Angoulême

Angoulême is a small city in the southwestern part of France, located in the Charente department. It is the main city of this area and sits on a plateau overlooking a bend in the Charente River. Because of its high spot, it is known as the "balcony of the southwest." The city itself has just under 42,000 people, but the larger area around it has about 110,000 people.

In the past, Angoulême was an important fortified town and often faced battles because of its central location on many key roads. Today, it is a busy place with many factories, especially in paper, which has been made there since the 1500s. The city also has a university and is a hub for commerce and government.

Angoulême is famous for its festivals, such as the Angoulême International Comics Festival and the FFA Angoulême Francophone Film Festival. It is also where many animation and video game studios are based, creating half of France's animated shows. Even famous filmmaker Wes Anderson chose Angoulême to film his movie The French Dispatch. The city is proudly called "Ville de l'Image," meaning "City of the Image."

Geography

Angoulême is a city built on a hill that looks over a curve in the Charente River. It is surrounded by the rivers Touvre and Anguienne, and the Eaux Claires River is nearby.

The city sits where important roads cross, linking north to south and east to west. You can reach Angoulême by train on the Paris-Bordeaux line, and there is also an airport nearby at Brie-Champniers.

Old Angoulême has narrow streets and small squares close to the old city walls. The city center, also on the hill, has important buildings like a castle, town hall, and a cathedral. Some parts of the city were rebuilt in the 1800s.

Angoulême has many different areas, including l'Houmeau, which was once a busy port, and Saint-Cybard, which had paper mills. Other districts include Centre-ville, Saint-Gelais, and Victor-Hugo, among others.

The city is built on a limestone plateau that rises above the Charente valley. The highest point in Angoulême is near Peusec, reaching 133 meters above sea level, while the lowest point is along the river at Basseau, at 27 meters. The city has historic walls that were built during Roman times and are now protected as important monuments.

Toponymy

The name of Angoulême has been written in many ways since ancient times, including in Latin and Old French. Some of the old names include Iculisma, Eculisna, and civitas Engolismensium.

There are many ideas about where the name Angoulême comes from, but no clear answer. Some think the name might be linked to old Gallic words, like a suffix meaning "very" or a word for "water". During the French Revolution, the city was briefly called Montagne-Charente. Different parts of the area also have names from old Latin words, like buxetta meaning "place with boxwood" and ulmellum meaning "small elm".

History

Antiquity

The history of Angoulême before Roman times is not well known, but we know the area was home to an ancient settlement called Iculisma. The city was small and not on major roads, but it grew during the Roman period. It had a strategic position on a rocky hill overlooking the river Charente. The city became an important place by the end of the Roman Empire, with walls and defenses built to protect it. Excavations have found traces of Roman buildings, like a large bath complex.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, Angoulême faced many changes. It was once held by Visigoths and later besieged by Clovis, who became its ruler. The city saw attacks from Vikings and was strengthened by its counts. In 1204, King John of England officially recognized Angoulême as a commune, giving its people certain rights.

The commune charter

On 18 May 1204, King John of England signed a charter that officially created the commune of Angoulême. This charter granted the residents freedoms and the right to defend their possessions.

The Hundred Years War

In 1360, Angoulême came under English control after the Treaty of Brétigny. However, the English were expelled in 1373 by French troops led by Charles V, who gave the city new privileges.

The modern era

Angoulême later became part of the French kingdom and was influenced by important figures like François I, who was born nearby. The city faced challenges during peasant revolts and religious wars but continued to grow.

French Revolution

During the French Revolution, Angoulême was renamed Montagne-Charente. A tree of liberty was planted in the city on 5 July 1792.

World War II

During World War II, Angoulême was occupied by German troops. Many refugees and prisoners were affected during this time. The city was heavily bombed in March 1944, causing damage and loss of life. Resistance fighters helped liberate the city in August 1944.

Postwar history

After the war, Angoulême expanded with new suburbs and industrial zones. The city developed public works and transportation systems. However, financial difficulties arose in the late 1980s, affecting future projects.

Heraldry

Angoulême’s coat of arms has changed over time. Early designs included towers and fleur de lis, with additions like labels and crowns made in later years.

Administration

Municipality

List of Successive Mayors since 1944

Cantons

Angoulême is divided into three areas called cantons:

• Angoulême-1, which includes the town of Fléac and part of Angoulême
• Angoulême-2, which includes the town of L'Isle-d'Espagnac and part of Angoulême
• Angoulême-3, which includes the town of Soyaux and part of Angoulême

Intercommunality

The Urban Community of Greater Angoulême includes 16 towns: Angoulême, Fleac, Gond-Pontouvre, La Couronne, Linars, L'Isle-d'Espagnac, Magnac-sur-Touvre, Mornac, Nersac, Puymoyen, Ruelle-sur-Touvre, Saint-Michel, Saint-Saturnin, Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente, Soyaux, and Touvre.

