Editing Angoulême

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Angoulême
|native name        =  ''Engoulaeme'' ([[Poitevin–Saintongeais]])
|commune status         = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image coat of arms     = Blason ville fr Angoulême (Charente).svg
|image                  = Angoulememosaique.png
|caption                = From top to bottom, left to right : The Cathedral of Angoulême; Panoramic view of the city ; Monument to Carnot; Théatre d' Angoulême.
|arrondissement         = Angoulême
|canton                 = [[Canton of Angoulême-1|Angoulême-1]], [[Canton of Angoulême-2|2]] and [[Canton of Angoulême-3|3]]
|INSEE                  = 16015
|postal code            = 16000
|demonym                = Angoumoisins
|mayor                  = Xavier Bonnefont<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = [[Grand Angoulême]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|45.65|0.16|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 100
|elevation min m        = 27
|elevation max m        = 130
|area km2               = 21.85
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|population demonym = Angoumoisin (''m'')<br/>Angoumoisine (''f'')
|website                =[http://www.angouleme.fr/ angouleme.fr]
}}

'''Angoulême''' ({{IPA|fr|ɑ̃ɡulɛːm|audio=Fr-Paris--Angoulême.ogg}}; [[Poitevin-Saintongeais]]: ''Engoulaeme''; {{langx|oc|Engoleime}}) is a small city in the southwestern French [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Charente]], of which it is the [[Prefectures of France|prefecture]].

Located on a plateau overlooking a [[meander]] of the river [[Charente (river)|Charente]], the city is nicknamed the "balcony of the southwest". The city proper's population is a little less than 42,000 but it is the centre of an urban area of 110,000 people extending more than {{convert|15|km|mi|spell=in|abbr=off}} from east to west.
 
Formerly the capital of [[Angoumois]] in the [[Ancien Régime]], Angoulême was a fortified town for a long time, and was highly coveted due to its position at the centre of many roads important to communication, so therefore it suffered many sieges. From its tumultuous past, the city, perched on a rocky spur, inherited a large historical, religious, and urban heritage which attracts a lot of tourists.

Nowadays, Angoulême is at the centre of an agglomeration, which is one of the most industrialised regions between [[Loire]] and [[Garonne]] (the [[paper industry]] was established in the 16th century, a [[foundry]] and [[electromechanical engineering]] developed more recently). It is also a commercial and administrative city with its own university of technology, and a vibrant cultural life. This life is dominated by the [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]], the FFA [[Angoulême Francophone Film Festival]] and the [[Musiques Métisses]] Festival that contribute substantially to the international renown of the city. Moreover, Angoulême hosts 40 animation and video game studios that produce half of France's animated production. [[Wes Anderson]]'s ''[[The French Dispatch]]'' was filmed in this city.

Angoulême is called "Ville de l'Image" which means literally "City of the Image". The commune has been awarded four flowers by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.<ref>[http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html Angoulême in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210053901/http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html |date=10 December 2014 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==Geography==
Angoulême is an [[Acropolis]] city located on a hill overlooking a loop of the [[Charente (river)|Charente]] limited in area upstream by the confluence of the [[Touvre]] and downstream by the Anguienne and [[Eaux Claires]].

===Location and access===
Angoulême is located at the intersection of a major north–south axis: the [[N10 road (France)|N10]] Paris-Bayonne; and the east–west axis: the [[N141 road (France)|N14]] ''route Central-Europe Atlantique'' Limoges-Saintes. Angoulême is also connected to [[Périgueux]] and [[Saint-Jean-d'Angely]] by the D939 and to [[Libourne]] by the D674.

{{Geographic location
|width=auto
|Centre    = Angoulême 
|North     = [[Paris]] 435&nbsp;km<br />[[Poitiers]] 110&nbsp;km<br />[[Niort]] 110&nbsp;km
|Northeast = [[Montluçon]] 236&nbsp;km<br />[[Guéret]] 170&nbsp;km<br />[[Confolens]] 50&nbsp;km
|East      = [[Limoges]] 100&nbsp;km
|Southeast = [[Périgueux]] 80&nbsp;km
|South     = [[Libourne]] 90&nbsp;km<br />[[Bergerac, Dordogne|Bergerac]] 110&nbsp;km
|Southwest = [[Bordeaux]] 110&nbsp;km
|West      = [[Cognac (Charente)|Cognac]] 40&nbsp;km<br />[[Saintes, Charente-Maritime|Saintes]] 70&nbsp;km<br />[[Royan]] 100&nbsp;km
|Northwest = [[La Rochelle]] 120&nbsp;km
}}

*By train: the [[Paris–Bordeaux railway|Paris-Bordeaux line]], served mainly by [[TGV]], passes through Angoulême and the [[TER]] Limoges-Saintes provides connections.
*By water: although the river Charente is currently only used for tourism, it was a communication channel, especially for freight, until the 19th century and the port of l'Houmeau was very busy.

The [[Angoulême – Brie – Champniers Airport|Angoulême-Cognac International Airport]] is at Brie-Champniers.

===Districts===
[[File:Angouleme 1914.jpg|thumb|right|Map of Angoulême in 1914.]]

'''Old Angoulême''' is the old part between the ramparts and the town centre with winding streets and small squares. The '''city centre''' is also located on the plateau and was portrayed by [[Honoré de Balzac]] in "The Lost Illusions" as "the height of grandeur and power". There is a Castle, a town hall, a prefecture, and a cathedral with grand houses everywhere. Unlike Old Angoulême, however, the entire city centre was greatly rebuilt in the 19th century.

Surrounding the city were five old [[faubourgs]]: [[L'Houmeau (Angoulême)|l'Houmeau]], Saint-Cybard, Saint-Martin, Saint-Ausone, and la Bussatte. The district of '''l'Houmeau''' was described by Balzac as "based on trade and money" because this district lived on trade, boatmen, and their [[scow]]s. The port of l'Houmeau was created in 1280 on the river bank. It marked the beginning of the navigable part from Angoulême to the sea. '''Saint-Cybard''', on the bank of the Charente, was created around the [[Abbey of Saint-Cybard]] then became an industrial area with [[papermill]]s, especially ''Le Nil''. '''Saint-Martin - Saint-Ausone''' is a district composed of two former parishes outside the ramparts. At '''La Bussatte''' the Champ de Mars esplanade is now converted into a shopping mall, and adjoins '''Saint-Gelais'''.

Today the city has fifteen districts:
* '''Centre-ville'''
* '''Old Angoulême'''
* '''Saint-Ausone - Saint-Martin'''
* '''Saint-Gelais'''
* '''La Bussatte - Champ de Mars'''
* '''L'Houmeau'''
* '''Saint-Cybard'''
* '''Victor-Hugo, Saint-Roch''' is notable for its military presence.
* '''Basseau''' is a district which was created in the 19th century with the port of Basseau, the explosives factory in 1821, the Laroche-Joubert papermill in 1842, then the bridge in 1850.
* '''Sillac - La Grande-Garenne''' was a private housing estate then was built up with [[HLM]] units.
* '''Bel-Air, la Grand Font''' in the railway station district with housing blocks from the 1950s at Grand Font.
* '''La Madeleine''' which was completely rebuilt after the bombings of 1944.
* '''Ma Campagne''' is a district which was detached from [[Puymoyen]] commune in 1945<ref name="privat">Pierre Dubourg-Noves (dir.), ''History of Angoulême and its surroundings'', Toulouse, Éditions Privat, coll. "Univers de la France et des pays francophones", 1990, 319 p. ({{ISBN|2-7089-8246-X}}, notice BnF no FRBNF350724243), p. 295-296 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and built-up as a collective habitat from 1972.
* Le '''Petit Fresquet''' was also detached from Puymoyen and is semi-rural.
* '''Frégeneuil''' was also detached from Puymoyen and is semi-rural.

