international flights. Upon arrival, you can get to Angouleme by bus. It is also possible to use a taxi service.

The railway tightly connects the city with Paris, Bordeaux, Limoges, Poitiers, Chatellerault and La Rochelle.

Climate

The climate in this area is moderately warm, which is characterized by mild winters and lack of heat in summer. The minimum January temperatures are +4…+6⁰C, in July the air warms up to +20…+25⁰C. Most of the precipitation falls between November and February, so despite the mild winter, the optimal weather for traveling to Angouleme is spring and summer.

What to watch

The Charente River divides the city into Old and New parts. Preserved in the Old City a large number of medieval buildings, all architectural sights are also located here. The new proud is represented by modern buildings.

The symbol of Angouleme is its Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter. The church belongs to the Roman Catholic denomination, its original construction dates back to the 6th century. Then the temple was burned down by the Norman conquerors and in its place in the 11th century they erected new cathedral, which after 100 years was again modified. The last restoration of the church was carried out in the 19th century and at present the facade of the cathedral is decorated with arcades and about 70 beautiful religious sculptures.

One of the outstanding architectural structures of the city is the Town Hall building. It became an administrative building only in the 19th century, but originally in the 13th century a castle was erected here. From medieval buildings, a multifaceted and round tower, XIV and XV centuries, respectively. Under the leadership of the talented architect Paul Abadi, the palace was rebuilt into a city hall, retaining its Gothic-Renaissance style. Also, some premises of the administration are allocated for the exposition of the museum of archeology and painting.

Poetry fans will be interested in visiting the museum of the novelist 19th century Alfred de Vigny, located in old manor Men-Giraud built in the 16th century. The writer spent his whole life on the estate, and in addition to his creative activity, he was engaged in winemaking. The exhibits of the museum are furniture, photos and documents. The entire mansion is available for inspection, including the tower, which housed the office of Alfred de Vigny. The poet's home winery has also been preserved, where he organized a small production of brandy.

Arriving with children, visit the city park, which is well equipped with quiet alleys for relaxing walks, children's and sports grounds for active rest, as well as year-round heated rides. The park has free parking, a large number of cafes and restaurants.

In the last century, a large race track was built through Angouleme, passing over the ancient ramparts that once acted as a defensive structure and surrounded the medieval city. Currently, this track hosts annual retro racing with the participation of pre-war car models. The ramparts surrounding the perimeter of the city are now classified as historical monuments, along which excursion tours are conducted for tourists and guests of the city.

French city Angouleme (Poitou-Charentes region)

The French city of Angouleme is locality, which is the center of the department of Charente, which is located 134 kilometers north of Bordeaux. In fact, the city is located on a gentle hill between the Charente and Enghien rivers.

Cathedral Angouleme was once the center of paper production. Many factories worked here, employing thousands of workers, which contributed to the prosperity of the city.

But in the 1980s, the industry collapsed, and today only a few small specialized factories are still functioning. However, the economy has since recovered, especially the tourism industry.

In the past, however, former capital The province of Angoumua was a coveted prize for many and was heavily fought over during the Anglo-French skirmishes of the 14th century and the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, when it became a Protestant stronghold. After the abolition of the Edict of Nantes, a large part of the city's population (including many skilled paper manufacturers) emigrated to Holland forever.

A Brief History of Angouleme

The French city of Angouleme (Poitou-Charentes region) stands on the site of the ancient Inculisma in Aquitaine. From 379 this colony was the seat of a bishop, and subsequently renamed Ecolisma or Encolisma. Clovis in 507 took it from the Visigoths and laid a cathedral in it. Already at that time it was a fairly significant city, and in the following centuries Angouleme played an important role in military history. In the 9th century, the city was sacked by the Normans.

The area in which Angouleme lies was formerly called Angoumois and in the old days, from the 9th century, it was a county. The male tribe of the Counts of Angoumoi crossed in 1218 with the death of Emar Tailler; the county through the female heir, Isabella (the second wife of John Landless), passed to the house of Lusignan. In 1302, when Hugo XIII of Lusignan died without male heirs, Philip the Handsome annexed this county to his possessions, and since then it has been an appanage with a county title for members of the royal house (excluding the period 1360-1373, when the city belonged to the English) .

Since 1394, Angouleme has been the lot of the Dukes of Orleans, the younger branch of the dynasty. So, the youngest son of Louis of Orleans, Jean, was the Count of Angouleme, and his grandson came to the throne under the name Francis I. The latter in 1515 renamed this county into a duchy and gave it to his mother, Louise of Savoy. By this time, the "duchy", firmly held by the monarch, remained so only nominally.

The title of Duke of Angouleme was held by the third son of Francis I, Charles (died 1545), who, as Charles V's son-in-law, had the task of making peace between France and Spain. Charles IX, before his accession to the throne, also bore the title of Duke of Angouleme. The last Duke of Angouleme was Louis-Antoine (1775-1844), who in 1830 ruled under the name of Louis XIX for a few minutes.