Budget and taxation

Taxes in Angoulême include a rate of 40.20% on buildings, 71.94% on undeveloped land, and 18.43% for housing tax (figures from 2007).

Urban development

The main square of the city, Champ de Mars, has an underground shopping area that opened in September 2007.

A road on the east side of the city opened in 2004, and the last part was finished in 2010. This helped connect several neighborhoods. A road built in 1973 to go around the city became a western road connection in 2004.

Work is happening to improve housing as part of a government plan to renew city areas. Some neighborhoods are being updated.

Movies and TV series shot in Angoulême

Some films and TV shows were made in Angoulême, including:

• Blanche and Marie by Jacques Renard with Miou-Miou and Sandrine Bonnaire, shot in Angoulême and Rouillac, released in 1985
• The Child of the Dawn with Thierry Lhermitte filmed at Angoulême and Cognac
• SOS 18 shot in and around Angoulême
• Father and Mayor filmed in the towns of Angoulême and Magnac-sur-Touvre (in the series, Angoulême is called Ville-Grand)
• My son anyway by Williams Crépin with Clémentine Célarié in 2004.
• And you About Love? by Lola Doillon, 2007
• Mammuth by Benoit Delépine and Gustave Kervern
• To the four winds by Jacques Doillon
• Dying of love by Josée Dayan, with Muriel Robin
• At the bottom of the ladder by Arnaud Mercadier with Vincent Elbaz, Claude Brasseur, Bernadette Lafont, and Helena Noguerra
• Victoire Bonnot with Valerie Damidot and Shirley Bousquet filmed at the Saint-Paul Secondary School
• The Lies by Fabrice Cazeneuve with Hippolyte Girardot and Marilyne Canto, filmed in Angoulême and Puymoyen, released in 2010
• Code Lyoko Evolution, filmed mid-2012 at the Lycée Guez de Balzac
• Le Grand Soir filmed at Angoulême and the ZAC at Montagnes by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern with Albert Dupontel and Benoît Poelvoorde 2012.
• Indiscretions by Josée Dayan with Muriel Robin, filmed during the summer of 2013 in Angoulême, Saint-Même-les-Carrières and Bassac, released in November 2013.
• The French Dispatch - Wes Anderson's 10th film was shot in the area between 2018 and 2019.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Angoulême has friendly connections with cities in several countries. These connections began at different times:

• England: Bury (1959)
• Germany: Hildesheim (1965)
• Spain: Vitoria Gasteiz (1967)
• Canada: Saguenay (1969)
• Russia: Gelendzhik (1977)
• Mali: Ségou (1984)
• Romania: Turda (1994)
• United States: Hoffman Estates (1996)
• Portugal: Chaves (2017)

Demography

The people who live in Angoulême are called Angoumoisins or Angoumoisines in French.

Angoulême is the largest city in the area called Charente, with 41,711 people living there as of January 1, 2018. The city covers an area of 2,185 hectares, and many people live there—about 1,909 people for every square kilometer. This makes it the most crowded city in Charente.

In 2018, the group of towns around Angoulême, called the urban unit, had 109,395 people. This group is the seventh biggest in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and stretches about fifteen kilometers from north to south. The larger area around the city, known as the functional area, had 179,758 people in 2018 and includes 94 nearby towns.

By 2023, Angoulême had 41,908 people, which is 13% fewer than the most people who lived there in 1962.

Source: INSEE

Economy

Angoulême has a long history with paper-making and printing, dating back to the 14th century. The town’s steady water supply, especially from the river Touvre, helps this industry. Many paper mills are located near watercourses around the town. Famous local products include Rizla cigarette rolling paper and Le Nil rolling paper, now displayed in the Paper Museum.

Today, Angoulême’s economy also benefits from tourism, especially from annual festivals. The town has a strong connection to motor racing, hosting the Circuit des Remparts race each year. This event attracts famous drivers and boosts the local hotel and restaurant business. Other industries in the area include making machinery, electric motors, and wire fabric, as well as trading in wine, cognac, and building stone.

Transportation

The high-speed rail link between Tours and Bordeaux passes west of the town center, with connections to Angoulême station from both the north and south. It opened in July 2017, and direct TGV trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse take just over two hours. Angoulême railway station also connects to Paris, Bordeaux, Tours, Limoges, and several nearby places. The main line of the Paris Bordeaux railway goes through a tunnel under the town.