===Panorama of the city===
<div style="overflow:auto;">
[[File:Angoulême 16 Le plateau vu de Saint-Martin 2014.jpg|thumb|center|upright=5|Panorama of Angoulême from Saint-Martin (South).<br />The church of Saint-Ausone, the cathedral of Saint-Pierre, and the city hall can all be seen.]]
</div>

===Neighbouring communes and villages===
{{Geographic location
|width=auto
|Centre    = Angoulême 
|North     = [[Gond-Pontouvre]]
|Northeast = [[L'Isle-d'Espagnac]]
|East      = [[Soyaux]]
|Southeast = [[Puymoyen]]
|South     = [[Vœuil-et-Giget]]
|Southwest = [[Saint-Michel, Charente|Saint-Michel]]
|West      = [[Fleac]]
|Northwest = [[Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente]]
}}
<ref name=Google>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Angoul%C3%AAme,+France/@45.645821,0.1450394,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47fe2d85032bc499:0x405d39260eec0f0 Google Maps]</ref>

===Hydrography===
The ''Port-l'Houmeau'', the old port on the Charente located in the district of l'Houmeau is in a flood zone and during floods the Besson Bey Boulevard is usually cut.

===Geology===
[[File:Topographie de angouleme.jpg|thumb|Topography of Angoulême city]]

Geologically the town belongs to the [[Aquitaine Basin]] as does three-quarters of the western department of [[Charente]].

The commune is located on the same [[limestone]] from the [[Upper Cretaceous]] period which occupies the southern half of the department of Charente, not far from [[Jurassic]] formations beginning at [[Gond-Pontouvre]].

The earliest Cretaceous period - the [[Cenomanian]]- is in the relatively low areas (l'Houmeau, the heights of Saint-Cybard, Sillac), at an average altitude of 50m.

The city was established on the [[Plateau]] (altitude 100m) that dominates the loop of the River Charente, a [[Turonian]] (also called ''Angoumien'') formation which forms a dissected plateau of parallel valleys and a [[cuesta]] facing north that extends towards [[La Couronne, Charente|La Couronne]] to the west and [[Garat, Charente|Garat]] to the east.

This limestone plateau contains natural cavities which have been refurbished by man in the form of three or four floors of caves, some of which include antique grain silos.

The valley of the Charente is made up of old and new alluvium which provides rich soil for farming and some sandpits. These alluvial deposits were deposited successively during the [[Quaternary]] period on the inside of two meanders of the river that are Basseau and Saint-Cybard. The oldest alluviums are on the plain of Basseau and reach a relative height of 25m.<ref>BRGM geological map on Géoportail {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>[http://infoterre.brgm.fr/viewer/MainTileForward.do# INfoterre Visualiser] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423154453/http://infoterre.brgm.fr/viewer/MainTileForward.do |date=23 April 2017 }}, BRGM website {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>[http://ficheinfoterre.brgm.fr/Notices/0709N.pdf Paper Notice for Angoulême], BRGM, 1973, Infoterre website, consulted on 17 November 2011 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Relief===
The old part of the city is built on the plateau - a rocky outcrop created by the valleys of the Anguienne and Charente at an altitude of {{convert|102|m|ft|abbr=off}} - while on the river bank the area subject to flooding is {{convert|27|m|ft|abbr=off}} high. Angoulême is characterized by the presence of ramparts on a cliff {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=off}} high.

The plateau of ''Ma Campagne'', south of the old town, has almost the same features and peaks at 109 m in the woods of Saint-Martin. The plateau is elongated and separates the valleys of Eaux Claires, which is the southern boundary of the commune, from that of Anguienne, which is parallel.

Both plateaux overlook the Charente valley and the outlying areas such as l'Houmeau, Basseau, and Sillac at their western ends. The plateau of Angoulême is the northwest extension of the Soyaux plateau. L'Houmeau, the station area, and that of Grand-Font are to the north of the plateau along the small Vimière valley, also a tributary of the Charente, but further north (towards Gond-Pontouvre and [[L'Isle-d'Espagnac]]) than Anguienne is to the south.

The highest point of the city of Angoulême is at an altitude of 133m near Peusec located to the south-east near the border with Puymoyen. The lowest point is 27 m, located along the Charente at Basseau.<ref name="ign">IGN Map on [[Géoportail]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===The ramparts===
Since Roman times ramparts have surrounded the Plateau of Angoulême. Repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, their reconstruction was finally stopped in the 19th century. The '''Ramparts''' are classified as historical monuments{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name="Ramparts">Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104228|PA00104228 Ramparts}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> and the ''Ramparts Tour'' is one of the main attractions of the city.

;The Ramparts of Angoulême
<gallery>
File:Angoulême1.4.JPG|North Rampart
File:Ang remp1.JPG|Near the covered market
File:Ang remp4.JPG|The Léchelle Tower
File:Angouleme20050314Blorg.JPG|The Rampart du midi
</gallery>

===Climate===
Angoulême is under an [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] influence and similar to that of the city of Cognac where the departmental weather station is located. Precipitations are modest all year long, with a slight drying tendency during summer.

{{Meteo France
|Town=Angoulême<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903184707/http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1598-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-cognac Data from the Station at Cognac] from 1981 to 2010 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|Sunshine=2,027
|Rain=763
|Snow=3
|Storm=23
|Fog=54
}}

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Angoulême ([[Angoulême–Cognac International Airport]])  (2009–2020 normals, extremes 2009–present)
|Jan record high C = 18.2
|Feb record high C = 24.1
|Mar record high C = 26.1
|Apr record high C = 29.2
|May record high C = 32.0
|Jun record high C = 38.8
|Jul record high C = 39.8
|Aug record high C = 39.6
|Sep record high C = 37.3
|Oct record high C = 32.2
|Nov record high C = 24.2
|Dec record high C = 18.1
|Jan record low C = -7.8
|Feb record low C = -12.8
|Mar record low C = -4.9
|Apr record low C = -3.2
|May record low C = 0.6
|Jun record low C = 5.4
|Jul record low C = 8.7
|Aug record low C = 8.4
|Sep record low C = 3.9
|Oct record low C = -2.0
|Nov record low C = -4.6
|Dec record low C = -10.7
|Jan high C = 8.7
|Feb high C = 10.2
|Mar high C = 14.3
|Apr high C = 17.9
|May high C = 20.6
|Jun high C = 24.2
|Jul high C = 27.2
|Aug high C = 27.2
|Sep high C = 24.0
|Oct high C = 18.8
|Nov high C = 13.4
|Dec high C = 10.2
| year high C = 18.1
|Jan mean C = 5.9
|Feb mean C = 6.3
|Mar mean C = 9.6
|Apr mean C = 12.5
|May mean C = 15.3
|Jun mean C = 18.8
|Jul mean C = 21.2
|Aug mean C = 21.0
|Sep mean C = 18.3
|Oct mean C = 14.4
|Nov mean C = 10.1
|Dec mean C = 7.1
| year mean C = 13.4
|Jan low C = 3.0
|Feb low C = 2.5
|Mar low C = 4.9
|Apr low C = 7.2
|May low C = 10.0
|Jun low C = 13.4
|Jul low C = 15.3
|Aug low C = 14.9
|Sep low C = 12.6
|Oct low C = 10.0
|Nov low C = 6.9
|Dec low C = 4.0
| year low C = 8.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 89.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 66.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 58.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 60.1
|May precipitation mm = 71.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 71.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 36.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 44.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 51.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 69.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 93.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 101.4
|year precipitation mm = 814.8
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 14.1
| Feb precipitation days = 11.3
| Mar precipitation days = 10.8
| Apr precipitation days = 8.7
| May precipitation days = 10.2
| Jun precipitation days = 9.2
| Jul precipitation days = 5.8
| Aug precipitation days = 6.3
| Sep precipitation days = 7.3
| Oct precipitation days = 9.7
| Nov precipitation days = 13.1
| Dec precipitation days = 13.0
| year precipitation days =119.4
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=16078001
|title=Normales et records pour Angoulême - Brie Champniers (16) 
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>}}

==Toponymy==
Since Antiquity and through the Middle Ages, the name of the town has been attested in many forms in [[Latin]] and [[Old French]]:

*''Iculisma''<ref name="lmaurin">Letter of [[Ausone]], Louis Maurin in: Jean Combes (dir.) and Michel Luc (dir.), ''Charente from prehistory to modern times (collective work)'', St-Jean-d'Y, Imprimerie Bordessoules, coll. "History by documentrs", 1986, 429 p. ({{ISBN|2-903504-21-0}}, notice BnF no FRBNF34901024q), p. 56,69,70 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and ''Eculisna''<ref name="E. Nègre">Ernest Nègre, ''Toponymy General of France'', Librairie Droz, Genève, volume 1: Pre-Celtic, Celtic, and Roman formations, 1990, 704 pages, p. 53, [https://books.google.com/books?id=rsNpi7IVulEC&dq=Angoul%C3%AAme&pg=PA53 Read online], consulted on 31 December 2012 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> from the 4th century
*''civitas Engolismensium'' around 400AD<ref name="E. Nègre"/><ref>''[[Notitia provinciarum et civitatum Galliae]]'', Aquitaine seconde, 4th century {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*''Ecolisima'' ([[Merovingian]] currency)<ref name="AD et CR">''Etymological Dictionary of place names in France'', Librairie Guénégaud, [[Albert Dauzat]] and [[Charles Rostaing]], 1979, Paris, {{ISBN|2-85023-076-6}}, p. 19a {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*''Ecolisina'' and ''Aquilisima'' in 511<ref name="E. Nègre"/>
*''Ecolisna'' in the 6th century<ref name="AD et CR"/>
*''Egolisma''<ref>''History of the Franks'', [[Grégoire de Tours]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*''Egolisina'' in the 10th century
*''Equalisma'', ''Engolma'', ''Egolesma'', and ''Engolisma''<ref>Jean Nanglard, ''Cartulary of the Church of Angoulême'', Vol. IX, Bulletins and memoirs of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Charente, imprimerie G.Chasseignac, 1899 (1st edition 1880), 296 p. ([http://www.guyenne.fr/ArchivesPerigord/Cartulaires/cartulaire_de_l_eglise_angouleme.htm Read online]), p. 229</ref><ref>Pierre Dubourg-Noves (dir.), History of Angoulême and its surroundings'', Toulouse, Éditions Privat, coll. "Univers de la France et des pays francophones", 1990, 319 p. ({{ISBN|2-7089-8246-X}}, notice BnF no FRBNF350724243), p. 20 {{in lang|fr}}''</ref>
*''Engolesme'' at the end of the 12th century.<ref name="E. Nègre"/>

The absence of any convincing explanation of the origin of the name of the city has led to several attempts to fit etymological explanations unrelated to the well documented old forms and phonetically unlikely:
*It came from ''incolumissima'' meaning "very safe and healthy," but there is no trace of an [n] in the most ancient forms and no trace of a [mi] either.
*It was an alteration of ''in collisnā'' meaning "on the hill"<ref name="jmc"/> but a toponym is never formed from the Latin preposition ''in''. As for the French word ''colline'' (hill), it was borrowed from the Italian ''collina'' at the time of the [[Renaissance]] (attested for the first time in 1555).<ref>[http://www.cnrtl.fr/etymologie/colline cnrtl website: Etymology of "colline"] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In addition the suffix ''-isnā'' was not used to produce derivations from Latin words and it is doubtful that it even exists. Finally, independent alterations of regular phonetic changes occur as a result of analogy or more precisely of [[popular etymology]]: that is to say analogy with other similar and frequent used names in the region or an attempt to connect the toponym to a term that makes sense. It is clear that the old forms of Angoulême are mostly obscure.

Some hypotheses have been advanced with a stronger basis:
*It is possible to recognize the suffix ''-isma'' in some of the oldest forms which represents an evolution of the Gallic suffix ''-isama'' (usually a superlative mark)<ref name="AD et CR"/> which is found in the name of the Gallic divinity ''[[Belisama]]'' and very common in toponymy in toponymic types such as [[Blesme]], [[Bellême]], etc. including changes in the final ''-esme, -ême'' which is similar to Angoulême.<ref group="Note">Xavier Delamarre also cited ''Uxisama'' "very high" giving [[Exmes]], [[Huismes]], etc. and ''*Lētisamā'' "very grey" giving [[Louesme]] ([[Côte-d'Or]], ''Leesma'' in 1101), [[Lesme]] (Saône-et-loire)</ref><ref name="xd">Xavier Delamarre, ''Dictionary of the Gallic language'', éditions Errance, Paris, 2001, p. 199,329, {{ISBN|978-2-87772-198-1}} {{in lang|fr}}. Article '''uxellos''' and '''-leto'''</ref> In this context the first element would be ''Icul- / Ecol-'' an unknown pre-Latin element.<ref name="AD et CR"/>
*The identification of the primitive form ''Eculisna'' then alternating the old forms ''-isna'' and ''-isma'' led Ernest Nègre to prefer the first with ''-isna''. The first element would be ''Ecul-''. According to him, we can neither affirm the Celticity of these two elements nor their meaning. The alteration in ''*Angulisma'' was caused by the attraction of the Germanic personal name ''Angelisma'' whose existence was confirmed by [[Marie-Thérèse Morlet]].<ref name="E. Nègre"/>
*''Iculisma / Ecolisma'' would consist of a Gallic radical ''eco'' meaning "water", followed by the suffix ''-lisima'' meaning "relates to". ''Iculisma'' would be "well-watered".<ref name="jmc">Jean-Marie Cassagne and Stéphane Seguin, ''Origin of names of towns and villages of Charente'', Jean-Michel Bordessoules, 1998, 311 pages, p. 15 and 16, {{ISBN|2-913471-06-4}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Xavier Delamarre analysed the element ''Eco-'' to come from ''Equoranda'' (or ''Egoranda'') as the origin of many names in France and considers that the element ''ico / equo-'' was not Celtic.<ref name="xd"/>

At the time of the [[French Revolution]] the city was known by the transient name of ''Montagne-Charente''.<ref name="jmc"/>

*The district of Bussatte takes its name from the Low Latin ''buxetta / buxettum'' which means "place planted with boxwood" equivalent to ''[[Boissay]]'' in the [[langue d'oïl]].
*The district of l'Houmeau meaning "small elm" or "abalone". The term is probably derived from Low Latin ''ulmellum''.
*Sillac probably comes from Low Latin ''Sīliācum'' meaning that the village was built around the property (suffix ''-ācum'') of a Gallo-Roman named ''Sīlius''.<ref>Jean-Marie Cassagne and Stéphane Seguin, ''Origin of the names of towns and villages of Charente'', Jean-Michel Bordessoules, 1998, 311 pages, p. 59, 151, and 273, {{ISBN|2-913471-06-4}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==History==

===Antiquity===
The history of the city is not very well known before the Roman period: it is simply known that the plateau was occupied by an [[oppidum]], traces of which were found during excavations in the Saint-Martial cemetery<ref>José Gomez de Soto in Jean Combes (dir.), ''History of Poitou and charentais country: Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Clermont-Ferrand'', éditions Gérard Tisserand, 2001, 334 p. ({{ISBN|2-84494-084-6}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=sgNcz4RlYOwC Read online]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}), p. 61 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> under the name ''Iculisma''. Its currency was [[Lemovices|Lemovice]].