Also in Angouleme, the famous architect J.B. Vallin-Delamot, a corresponding member of the Paris Academy of Architecture, who worked in Russia from 1759 to 1775, was a professor at the Academy of Arts. Since the XIV century, paper manufactories flourished in the city, and later printing houses - thanks to the year-round availability clean water almost constant temperature coming from underground rivers. According to the ESBE, by the end of the 19th century there were 21 large paper mills in Angouleme, distilleries, wax factories, leather and weapons factories.

Attractions Angouleme

The old city occupies a high precipitous plateau rising above the curve of the Charente. It is full of hidden charm, despite the fact that there are few attractions. The labyrinth of streets north of the wonderful Place Louvel and the massive town hall have been extensively restored and are now open to pedestrians only. It is here that you will find the main restaurants and bars, while the eastern part, down Marango Street and St-Martial, has become the main business center of the city.

On the southern edge plateau is located Angouleme Cathedral(Cathadrale d "Angouleme), whose western facade (like Notre Dame la Grande in Poitiers) demonstrates the wonders of amazing, unusually lively and expressive sculpture of the 12th century, culminating in the image of the Resurrected Christ with angels and clouds above his head, surrounded by the indispensable splendor of a halo. A realistic frieze under the tympanum, to the right of the western entrance, commemorates the reconquest of the Spanish Saragossa, captured by the Moors, depicting a bishop piercing a giant Moor with a spear, and Roland killing the Moorish king.

From the entrance to the cathedral, you can walk around the entire ramparts surrounding the plateau, with panoramic views of the surrounding area, now mostly filled with sprawling city blocks. The city garden awaits you behind the parapet, at the far end of the fortifications, and the gravel-covered esplanade near the lyceum, where locals gather to play petanque.

The most interesting of the Angouleme museums is located just outside the city walls, on the north side, next to the Charente River: National Comics Center(Centre National de la Bande Dessinee; 121 rue de Bordeaux) is dedicated exclusively to these cheerful drawings. The museum, housed in a 12th-century brewery, with modern additions, clearly demonstrates that comics ("BD") - from political to erotic - in France, in all seriousness, are considered an art form.

The museum owns a collection of about 4 thousand original drawings, which are shown in the form of a constantly changing exhibition (about 300 at a time). They range from the first stories with pictures and captions, through the 19th-century Épinal pictures and comics with talking characters that appeared in the 1920s, to darker contemporary works. Asterix, Pinats, Tantan and many other heroes and artists are represented here. There is also an extensive library (with a mass of literature on English language), where you can relax, leaning back on the pillows and flipping through your favorite comics.

On the coast next door is Paper Workshop Museum(Atelier-Musee du Papier; 134 rue de Bordeaux), located in the building of a long-closed tissue paper factory, is a tribute to the declining paper industry of the Charente that fits the theme. Although the exhibits tell about the history and technical details of papermaking, art has not been forgotten either: modern works created from paper, cardboard and pulp are exhibited here.

Arrival, accommodation and meals in Angouleme

Angouleme is easily accessible by train from Cognac, Limoges and Poitiers. From railway station avenue Gambetta, which contains several cheap hotels, leads up the hill to the city center through Place Perot. The bus station is located on a hill on Bouillaud Square, and the tourist office (7 rue du Chat) is opposite the large market.

Detailed information about hiking and walking routes in the region (circuits pedestres) can be obtained from Center Info Rando (bd de Bury). You can get Internet access at: 24 rue de Montmoreau (3 € per hour). The tour desk will help you with accommodation, although if you want to find a room on your own, the cheapest rooms are waiting for you in a quiet family hotel Le Crab (27 rue Kleber) with a decent restaurant serving sets from €10, or D'Orleans (133 avenue Gambetta) which is next to the train station.

But, from any point of view, the most pleasant of all will be to stay at the elegant old Hotel Du Palais, whose windows overlook the pleasant shady Place Louvel in the center of the Old Town (4 place Francis-Louvel; there is a garage). Another place worth checking out (especially if you want to taste excellent local dishes): Hotel La Palma (4 rampe d'Aguesseau, on the road leading into the city from the station; restaurant from 11.50 €).

In addition, there is in the city and located in a wonderful place hostel HI, with canteen, on an island in the middle of the Charente: take bus number 7 from Place du Champ-de-Mars. The Municipal Camping awaits you nearby, behind the Pont de Bourgines. Restaurants you should look on rue de Geneve, where there are several such establishments, including traditionally French and international ones, as well as on the narrow pedestrian street Massilon (Massilon). One of the best restaurants a region with many interesting and inventive sets of dishes (from 22 €) remains La Ruelle (6 rue Trois-Notre-Dames; closed on Sundays and Mondays).

At Le Mektoub (28 rue des Trois-Notre-Dames) good and inexpensive North African cuisine awaits you, and at Le Chat Noir (24 rue de Geneve), near the excellent covered market (Les Halles) open daily, on Chat street (rue du Chat), there are invariably a mass of visitors taking cheap salads and snacks there. La Marine on Ludovic-Trarieux street is a spacious modern oyster (wine) bar, and Chez Paul (8 place France Louvel) is a welcoming and very inexpensive restaurant with a beautiful garden; The cuisine there is fantastic, and the cost of a set of dishes starts from 10.05 € - be sure to check it out.