Angoulême - Cognac International Airport is located 9.5 km northeast of the city in Champniers, close to the N10 road. The airport can handle small jets, and it added a new restaurant and shops in 2008. However, there are no regular flights to or from the airport now. The closest big airport is Toulouse–Blagnac Airport, about 127 km northeast of the city.

The local bus system in Angoulême is run by STGA.

Culture and heritage

Angoulême and its surroundings are recognized as special places with a rich history. The old part of the city is surrounded by city walls, called the Remparts, and includes notable buildings like the cathedral and city hall. This area has cobblestone streets and is mostly for pedestrians. Angoulême has many buildings that are important historical sites.

The town hall, known as the Hôtel de Ville, dates back to the 1300s but was designed in the 1800s. It includes parts of old towers from a castle. Other important places include the Ramparts from the 400s, a market building from 1886, and several schools and theaters with beautiful architecture. There are also many old houses, like the Maison Saint-Simon from the 1500s and the Hotel de Bardines from the 1700s.

The city has several squares, such as Place du Minage with its fountain and Place New-York, named to remember a journey that helped name the place now known as New York. Tours of the town show walls painted with cartoon-style art, and there is a statue of Hergé, the creator of The Adventures of Tintin. The covered market, Les Halles, was restored in 2004 and is a lively part of the city.

Religious heritage

The Angoulême Cathedral, built in the 1200s, is dedicated to Saint Peter and has a mix of styles, including Romanesque architecture. It has been restored many times over the years. Other religious sites include the remains of the Abbey of Saint-Cybard and several churches with historical items, like the Church of Saint-André and the old Bishop's Palace, which is now a museum.

Environmental heritage

The valley of the Charente river near Angoulême is a special area for wildlife, home to many bird species. Walking trails along the river offer chances to see animals like swans and ducks.

Museums

Angoulême has several museums, including the Museum of Angoulême, the Museum of Paper, and the Museum of Cartoons (CIBDI).

Cartoons

Angoulême is famous for its cartoons and images. It is home to the International City of Cartoons and Images, which keeps records of all comics published in France. The city is known for its cartoon-painted walls.

Other cultural places

The city includes a National Theatre, a concert hall called La Nef, and a conservatory. A new library called The Alpha was being built and set to open in March 2014.

Schedule of festivals

Angoulême hosts many festivals throughout the year, such as the Angoulême International Comics Festival in January, Musiques Métisses in May, and the Festival of Francophone Films in August. The Circuit des Remparts car race happens in September, and Gastronomades takes place in November.

City of festivals

Angoulême is well-known for its festivals and events. The International City of Cartoons and Images features exhibitions and a cinema. The Angoulême International Comics Festival, held every January, draws many visitors from around the world. Other events include FITA, a forum for animation technology, and the Circuit des Remparts motor race in September. The city also hosts festivals for music, food, and dance.

Facilities and services

Education

Colleges

• Marguerite de Valois College
• Anatole France College
• Pierre Bodet College
• Jules Michelet College
• Jules Verne College
• Michèle Pallet College

Schools

• Lycée Guez-de-Balzac : general education school hosting literary CPGEs
• School of Image and Sound of Angoulême (LISA): a general education high school (options cinema, theatre), BTS audiovisual and visual communication
• Marguerite de Valois High School  : general and technological lycée,
• Charles de Coulomb High School: a general and technological education and vocational high school (industrial education)
• Sillac High School: building trades vocational school
• Jean Rostand School: vocational school for the fashion industry and services,
• Jean-Albert Grégoire School: vocational school for careers in transport and logistics (Soyaux commune)
• Oisellerie High School: agricultural college (La Couronne commune)
• Saint Paul High School: A private school grouping (elementary school, middle school, and general and technological high school)
• Sainte-Marthe-Chavagnes School: a private school grouping (from kindergarten to BTS, general education, technological and professional)

University

The University Centre of Charente is administratively attached to the University of Poitiers. It includes:

• a Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
• a Faculty of Sport Sciences
• CEPE (European Centre for children's products)
• University Institutes of Technology (IUT)
• a departmental site of the Graduate School of Teaching and Education from the University of Poitiers

Other institutions

• Gabriel Fauré Conservatory directed by Jacques Pesi. 56 teachers, 40 disciplines, and 1,015 students in 2010
• Isfac: a training centre offering 8 BTS courses alternately as well as training for business
• CNAM: a branch of the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts
• EMCA: School for film animation
• EGC: School of Management and Business
• CIFOP: Vocational Training Centre for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angoulême (L'Isle-d'Espagnac commune)
• EIA: Engineering school by apprenticeship - CESI
• ENJMIN: National School game and interactive digital media
• EESI: Higher European School of Imaging
• CREADOC: documentary of design