[[File:Ang musarcheo7b.JPG|thumb|A [[Capital (architecture)|Capital]] from the 2nd century discovered in 1888 on the Rue des Halles]]
The town was not located on major roads and was considered by the poet [[Ausonius]] as a small town. No Roman monuments have been found but it benefited from the ''[[Pax Romana]]'' and from trade on the river. The town had a prosperous period at the end of the [[Roman Empire]]. The rocky promontory overlooking the Charente {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=off}} high and over the Anguienne {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=off}} high formed a strategic position. It was raised to the rank of capital of ''civitas'' (at the end of the 3rd or 4th centuries) and the first fortress dates from the end of the Roman Empire. The rampart called Bas-Empire which surrounds 27 hectares of land was maintained until the 13th century. The network of [[Roman roads]] were then reorganized to link the town with the surrounding cities of [[Bordeaux]], [[Saintes, Charente-Maritime|Saintes]], [[Poitiers]], [[Limoges]], and Périgueux.<ref>Jean-François Buisson in Jean Combes (dir.), ''History of Poitou and charentais country: Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Clermont-Ferrand'', éditions Gérard Tisserand, 2001, 334 p. ({{ISBN|2-84494-084-6}},[https://books.google.com/books?id=sgNcz4RlYOwC Read online]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}), p. 99-100 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The city of ''Haut-Empire'' remained unknown for a long time. Recent excavations have provided details on the power of the Roman city. A well dug in an early era shows that the water table was very high. A large thermal spa complex was found under the courthouse which is usually related to water supply through an aqueduct.<ref>''Antique Towns and urban areas of South-West Gaul'', by Louis Maurin, 1992: Angoulême, Iculisma, Ecolisna {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The first [[bishop of Angoulême]] was Saint Ausone of Angoulême in the 3rd century. The administrative importance of the city was strengthened by the implementation of a County in the 6th century with [[Turpion]] (or Turpin) (839–863), adviser to [[Charles the Bald]]. However, the town was always attached to the various kingdoms of Aquitaine and the end of antiquity for the city was in 768, when [[Pepin the Short]] defeated [[Hunald II]] and linked it to the Frankish kingdom.<ref>Robert Favreau (historian), p. 121 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In June 2019, archeologists discovered a prehistoric stone with an engraving of a horse and other animals near Angoulême station. The [[Paleolithic|Palaeolithic]] stone plate is estimated to be about 12,000 years old.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48539803|title=Prehistoric stone engraved with horses found in France|date=6 June 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Flag of Angoumois.svg|thumb|150px|left|Flag of the ancient province of Angoumois.]]

When held by the [[Visigoths]], the city followed the [[Arianism|Arian]] version of Christianity and was besieged for the first time by [[Clovis I|Clovis]] in 507 after [[Vouillé, Vienne|Vouillé]] then taken in 508;<ref>Robert Favreau (historian) in Jean Combes (dir.), ''History of Poitou and Charentais country: Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Clermont-Ferrand'', éditions Gérard Tisserand, 2001, 334 p. ({{ISBN|2-84494-084-6}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=sgNcz4RlYOwC Read online]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}), p. 120 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> "miraculously" according to [[Gregory of Tours]] and [[Ademar of Chabannes]].<ref>Quénot, ''Statistics of Charente'', Études locales, February 1921 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

During the battle, however, Clovis was seriously wounded in the leg - probably a fracture. The fact is reported by tradition and on a wall of a tower from the 2nd century a leg is carved called the "leg of Clovis".
[[File:Tour clovis detail.jpg|thumb|The Leg of Clovis]]

During his stay in Angoulême, after putting the garrison to the sword, Clovis pulled down the old Visigothic cathedral dedicated to Saint-Saturnin to build a new one bearing the name of Saint-Pierre. All that remains of the original building are two carved marble capitals that frame the bay of the axis in the [[apse]] of the present cathedral.

In the 7th century Saint Cybard stayed secluded in a cave beneath the extension to the north wall of Angoulême called Green Garden which caused the creation of the first abbey: the Abbey of Saint-Cybard, then created the first abbey for women: the Abbey of Saint-Ausone where the tomb of the first bishop of the city is located.

In 848 Angoulême was sacked by the [[Viking]] chief [[Hastein]].<ref>Michel Dillange, ''The Counts of Poitou, Dukes of Aquitaine: 778-1204'', Mougon, Geste éd., coll. "History", 1995, ill., cov. illustrated in colour; 24&nbsp;cm, 303 p. ({{ISBN|2-910919-09-9}}, {{ISSN|1269-9454}}, notice BnF no FRBNF35804152x), p. 56 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In 896 or 930<ref>The dates vary between Vigier de la Pile and François Corlieu in ''History of the Angoumois'', Paris, Derache (1846, Laffite reprint 2002), 1576, 1760, 160 p. ({{ISBN|2-86276-384-5}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NYcOAAAAQAAJ Read online)]</ref> the city suffered another attack from invading Vikings but this time the Vikings faced an effective resistance. [[William Taillefer I|Guillaume I]], third Count of Angoulême, at the head of his troops made them surrender in a decisive battle. During this engagement, he split open to the waist Stonius, the Norman chief, with a massive blow together with his helmet and breastplate. 
 
It was this feat that earned him the name ''Taillefer'', which was borne by all his descendants until [[Isabella of Angoulême]] who was also known as Isabelle Taillefer, the wife of King [[John of England]]. The title was withdrawn from the descendants on more than one occasion by [[Richard I of England|Richard Coeur-de-Lion]] then the title passed to King John of England at the time of his marriage to Isabella of Angoulême, daughter of Count [[Aymer of Angoulême]]. After becoming a widow, Isabella subsequently married [[Hugh X of Lusignan]] in 1220, and the title was passed to the [[Lusignan family]], [[counts of Marche]]. On the death of [[Hugh XIII]] in 1302 without issue, the County of Angoulême passed his possessions to the crown of France.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/>

In 1236 [[Jewish]] communities in [[County of Anjou|Anjou]] and [[Poitou]], particularly Bordeaux and Angoulême were attacked by [[crusaders]]. 500 [[Jews]] chose conversion and over 3000 were massacred. Pope [[Gregory IX]], who originally had called the crusade, was outraged about this brutality and criticized the clergy for not preventing it.<ref>[http://www.jcrelations.net/A+Short+Review+of+a+Troubled+History.2267.0.html?L=3 ''A Short Review of a Troubled History'', Fritz Voll]</ref>

From the 10th to the 13th centuries the counts of Angoulême, the Taillefer, then the Lusignan strengthened the defences of the city and widened it to encompass the district of Saint-Martial.

In 1110, Bishop Girard II ordered the construction of the present cathedral.

===The commune charter===
On 18 May 1204 a charter was signed by King John of England to make official the creation of the commune of Angoulême. The King "grants to residents of Angoulême to keep the freedoms and customs of their fair city and defend their possessions and rights". The city celebrated their 800th anniversary throughout 2004.<ref>« Angoulême magazine No. 45 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===The Hundred Years War===
In 1360 the city, like all of Angoumois, passed into the hands of the [[Plantagenet]] English with the [[Treaty of Brétigny]]. From 16 to 22 October 1361, [[John Chandos]], Lieutenant of [[King Edward III]] of England and the Constable of Aquitaine responsible for implementing the Treaty particularly in Angoumois, took possession of the city, its castles, and the "mostier" (monastery) of Saint-Pierre. He received oaths of allegiance to the King of England from the main personalities of the city.<ref>Process-verbal delivered to Jean Chandos, Commissary of the King of England and of abandoned French areas by the Treaty of Brétigny, Manuscript from the British Museum - A. Bardonnet - Niort - 1867 [http://www.histoirepassion.eu/spip.php?article1841 Histoirepassion website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The English were, however, expelled in 1373 by the troops of [[Charles V of France|Charles V]] who granted the town numerous privileges.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> The County of Angoulême was given to [[Louis I, Duke of Orléans|Louis d'Orléans]] who was the brother of [[Charles VI of France|King Charles VI]] in 1394 and it then passed to his son [[John, Count of Angoulême|Jean d'Orléans]] (1400–1467), the grandfather of [[Marguerite de Navarre]] and [[François I]]. The ''Good Count'' Jean of Angoulême greatly expanded the County castle after his return from English captivity in the middle of the 15th century.

===The modern era===
Angoulême, the seat of the County of Angoumois, came into the possession of a branch of the family of [[House of Valois|Valois]] from which came François I, King of France from 1515 to 1547 who was born in [[Cognac]] in 1494. In 1524 the Italian navigator [[Giovanni da Verrazzano]] returned from the Indies. He told François I he had discovered a new territory that he named [[New Angoulême]] in his honour. This area later became [[New Amsterdam]] then [[New York City|New York]].

