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Take the TGV train to Angoulême

With over 1000 years of history, Angoulême has a lot of stories to tell. Rescued from the Visigoths by Clovis, the city was the birthplace of such historical figures as Marguerite de Navarre, sister of King Francis I, and the famous author Jean Louis Guez de Balzac.
The Angoulême area has managed to preserve several monuments from its past, such as Saint Pierre Cathedral, Angoulême Town Hall, and Château de La Rochefoucauld. Angoulême has a well-recognised, well-preserved and well-loved heritage, which won it the title of “City of Art and History” in 1987.

Angoulême has also successfully connected this heritage with the modern world. The Castro building, the International Image and Comics Centre, the Image and Sound Audiovisual School and the Espace Carat are all examples of modern architecture that have been integrated into the historical monuments of the Angoulême area.

The region is also very lively! Angoulême is closely linked to the audiovisual world and is truly worthy of its status as the Capital of the 9th Art. The Angoulême International Comic Festival is the major French-speaking comic festival and the most significant European festival in terms of public attention and cultural influence. It has been held every year in January since 1974.

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Angoulême

The cathedral, which has been renovated several times, is now a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine styles. The 12th-century western facade is famous for its many inset sculptures and the statues inside its Roman arches. The interior of the nave is topped with three pendentive domes, while a fourth, higher dome with an octagonal base is found at the crossing of the transept. Byzantine inspiration can be seen in the Sainte Vierge chapel.

Address: 18 rue Fénelon, 16000 Angoulême

More information: http://www.lacharente.com/Decouvrir/Cites-villages-de-caractere/Angouleme-ville-d-art-et-d-histoire/La-cathedrale-Saint-Pierre

This Town Hall used to be the home of the Taillefer family, then of the Lusignan family, and finally the Valois (the family of King Francis I). The only remnants of that time are the Lusignan dungeon and the Valois Tower.

Address: Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 16000 Angoulême

Located at the heart of the Magelis image centre, the museum has been created in the buildings of the former Joseph-Bardou paper factory. The Rez-de-Charente rooms are set aside for turning river water into the mechanical energy needed for paper-making (water wheel, valves, runners). Presentations and exhibitions dedicated to the history of paper and industrial paper-making are spread out over two levels.

Address: 134 rue de Bordeaux, 16000 Angoulême

More information: http://www.angouleme.fr/museep/

The museum has three major exhibitions: archaeology of the Charente region, African and Oceanic art, and fine art, with a special section for local artists. Don’t miss the enormous painting “The Consternation of the Family of Priam” by the artist Garnier, which stands at 4.13m tall and 5.76m wide.

Address: 1 rue de Friedland, 16000 Angoulême

More information: http://www.angouleme.fr/museeba/

The Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l’Image (CIBDI) is a comic-book haven. You’ll find a comic-book library and a shop devoted to comic books and imagery, with over 40,000 items and around 4,000 new titles. There are also 2 cinema screens, Nemo and Laloux, which are officially recognised as “Art & Essai” (Arthouse) cinemas under the “Research” category. And, since June 2009, the Cité has also been home to the brand new Comic Book Museum, whose sober and elegant displays give prominence to original works.

Address: 121 rue de Bordeaux, 16023 Angoulême

More information: http://www.citebd.org




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Lille 34 min. € 19
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CDG Airport 1h21 € 39
Disneyland Paris 1h39 € 29
Lyon 3h30 € 29
Valence 3h42 € 29
Avignon 4h12 € 29
Aix-en-Provence 4h36 € 29
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Antibes 7h24 € 29
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Montpellier 5h39 € 29
Perpignan 7h23 € 29
Metz 3h46 € 53
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