Quick Jaunt to Angouleme

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Quick Jaunt to Angoulême: Street Art, Cathedrals, and Quiet Inspiration

I opened the front door, and the day looked glorious.

So I headed out for a quick jaunt to Angoulême, often called the street art capital of France.

One thing has become clear during my time traveling through France: every village seems to have a story. Some are defined by a charming niche, others by a tragic historical event. Either way, each place carries its own identity, and Angoulême is no exception.

For me, the most fascinating points of interest were the street art and the churches, history and creativity side by side.



The Street Art Capital of France

Angoulême is home to 25+ massive murals, painted across buildings throughout the city. You don’t have to search hard to find them, they appear around corners, above rooftops, and along streets that feel like an open-air gallery.

One mural in particular stood out: a tribute to Uderzo’s work, a reminder of how deeply comics and illustration are woven into the identity of this place.

Angoulême isn’t only known for its murals. It is also globally renowned for its International Comics Festival, which draws around 200,000 visitors each year.

For my artist readers, you know who you are, this is your kind of city.

The vibe was incredibly chill, and walking the streets felt like wandering through a creative world where art is not tucked away in museums but proudly displayed for everyone.


Angoulême Cathedral: A Living Timeline

The Angoulême Cathedral was another highlight, breathtaking in a completely different way.

The cathedral was built on the site of a primitive pre-Christian structure dating back to the 4th century, which alone is enough to make you pause and imagine how many lives and centuries have passed through the same ground.

The bell tower of Angoulême Cathedral was destroyed during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, and later modified by architect Paul Abadie between 1866 and 1885, including the addition of two towers with conical tops.

A third cathedral was constructed under Bishop Grimoard, Abbot of Saint-Pierre de Brantôme. The “new” church was consecrated in 1017.

By the beginning of the 12th century, the cathedral was deemed too small for the growing wealth of the county. Its redesign was led by Bishop Gérard II, one of the most influential French figures of his time, a professor and Papal legate who served four popes.

The cathedral’s grand features and structural beauty, inside and out, were simply breathtaking.

Overwhelming, in the best way.













Views of the City… and New Beginnings

The views across the city felt symbolic, as if Angoulême was quietly offering a reminder:

New beginnings are always possible.




Cheers,


jMf


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