The duchy, now crown land, thereafter was passed on within the ruling house of France. One of its holders was [[Charles of Valois]], the "natural" (illegitimate) son of [[Charles IX of France|Charles IX]]. The last duke of Angoulême was [[Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulême|Louis-Antoine]] (died 1844), eldest son of [[Charles X of France]].<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/>

[[John Calvin]], the promoter of [[Protestantism]] and friend of [[Jean du Tillet (bishop)|Jean du Tillet]] the archdeacon of Angoulême, was forced to flee Paris in 1533 and took refuge in Angoulême in the caves of Rochecorail at [[Trois-Palis]]. He wrote some of his ''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]'' there which first edition was published in Latin in [[Basel]] in 1536.<ref>''Getting to know Charente'', Louis Desgraves, éditions Sud Ouest, p. 23 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Angoulême was affected by the [[Revolt of the Pitauds]] peasant revolt: in 1541, the [[gabelle]] (salt tax) was imposed on Saintonge and Angoumois. These provinces did not pay the tax on salt. The revolt broke out around Angoulême and farmers from the surrounding countryside took the city in July 1548<ref>Suzanne Citron, ''The National myth: the history of France in question'', Paris : coédition Les Éditions ouvrières/Édition and documentation internationale, 1991. {{ISBN|2-85139-100-3}}, {{ISBN|2-7082-2875-7}}, p. 229 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

During the first [[wars of religion]] the city took up arms: it was reconquered in 1563 by [[Louis, Duke of Montpensier|Montpensier]]. In 1565 Charles IX passed through the city during his [[Charles IX's grand tour of France|royal tour of France]] (1564–1566) accompanied by the court.<ref>Pierre Miquel, ''The Wars of Religion'', Paris, Club France Loisirs, 1980 ({{ISBN|2-7242-0785-8}}), p. 258 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In October 1568 the city was taken by the Protestants under [[Gaspard II de Coligny|Coligny]].<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/><ref>[http://www.agrippadaubigne.org/biographie.htm ''A biography of Agrippa of Aubigné''. Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123224809/http://www.agrippadaubigne.org/biographie.htm |date=23 November 2012 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

[[Henry III of France|Henry III]] was, in his infancy, the Duke of Angoulême. He left an unflattering description: "The streets of Engolesme are twisted, houses are disordered, the walls built out of various kinds of masonry which show that it was built several times and often taken and ruined"<ref>Louis Suire, ''Images of the West Country'', la Rose des vents, 1970, no ISBN</ref>

In 1588 the mayor of Angoulême, François Normand Lord of Puygrelier, was ordered by [[Henri III]] to arrest the [[Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette|Duke of Épernon]], governor of Angoumois. He led the assault, was repelled, and died on 10 August 1588.

In 1619 [[Marie de Médicis]] escaped and was received by the Duke of Épernon, governor of Angoumois. At that time the castle was the residence of the governors.

===French Revolution===
During the French Revolution the city was called ''Mountagne-Charente''. The first [[arbre de la liberté|tree of liberty]] was planted on 5 July 1792.<ref>Robert Petit, ''The Trees of liberty at Poitiers and in Vienne'', Poitiers : Éditions CLEF 89/Fédération des œuvres laïques, 1989, p. 28 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===World War II===
[[File:DUPUY PILS 55 - ANGOULEME - La Place des Halles centrales.JPG|thumb|The network of ''Tramway of Angoulême'' served the city from 1900 to 1935.Seen here is a carriage at the Place des Halles before the [[First World War]].]]
[[File:SJS 81 - ANGOULEME - Eglise et Faubourg Saint-Ausonne.JPG|thumb|The city was also the terminus of a [[metre-gauge]] [[light railway]] called the ''Chemins de fer économiques des Charentes'' to [[Chalais, Charente|Chalais]] which ran from 1910 to 1948.]]
On 24 June 1940, the 2nd Verfügungstruppe division (special intervention troops) [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|Das Reich]] supported by other units of the [[Wehrmacht]] arrived in Angoulême. These troops took prisoners and neutralized the many refugee French soldiers in the city. Their number is estimated between 10 and 20 thousand. They were released in the following days.

The Das Reich division, which became tragically famous in 1944 during the [[Battle of Normandy]], continued their "lightning war" by quickly moving to the Spanish border to quickly set the [[line of demarkation]] to cut France in two.<ref>Guy Hontarrède, ''Friend, do you hear?'', 1987 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Angoulême was located in the [[Zone occupée|occupied zone]] under German authority and was the seat of the ''Feld Kommandatur''. The border with the [[zone libre|free zone]], colloquially called the ''zone nono'' (non-occupied) passed about {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of Angoulême through the Forest of Braconne and split the department in two.

On 20 August 1940 a convoy of Spanish Republicans were sent from Angoulême: convoy 927. This was the first convoy of the history of [[Deportation]] in Europe.<ref>[[Bartolomé Bennassar]], ''The Spanish War and its consequences'', Perrin, coll. Temps {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Men over the age of 13 were sent to the [[Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp|Mauthausen]] camp where very few survived; women and children were sent to [[Francisco Franco|Franco]]. These refugees were gathered in camps of "Combe aux Loups" at [[Ruelle-sur-Touvre]] and "Alliers" in Angoulême. It also served as a concentration camp for [[Romani people|Gypsies]] until June 1946.

On 21 October 1941 the young Gontran Labrégère, who tried with his friend Jean Pierre Rivière to set fire to a train carrying straw and munitions in Angoulême railway station, was shot by the occupiers. This was the first of a long list of 98 resistance fighters or hostages from Charente. In 1942 Mayor Guillon was dismissed and accused of belonging to an organisation outlawed by the [[Vichy regime]]. He was replaced by a notable industrialist, Pallas.

On 8 October 1942, 387 people of Jewish origin were arrested and deported to [[Auschwitz]]. Only eight of them ever returned. On 19 March 1944 allied bombing caused widespread damage and one casualty at the National Explosives factory. On 15 June and 14 August 1944, the railway station was the target of American Flying Fortresses that dumped a carpet of bombs with little damage to the Germans but killing 242 civilians, destroying 400 houses, and caused 5,000 disaster victims in l'Éperon, l'Houmeau, Madeleine, and Grand-Font districts. At the end of August 1944 the Elster column, which was composed of the remains of various German units and the [[Indische Legion]], passed through the city without incident and withdrew.

Various units of [[French Forces of the Interior|FFI]] from the department and reinforcements from [[Dordogne]] then began the encirclement of the city. On the evening of 31 August an attack was launched, putting to flight the remnants of the German garrison. They fortunately did not have an opportunity to reorganize the defence of the city using the numerous and formidable fortifications erected for this purpose. On the night of 31 August to 1 September the city was liberated and a [[Comité départemental de libération|Liberation Committee]] with a new prefect was installed. This attack, however, resulted in 51 casualties among the different units involved: Maquis de Bir Hacheim, Groupe Soleil, SSS (Special Section for Sabotage), etc.

A museum in the commune is devoted to the [[French Resistance|Resistance]] and the [[The Holocaust|deportations of Jewish and political prisoners]]. A statue near the station commemorates the deportations to the concentration camps. The survivors of [[Operation Frankton]], notable for their daring raid by canoe on the German [[U-boat]] base at Bordeaux, made their escape across country to a safe house at [[Ruffec, Charente|Ruffec]] just north of Angoulême. This is now the site of a shop featuring British goods. The Monument to the Resistance is in [[Chasseneuil]] to the east.

===Postwar history===
After the war, the city underwent a major expansion of its suburbs. First Grand Font and Bel-Air, following the MRU reconstruction program for war damage of the area around the station which was bombed in 1944. Then in the 1960s the districts of Basseau (ZAC) and the Grande-Garenne were built and then there was the creation of Priority Urban Zones (ZUPs) at Ma Campagne in the 1970s.