Sports

• Local rock climbing crags in such as Les Eaux-Claires, site of France's first 9a (5.14d) route, by Fred Rouhling
• Sailing school, based by Éric Tabarly at the lake of Saint-Yrieix
• The women's handball team was in division 1 for the 2008–2009 season.
• The Angoulême CFC (ACFC) is the football club that played in the National (3rd division) in the 2003–2004 season.
• TTGF is the Table Tennis Club that played in National 1 (3rd division championship of France) for the 2009–2010 season.
• The SC Angoulême Rugby Club
• The ACA (Angoulême Rowing Club)

Health

All medical and paramedical specialties are present.

• The Centre hospitalier d'Angoulême, also called the Hospital of Girac, is in the commune of Saint-Michel.
• The Saint-Joseph clinic is the only remaining clinic in the commune of Angoulême. Other clinics (Victor Hugo, Sainte-Marie, Saint-Cybard, etc.) are combined on one site: the clinical centre of Soyaux.

Local life

Worship

Catholic worship

Angoulême has many places where people can learn about and practice their faith. Some important ones include Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Saint-André Church, and several others such as the Church of Our Lady of Obézine and the Church of St. Ausone.

Markets

The city is known for its markets. The Covered Market, with its big roof and beautiful architecture from the late 1800s, is a special historic site. There are also markets like the Victor Hugo market and the market of Saint-Cybard. Even the districts of Basseau and Ma Campagne have their own markets.

Military presence

Angoulême is home to two important French military regiments today: the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment and the 515th régiment du train.

In the past, the city also hosted several other military groups, such as the 107th Infantry Regiment before 1906 and again from 1939 to 1940, as well as various artillery and tank regiments during the early 1900s and World War II.

Notable people

• Isabella of Angoulême (1186–1246), Queen of England as the second wife of King John
• John, Count of Angoulême (1399–1467), grandson of King Charles V of France and grandfather of King François I, buried in Saint-Pierre d'Angoulême Cathedral
• Mellin de Saint-Gelais (c. 1491–1558) poet of the Renaissance, favoured by Francis I
• Margaret of Valois-Angoulême (1492–1548), princess of France
• André Thevet (1516–1592), explorer, cosmographer and writer
• François Garasse (1585–1631), Jesuit polemicist
• Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac (1597–1654), writer
• Marc René, marquis de Montalembert (1714–1800), military engineer and writer
• Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe (1728–1799), court architect to Catherine II in Russia
• Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736–1806), military engineer and physicist
• Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré (1789–1854), botanist
• Curt John Ducasse (1881–1969), philosopher
• Paul Iribe (1883–1935), illustrator and designer in the decorative arts
• Maurice Dumesnil (1884–1974), classical pianist
• Robert Couturier (1905–2008), sculptor
• Maurice Duverger (1917–2014), jurist, sociologist, political scientist and politician
• Pierre-Jean Rémy (1937–2010), writer, member of the Académie française
• Claude Arpi (born 1949), writer, journalist, historian and French tibetologist
• Dominique Bagouet (1951–1992), dancer and choreographer of contemporary dance
• Claire Désert (born 1967), classical pianist
• Jean-Cédric Maspimby (born 1977), footballer
• Amandine Bourgeois (born 1979), singer

Linked to the city

• Saint Cybard (504–581), monk and hermit, lived and died here
• Francis I of France (1494–1547), Count of Angoulême before his accession to the throne
• Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette (1554–1642), Duke of Épernon, Governor of Angoumois, pet of King Henry III of France
• Zulma Carraud (1796–1889), writer, lived here in 1830–1834 and frequently hosted Honoré de Balzac who wrote La Grenadière here in one night
• Paul Abadie (1812–1884), architect, built the churches of Saint-Martial, St. Ausone, the school chapel, restored the old castle and turned it into the city hall, and Angoulême Cathedral
• Paul Valéry (1871–1945), writer and scholar, visited the ramparts where there is a plaque: "Paul VALERY stopped here on 9 December 1931 AAC O reward after a thought, a long look at the calm of the gods
• Lucien Loizeau (1879–1978), general and writer, died here
• René Olry (1880–1944), general and commander of the Army of the Alps, died here
• François Mitterrand (1916–1996), French President (1981–1995), completed his secondary education at Saint-Paul's College of Angoulême
• Lindsay Anderson (1923–1994), British film director, died here
• Prince Eudes, Duke of Angoulême (born 1968)