Angouleme by Eurostar

Angouleme is the capital of Charente Department and is located in South-western France. This historic city has a population of over 40,000 people and covers a little over five thousand square miles. Angouleme has played an important role in history. In the ninth century, Angouleme was plundered by the Normans.
The city was captured in the late thirteen hundreds but was released by Charles V in 1373. This city was subjected to great strife during the Wars of Religion. A long line of royalty has been in place in Angouleme since the beginning of the ninth century and began with William Tailllefer. Eventually the title was transferred to King John of England after he married Isabella of Angouleme.
In 1515 a member of Angouleme royalty, Francis I became King of France. The line of royalty has continued until the last duke of Angouleme, Louis-Antoine, died in 1844. During World War II, this city was an important part of the German occupation. The French Resistance used this strategic location to help disrupt the German supply lines. A museum was built to honour the Resistance and the Jewish and other political prisoners.
A difficult journey was made by survivors of a raid by German soldiers. The survivors are also known as the Cockleshell Heroes and one can learn more about this incident and the French Resistance at the Chasseneuil. A visit to Angouleme would not be complete without visiting the Angouleme Cathedral and the ancient fortifications above the city walls.

Travel to Angouleme by Eurostar
The historic city of Angouleme can be travelled to by Eurostar London to Angouleme Train. This journey is very convenient and free of stress. The Eurostar train is a high speed passenger train that connects people of London to Paris, Brussels, Lille and other top destinations in Europe. While the Eurostar train may be a little more expensive than the 'cheap' flights and ferries, the high speed (186 mph) of the train and the excellent facilities on-board make this form of transportation one of the best one can choose from. Visiting Angouleme is made a simple process by Eurostar with the ability to pay only one price through the company’s connections with several trains operating in the UK.

To begin your journey, you simple board the Eurostar London Paris Train from London's St. Pancras International Station to Paris Gare Du Nord Train Station and then simple station change at Paris and travel to Angouleme by Eurostar partner TGV Atlantique train service. You have to change the station at Paris by taking the metro line 4 toward Porte d'Orleans to Gare de Montparnasse where you will find the TGV to Angouleme. The journey time for Eurostar train to Angouleme from London is about 7 hours.

Angouleme Attractions/Events

Angouleme has many interesting and unusual tourist attractions and events that everyone should visit or attend.

Hotel de Ville d'Angouleme is a must see attraction that no visitor to this city should miss. This attraction is the current home of the Regional Mayor. It is the home of Angouleme's first royalty and is a prime example of the architecture of the time. This landmark contains several galleries and boutiques and a number of restaurants.

Angouleme Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter and is a prime example of the Byzantine-Romanesque style of churches. Designed by Paul Abadie this building is flanked by sculptures and statues that represent the Last Judgment. The building is topped by a square tower that stands over 160 feet high.

City of Festivals. Angouleme was once known for its production of paper and printing. Since the fourteenth century this city was one of the best places to find quality paper. Today, the city relies on a number of festivals. The National Musee de la Bande Dessinee (also known as the Comic Strip Museum) is located in a converted paper-mill building.

The Angouleme International Comics Festival takes place annually for one week in January. More than a quarter of a million visitors from around the world attend the festival. This four day event awards a number of special awards that are recognized around the world. Much like the Academy Awards in the US, the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angouleme is awarded to the best.

Another great festival that visitors should try to attend is the International Forum for Animation Technologies. This festival began in 1998 and it gathers more than 250 French professionals from many aspects of film including animation, effects, game development and post-production. Even Hollywood has speakers who will participate in the festival.

A motor racing event, the Circuit Des Remparts, is an annual motor racing event that takes place around the ramparts of the city. It happens on a Sunday in September and it is the place where the largest collection of pre-war Bugatti racing machines. More than thirty cars of extraordinary value are raced around the ramparts including the T35 Ferraris. Many British vintage and classic cars participate in the motor event. You can enjoy the race and the huge lunch and party that is also part of the event. This is one of the last motor racing events that happens in Europe today. Many famous race car drivers participate in this event.

The Le Parc Des Expos is an exhibition centre that has been added to the city along with the Champ de Mars shopping mall. A great deal of shopping can be enjoyed here. The city is also home to the prefect of the Assize court. An important school of film is part of this city's resources.

Angouleme Nightlife
While this city is a small community, there are a number of places for the young people to hang out and enjoy different forms of music. A popular location is the La Bara-Bahau. Other hotspots include The Rancho 16 and Le Bus.

Angouleme Hotels
As with most cities there are a number of choices that you can enjoy when staying in Angouleme. Hotels can range from the inexpensive to the very expensive. Many mid range hotels are available for visitors to this historic city including the three stars Hotel Mercure. It includes a French restaurant and has many amenities that guest can enjoy. This particular hotel is located with many historic views of the city.

Popular Hotels in Angouleme

• Epi d'or
• Appart'city Angouleme
• Hotel Terminus
• Hotel D'orleans
• Hotel Balladins Angouleme
• Citotel Europeen

Angouleme city Map

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