Gradually industries moved into more spacious industrial zones created in the peripheral communes between 1959 and 1975:<ref name="privat"/>
*Sillac-Rabion (1959)
*les Agriers (1964)
*ZI No. 3: [[Gond-Pontouvre]] and [[L'Isle-d'Espagnac]] (1967)
*[[Nersac]] (early 1970s)
*Combe at [[Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente|Saint-Yrieix]] (1980)

Urbanisation also affected the peripheral communes with housing estates at [[Soyaux]] and Ruelle-sur-Touvre and the agglomeration became one of the largest cities in the south-west.<ref>''Angoulême'', Jean-Marie Berland, éd. Saep (Colmar), 1973, p. 94 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

In 1972, the city signed a "pilot city" contract with the State ([[Délégation interministérielle à l'aménagement du territoire et à l'attractivité régionale|DATAR]], represented by [[Albin Chalandon]]),<ref name="privat"/><ref>''Le Courrier du Parlement'' No. 420, 1975, p. 3-7 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> which allowed the city to make large scale public works - e.g. the small ring road (bridge and Rue Saint-Antoine, Boulevard Bretagne, Tunnel of Gâtine) penetrating Ma Campagne and called the way to Europe, the ZUPs at Ma Campagne, the Saint-Martial town centre, underground parking at Bouillaud and Saint-Martial, Montauzier indoor swimming pools at Ma Campagne, a pedestrianized street, a one-way traffic plan with computerized management of traffic lights (Angoulême is one of the first cities in France with Bordeaux which has the Gertrude computerized system called ''Philibert'' in Angoulême<ref name="privat"/>), STGA urban transport (ten routes with flexible buses), development of Bouillaud square, Conservatory of Music.<ref>Municipal Bulletins ''Informations d'Angoulême'', 1973-77 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

In 1989 after defeat in the municipal elections, the [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]] deputy mayor, [[Jean-Michel Boucheron (Charente politician)|Jean-Michel Boucheron]] left a hole of 164 million francs in the finances of the city and a debt of 1.2 billion francs. This deficit has burdened the finances of the city and long served as justification for the non-involvement in the completion of public works.

The small ring road (the southwest quarter - i.e. the Aquitaine Boulevard, a second bridge over the Charente, and the connection to the ''way of Europe'') was completed in 1995.

Following the construction of the Nautilis swimming complex at Saint-Yrieix by the urban community, the town of Angoulême closed three swimming pools in 2001 (Montauzier, Ma Campagne and the Bourgines summer pool).<ref>''[[Sud-Ouest (newspaper)|Sud Ouest]]'' éd. Charente 5 December 2001 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Heraldry===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=blason_ville_fr_Angoulême_(Charente).svg
|legend1=Arms of Angoulême 
|text=Accompanying the devise: "F<small>ORTITUDO MEA CIVIUM FIDES</small>" meaning "My strength is in the loyalty of my citizens" (The same device as [[Périgueux]]).

'''Blazon:'''<br/>
''Azure, a castle with open arch flanked by two towers all of argent masoned and windowed in sable surmounted by a fleur-de-lis of Or, also surmounted by a marquis coronet the same.''
}}

;Development of the coat of arms
*The first known blazon was: ''Azure Semé-de-lis of Or, a city gate with two towers of argent debruised by the whole''.
*Under Philip V in 1317: The Two Towers became three.
*Under Charles VI in 1381 are: ''Azure Semé-de-lis of Or, a bend compony of Argent and Or debruised by the whole for brisure''. The door at tower three encloses an outdoor ornament.
*Under Charles VII in 1452 the brisure changes for: ''a label of three points, with the middle pointed''.
*In the 16th century, the door with two towers reappears surmounted by a fleur de lys of gold.
*In 1850 a star replaced the fleur de lys which reappeared in 1855.
*At an unknown date the crown was added.