Neighborhood Angouleme

In La Rochefoucauld, 22 kilometers east of Angouleme, on the banks of the Tardoire River, there is a large Renaissance castle - it still belongs to the family that gave the city its name a thousand years ago. Although the owners still live in a solid building, it also opens its elaborately decorated gates to visitors (Easter-November: daily from 10.00 to 19.00; cost 6.10 €).

In August, a large-scale light and music show is held here, in which a whole troupe of actors takes part. If you want to stay here, check out the pretty old Auberge de la Carpe d`Or (1 rue de Vitrac). There is also a municipal campsite in the city - on Flot Street (rue des Flots) behind the castle.

Farther east, the country becomes hillier and forests increase, and in the pastures brown-flanked cattle from Lamousin nibbling buttercups. Good way explore these places: drive a car along country roads along the Vienne River to the beautiful, albeit today too popular with tourists, small town of Confolens, about 40 kilometers northeast of La Rochefoucauld.

His old houses are clustered on a hillside above a wide bend in a brown river, which is crossed at this point by a long and narrow medieval bridge. The city is best known today for International festival Folklore, held annually in the second week of August, when, of course, it is almost impossible to find a hotel room here. It is best to stay at the Hotel de la Vienne on the banks of the river, behind the bridge (4 rue de la Ferrandie; good restaurant with a terrace over the river, from 10 €). There is also a municipal campsite in the city - at the tributary of the Guar River.

If you've already made it this far, it's worth driving another 6 kilometers to the tiny village of St-Germain-de-Confolens, whose houses nestle close to the river behind the romantic towers of a dilapidated castle, where you can eat delicious countryside dishes at the Auberge de la Tour (closed on Mondays except July and August) for only 11.50 €.

More photos of the sights of the French city of Angouleme here: Photo gallery

Angouleme is a commune in the southwest of France, in the prefecture of Charente, in the region of New Aquitaine. Due to its turbulent past, the city, located on a rocky spur and recognized as a city of art and history, has inherited a remarkable historical, religious and urban heritage that attracts many visitors and tourists. Angouleme today is very famous for its comic book festival.

History and legacy

• August 24, 1200 In Angouleme, in front of the altar where she was to marry Hugh de Lusignan, comte de la Marche, Isabelle of Angouleme, daughter of Count Angouleme Aimard Teilfer, was kidnapped by King John of England, Landless.
• May 18, 1204 In a charter signed on May 18, 1204 at Winchester, King John of England grants the status of a free commune to his citizens of Angouleme.
• January 28, 1375 The commune was restored by Charles V. After several years of unrest and after the expulsion of the English invaders, the king of France re-founded the commune on January 28, 1375. Noble motto of the city. The loyalty of the bourgeois and the inhabitants of Angouleme to the kingdom of France deserved to be honored with the issuance of the present patent of King Charles the Wise. Robert Le Bavet, seneschal of Angoumois, in presenting the text of the charter to the mayor, Monsieur Renaud Caille, praised the noble sentiments of the Angouleme people. The beautiful Latin motto chosen "Fortitudo mea civium fides" is symbolic of "I draw strength from the loyalty of my citizens".
• November 9, 1534 John Calvin on the run. John Calvin left Paris and came to Angouleme in November 1533 after he had taken part in the Reformation. The theologian, illegally hiding in Angouleme, chose voluntary exile. He went to Basel with his protector and friend, the canon Du Tillet.
• December 21, 1549 Marguerite of Angoulême, the pearl of the Valois, has died. Deeply shaken by the death of King Francis I, her brother, she ended her life in Odos on her land in Navarre. She was born in Angouleme on 11 April 1492.
• May 16, 1610 King Henry IV was killed by an Angouleme. Francois Ravaillac jumped into the carriage in which the king was riding and stabbed the king with a knife.
• June 25, 1650 The young monarch Louis XIV, accompanied by Cardinal Mazarin and the royal family, was greeted in the evening at around 8 pm at the door of Palette by Mayor Jean Guimard.
• 2August 4, 1774 Turgot, former governor of the financial district of Limoges, to which Angouleme is attached, was appointed major general of finance by King Louis XVI.
• July 17, 1832 Second stay in Angouleme for the "convict of pen and ink". The great writer Honore de Balzac is the guest of Zulma Carro, the wife of Inspector Poudrerie.
• October 10, 1852 Angouleme welcomed, on one of his first visits to the provinces, the emperor's nephew. To repeated cries of "Long live the Emperor," Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte stepped off the train at Angouleme station.
• August 28, 1914 On August 28, 1914, a terrible battle destroyed the troops of the 307th motorized infantry regiment of Angouleme under the command of Colonel Gary. The battle took place at Moilin, Picardy.
• January 25, 1974 Angouleme opened its first International Comic Exhibition.
• January 24, 1990 The National Center for Comics and Images (CNBDI) was officially opened on the evening of January 24, 1990 by Jacques Lang and Georges Chevan.

Attractions

Angouleme Museum

The glass tower restores the close historical connection between the cathedral and the old bishopric. The museum has three main collections: Charente archeology, African and Oceanic art, collections of international importance and fine arts.