==Administration==
[[File:Ang hv6.JPG|thumb|left|City Hall]]
{{clear}}

===Municipality===
{{Hidden begin
|header      = List of [[Mayor (France)|mayors]] of Angoulême under the Ancien Régime<ref name=Mayors>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=21186 List of Mayors of France]</ref>
|border      = line
|titlestyle = background:palegreen;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name 
|-
| 1212 ||  || Barthélémy du Puy
|-
| 1215 ||  || Pierre Guillaume
|-
| 1218 ||  || Hélie d'Aurifont
|-
| 1381 || 1382 || Jehan Teinturier 
|-
| 1390 || 1392 || Jehan Prevost 
|-
| 1393 ||  || Brugier
|-
| 1396 || 1399 || Bernard de Jambes 
|-
| 1397 ||  || Cumon 
|-
| 1399 ||  || Mangot Prevost
|-
| 1400 ||  || Jehan Prevost 
|-
| 1402 ||  || Hélie Martin 
|-
| 1410 ||  || Gentil 
|-
| 1415 ||  || Baron 
|-
| 1420 ||  || Pelletan 
|-
| 1429 ||  || de Lage 
|-
| 1431 ||  || Seguin 
|-
| 1435 ||  || Fourreau 
|-
| 1437 ||  || Jehan Musnier
|-
| 1438 ||  || Arnauld Mat 
|-
| 1439 ||  || de Lisee 
|-
| 1443 || 1444 || Pierre Dormois 
|-
| 1445 || 1446 || Arnauld Mat 
|-
| 1446 || 1447 || Jehan Pelletan 
|-
| 1453 ||  || Faure 
|-
| 1457 ||  || Héliot Martin  
|-
| 1458 ||  || Jehan du Mayne 
|-
| 1460 ||  || Pierre du Sou 
|-
| 1461 ||  || Guillaume Prevost
|-
| 1462 ||  || Perrinet de la Combe 
|-
| 1463 ||  || Jehan Maqueau 
|-
| 1464 ||  || Penot de la Combe 
|-
| 1465 ||  || Perrinet de la Combe 
|-
| 1466 ||  || Penot Seguin 
|-
| 1467 ||  || Penot de la Combe 
|-
| 1468 ||  || Hélie Martin  
|-
| 1469 ||  || Perrinet de la Combe 
|-
| 1470 ||  || Penot de la Combe 
|-
| 1471 ||  || Guillaume Prevost
|-
| 1472 ||  || Penot Seguin 
|-
| 1473 ||  || Perrinet du Sou 
|-
| 1474 ||  || Penot de la Combe
|-
| 1475 ||  || Perrinet de la Combe 
|-
| 1476 ||  || Jehan du Mayne 
|-
| 1477 ||  || Pierre du Sou 
|-
| 1478 ||  || Penot de la Combe 
|-
| 1479 ||  || Jacques Bareau 
|-
| 1480 || 1481 || Philippe de la Combe 
|-
| 1482 ||  || Penot de la Combe 
|-
| 1482 || 1483 || Michel Montgeon 
|-
| 1483 ||  || Jacques Bareau 
|-
| 1484 || 1485 || Guillaume Brugier 
|-
| 1486 || 1487 || Jacques Bareau 
|-
| 1488 ||  || Philippe de la Combe 
|-
| 1489 ||  || Jehan Fourreau 
|-
| 1490 ||  || Hélie Debresme  
|-
| 1491 ||  || Bernard Seguyn 
|-
| 1491 || 1492 || Jehan du Mayne 
|-
| 1492 ||  || Jehan de Lousmelet 
|-
| 1493 || 1494 || André de Bar 
|-
| 1495 || 1498 || Hélie Seguin  
|-
| 1498 || 1499 || Penot du Mayne 
|-
| 1499 || 1500 || Georges Cimitiere 
|-
| 1500 ||  || Anthoyne Gentilz 
|-
| 1501 ||  || Regnault Caluau 
|-
| 1502 || 1503 || Hélie du Tillet 
|-
| 1504 ||  || Hélie de Lagear 
|-
| 1505 ||  || Cibard Couillard 
|-
| 1506 || 1507 || Pierre de La Place 
|-
| 1509 || 1510 || Guillaume Caluau 
|-
| 1511 ||  || Cibard Couillard 
|-
| 1512 ||  || Pierre de La Combe 
|-
| 1513 ||  || Charles Odeau 
|-
| 1514 || 1515 || Charles de Lousmellet
|-
| 1516 ||  || Etienne Rousseau 
|-
| 1517 || 1518 || Caluau 
|-
| 1519 ||  || Pierre Boessot 
|-
| 1520 || 1522 || Bernard de Marcilhac 
|-
| 1523 ||  || Jehan de Paris 
|-
| 1524 ||  || Laurent Journault 
|-
| 1528 ||  || Jacques de Lesmerie 
|-
| 1529 ||  || Martial Lizee
|-
| 1530 ||  || Guillaume Caluau 
|-
| 1533 ||  || Pierre Pascauld 
|-
| 1534 ||  || Guillaume Ruspide 
|-
| 1535 ||  || Loys Estivalle
|-
| 1536 ||  || Jean Montgeon
|-
| 1537 ||  || Georges Ruspide
|-
| 1538 ||  || François Rouhault 
|-
| 1539 ||  || Simon Moreau 
|-
| 1540 ||  || François de Couillault 
|-
| 1541 ||  || Ythier Jullien 
|-
| 1543 ||  || Jean Blanchard 
|-
| 1544 ||  || Jean de Paris 
|-
| 1545 ||  || Guillaume Ruffier 
|-
| 1546 ||  || Jean Blanchard 
|-
| 1547 ||  || Aymar Le Coq 
|-
| 1548 ||  || Poirier 
|-
| 1549 ||  || Simon Moreau 
|-
| 1550 ||  || Guillaume de La Combe 
|-
| 1551 || 1552 || François de Couillard 
|-
| 1553 ||  || François Terrasson 
|-
| 1554 || 1555 || Guillaume Rousseau 
|-
| 1556 || 1557 || Jean Desmoulins 
|-
| 1558 ||  || Jean Ruffier 
|-
| 1559 || 1560 || Hélie Dexmier 
|-
| 1561 ||  || Hélie de La Place 
|-
| 1562 ||  || Jean Paulte 
|-
| 1563 ||  || Hélie Baiol  
|-
| 1563 ||  || François de La Combe 
|-
| 1564 ||  || Michel Constantin 
|-
| 1565 ||  || François de La Combe 
|-
| 1566 ||  || Michel Constantin 
|-
| 1567 ||  || François de La Combe 
|-
| 1568 ||  || Jean Girard 
|-
| 1569 ||  || Etienne Pontenier 
|-
| 1570 ||  || Jean Paulte 
|-
| 1571 ||  || Nicolas Ythier 
|-
| 1572 ||  || François de Voyon 
|-
| 1573 ||  || Mathurin Martin 
|-
| 1574 || 1577 || Jean Pommaret 
|-
| 1578 ||  || François Redond  
|-
| 1579 ||  || Pierre Gandillaud 
|-
| 1580 ||  || Pierre Terrasson 
|-
| 1581 || 1582 || Pierre Bouton 
|-
| 1583 ||  || Louis de Lesmerie 
|-
| 1585 ||  || Hélie Laisne 
|-
| 1586 ||  || Denys Chappiteau 
|-
| 1587 ||  || Guymarc Bourgoing 
|-
| 1588 ||  || François Normand de Puygrelier 
|-
| 1589 ||  || Etienne Villoutreys 
|-
| 1590 ||  || Hélie Laisne
|-
| 1591 ||  || Jacques Lemercier 
|-
| 1592 || 1593 || François Le Meusnier 
|-
| 1594 ||  || Cybard Laisne 
|-
| 1595 ||  || Jean Nesmond 
|-
| 1596 ||  || Pierre Terrasson 
|-
| 1597 ||  || Jean Pommaret 
|-
| 1598 || 1599 || Jacques Le Mercier
|-
| 1600 ||  || François Le Meusnier  
|-
| 1601 ||  || Antoine Moreau 
|-
| 1602 ||  || Jean du Fosse 
|-
| 1603 ||  || Jacques de Villoutreys 
|-
| 1604 ||  || Jean de Paris 
|-
| 1605 ||  || Charles Raoul 
|-
| 1606 ||  || François Desruaux 
|-
| 1607 || 1608 || François Ruffier 
|-
| 1609 || 1610 || Jacques Le Meusnier 
|-
| 1611 ||  || Jean Nesmond 
|-
| 1612 ||  || Guillaume Guez de Balzac 
|-
| 1613 ||  || François Desruaux 
|-
| 1614 || 1616 || Jacques Le Meusnier 
|-
| 1617 || 1619 || Jean Guerin 
|-
| 1620 ||  || Jean de Paris 
|-
| 1621 ||  || François Desruaux 
|-
| 1622 ||  || Jacques Le Meusnier 
|-
| 1623 ||  || Antoine Gandillaud 
|-
| 1624 ||  || Pierre Desforges 
|-
| 1625 || 1626 || Guillaume Lambert 
|-
| 1627 ||  || François Dufosse 
|-
| 1628 ||  || Pierre Bareau 
|-
| 1629 ||  || Jean de Paris 
|-
| 1630 ||  || Jean Guerin 
|-
| 1631 ||  || Abraham Jameu 
|-
| 1632 || 1633 || Paul Thomas 
|-
| 1634 || 1635 || Jean Souchet
|-
| 1636 || 1637 || Hélie Levequot 
|-
| 1638 ||  || Hélie Houlier 
|-
| 1639 || 1640 || Philippe Arnold 
|-
| 1641 || 1642 || Jean Boisson
|-
| 1643 || 1644 || Antoine Racault 
|-
| 1645 || 1646 || François Normand de Puygrelier
|-
| 1647 ||  || François Pommet
|-
| 1648 || 1649 || Jean Lambert
|-
| 1650 || 1651 || Jean Guymard 
|-
| 1652 ||  || Pierre Briant 
|-
| 1653 || 1654 || François Normand de Puygrelier 
|-
| 1655 ||  || Philippe Arnaud 
|-
| 1656 ||  || Jean Preverauld 
|-
| 1657 || 1658 || Jean Gilibert 
|-
| 1659 ||  || Samuel Paquet
|-
| 1660 ||  || Abraham de La Farge 
|-
| 1662 ||  || Jean du Thiers 
|-
| 1664 || 1666 || Jean de l'Etoile 
|-
| 1667 || 1669 || Jacques Morin 
|-
| 1670 ||  || François Castin 
|-
| 1673 ||  || François Abraham de Guips 
|-
| 1676 ||  || Louis de Chazeau 
|-
| 1679 ||  || François Nadaud 
|-
| 1682 || 1683 || Jean Arnauld
|-
| 1686 ||  || Jean Cadiot de Pontenier
|-
| 1689 ||  || Jean Louis Guitton 
|-
| 1692 ||  || Jean Fe 
|-
| 1693 ||  || Etienne Cherade 
|-
| 1708 ||  || Mesnard de Laumont 
|-
| 1718 ||  || Jean Gervais 
|-
| 1721 ||  || Pierre Arnauld 
|-
| 1723 ||  || Henri Rambaud 
|-
| 1724 ||  || François Arnauld 
|-
| 1728 ||  || Jean Mesnard 
|-
| 1731 ||  || Louis Cosson 
|-
| 1738 ||  || Jean Valteau 
|-
| 1741 ||  || Elie-Philippe Maulde 
|-
| 1744 ||  || Pierre de Sarlande 
|-
| 1747 ||  || Léonard du Tillet 
|-
| 1754 ||  || Pierre de Labatud 
|-
| 1757 ||  || Claude Tremeau 
|-
| 1760 ||  || Noël Limousin  
|-
| 1765 ||  || Dassier 
|-
| 1766 ||  || Dumas 
|-
| 1768 ||  || François Bourdage  
|-
| 1771 ||  || Chaigneau de La Graviere 
|-
| 1773 ||  || Pierre Marchais de La Berge
|-
| 1790 ||  || Jean Valleteau de Chabrefy 
|-
| 1790 ||  || Perier de Gurat
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin
|header      = List of [[Mayor (France)|mayors]] of Angoulême from the [[French Revolution]] to 1944<ref name=Mayors/>
|border      = line
|titlestyle = background:palegreen;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position
|-
| 1791 ||  || Louis Desbrandes 
|-
| 1792 ||  || André Resnier 
|-
| 1793 ||  || Henry 
|-
| 1793 ||  || Michel Marvaud-Baudet 
|-
| 1793 ||  || Louis Desbrandes  
|-
| 1794 ||  || Michel Marvaud-Baudet 
|-
| 1795 ||  || Louis Desbrandes 
|-
| 1795 ||  || Louis Joseph Trion Montalembert 
|-
| 1795 ||  || Abraham François Robin Puynege 
|-
| 1795 ||  || Michel Marvaud-Baudet 
|-
| 1796 ||  || Jean Auguste Dervaud 
|-
| 1797 ||  || Pierre Mallet 
|-
| 1797 ||  || François Blandeau 
|-
| 1800 ||  || Etienne Souchet 
|-
| 1804 ||  || Descravayat de Belat 
|-
| 1813 ||  || Pierre Lambert des Andreaux
|-
| 1815 ||  || Jean-Baptiste Marchadier 
|-
| 1816 ||  || Pierre Lambert des Andreaux 
|-
| 1816 ||  || Pierre Jean Thevet 
|-
| 1825 ||  || Eutrope Alexis de Chasteignier
|-
| 1830 ||  || Ganivet
|-
| 1830 ||  || Laurent Sazerac de Forge
|-
| 1830 ||  || Philippe Pierre de Lambert 
|-
| 1833 ||  || Henri Bellamy 
|-
| 1835 ||  || Alexis Gellibert 
|-
| 1837 ||  || Paul Joseph Normand de La Tranchade 
|-
| 1841 ||  || Pierre Vallier 
|-
| 1843 ||  || Zadig Rivaud 
|-
| 1848 ||  || Antony Cheneuzac 
|-
| 1849 ||  || Paul Joseph Normand de La Tranchade 
|-
| 1855 ||  || Edmond Thomas 
|-
| 1855 ||  || François Léon Bourrut-Duvivier 
|-
| 1864 ||  || Laurent Paul Sazerac de Forge 
|-
| 1870 ||  || Jean Marrot 
|-
| 1874 ||  || Pierre Eugène Decescaud 
|-
| 1875 ||  || Jean Hippolyte Broquisse 
|-
| 1879 ||  || Jean Marrot
|-
| 1881 ||  || Henri Bellamy 
|-
| 1888 ||  || Jean Marrot 
|-
| 1894 ||  || Auguste Mullac 
|-
| 1896 ||  || Jean Donzole 
|-
| 1900 ||  || Auguste Mulac 
|-
| 1919 ||  || Jean Texier 
|-
| 1925 ||  || Gustave Guillon 
|-
| 1941 || 1944 || Ariste Pallas 
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

'''List of Successive [[Mayor (France)|Mayors]] since 1944'''<ref name=Mayors/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position
|-
| 1944 || 1945 || Antoine Rougerie ||   || 
|-
| 1945 || 1947 || Antonin Denis ||   || 
|-
| 1947 || 1955 || Roger Baudrin ||   || 
|-
| 1955 || 1958 || Henri Thébault || [[National Centre of Independents and Peasants|CNI]] || MP for Charente 
|-
| 1958 || 1959 || Raoul Boucheron ||   || 
|-
| 1959 || 1970 || Henri Thébault || [[National Centre of Independents and Peasants|CNI]]  || 
|-
| 1970 || 1977 || Roland Chiron || [[National Centre of Independents and Peasants|CNI]]  || Lawyer
|-
| 1977 || 1989 || [[Jean-Michel Boucheron (Charente politician)|Jean-Michel Boucheron]] || [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]  || Professor, MP
|-
| 1989 || 1997 || Georges Chavanes || [[Union for French Democracy|UDF]]  || Industrialist, MP, Minister
|-
| 1997 || 2008 || Philippe Mottet || [[Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]]  || University Professor, Regional Councillor
|-
| 2008 || 2014 || Philippe Lavaud || [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]  || Professor
|-
| 2014 || 2026 || Xavier Bonnefont || [[Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]]  || 
|}

===Cantons===
Angoulême is divided over three cantons:
*[[Canton of Angoulême-1|Angoulême-1]], which comprises the commune of [[Fléac]] and part of Angoulême
*[[Canton of Angoulême-2|Angoulême-2]], which comprises the commune of [[L'Isle-d'Espagnac]] and part of Angoulême 
*[[Canton of Angoulême-3|Angoulême-3]], which comprises the commune of [[Soyaux]] and part of Angoulême

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

The population of the conurbation was 103,501 inhabitants in 2006 (102,368 in 1999<ref>[http://www.paysagglomerations.com/fiche_signal_agglo.php?CodeContratAgglo=16ANGO INSEE, RP 1999]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>).

===Budget and taxation===
Taxation is at a rate of 40.20% on buildings, 71.94% on undeveloped land, and 18.43% for the housing tax (2007 figures).

The urban community levies 19.20% business tax.

===Urban development===
The Champ de Mars is the central square of the city and has had an underground shopping arcade since September 2007.

The eastern ring road was opened in 2004 (2010 for the final section) which opened up several districts. The deviation of the [[N10 road (France)|N10]] which has bypassed the city since 1973<ref>Report of the Economic and Social Development Funding Council (Ministry of the Economy and Finance), 1972, p. 253 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> has formed a western ring road since 2004 when the initial Fléac-Linars project was abandoned.

Rehabilitation operations for collective housing are underway as part of the government Operation for Urban Renewal. The districts of Grande Garenne, Basseau and Ma Campagne were combined in a program of urban regeneration.
<gallery>
File:Angouleme hv marche.JPG|The historic centre with the city hall and the market
File:Angouleme hv rue pietonne.JPG|Pedestrian shopping area in the centre
File:Houmeau Angoulême.JPG|The port of l'Houmeau and, in the background, the town centre of Angoulême.
File:Angouleme grande garenne.jpg|District of Grande-Garenne
File:Ang grandfont.JPG|District of Grand-Font
File:Angoulême - Halles.JPG|Les Halles
File:Angoulême Hôtel de Bardines 2012.jpg|The Bardines Hotel
</gallery>

===Movies and TV series shot in Angoulême===
*''Blanche and Marie'' by Jacques Renard with [[Miou-Miou]] and [[Sandrine Bonnaire]], shot in Angoulême and [[Rouillac, Charente|Rouillac]], released in 1985
*''The Child of the Dawn'' with [[Thierry Lhermitte]] filmed at Angoulême and [[Cognac, France|Cognac]]
*''SOS 18'' shot in and around Angoulême
*''Father and Mayor'' filmed in the communes 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
*{{lang|fr|[[Le grand soir (film)|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, Charente|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 is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Les villes jumelles|url=http://www.angouleme-jumelages.org/|website=angouleme-jumelages.org|publisher=Comité des jumelages Angoulême|language=fr|access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury|Bury]], England, United Kingdom (1959)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Hildesheim]], Germany (1965)
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Vitoria Gasteiz]], Spain (1967)
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Saguenay, Quebec|Saguenay]], Canada (1969)
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Gelendzhik]], Russia (1977)
*{{flagicon|MLI}} [[Ségou]], Mali (1984)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Turda]], Romania (1994)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Hoffman Estates, Illinois|Hoffman Estates]], United States (1996)
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Chaves, Portugal|Chaves]], Portugal (2017)
{{div col end}}

==Demography==

The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Angoumoisins'' or ''Angoumoisines'' in French.<ref>[https://www.habitants.fr/charente-16 Le nom des habitants du 16 - Charente], habitants.fr</ref>

===Demographic classification===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"
|+ Population of the Urban Area of Angoulême ([[INSEE]] 2018)<ref name=comp>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/1405599?geo=COM-16015+AAV2020-062+UU2020-16601+DEP-16 Comparateur de territoire, Commune d'Angoulême (16015), Unité urbaine 2020 d'Angoulême (16601), Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 d'Angoulême (062), Département de la Charente (16)], INSEE</ref>
|-  
! Zone !! Population !! Area<small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small> !! Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
|- 
| Angoulême|| align=right | {{formatnum:41711}} || align=right | 21.9 || align=right | {{formatnum:1909}} 
|- 
| Urban unit || align=right | {{formatnum:109395}} || align=right | 202.4 || align=right | 541
|- 
| Functional area || align=right | {{formatnum:179758}} || align=right | {{formatnum:1512}} || align=right | 119  
|- 
| [[Charente]]|| align=right | {{formatnum:351778}} || align=right | {{formatnum:5956}} || align=right | 59 
|}

By population Angoulême is by far the largest city in Charente with 41,711 inhabitants on 1 January 2018.<ref name=comp/> With a communal area of 2,185 hectares, the population density is 1,909 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>, making it the most densely populated city in Charente.

In 2018, the [[urban unit]] of Angoulême, which includes eighteen communes,<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/unite-urbaine-2020/16601-angouleme Unité urbaine 2020 d'Angoulême (16601)], INSEE</ref> totaled 109,395 inhabitants.<ref name=comp/> It is the seventh most populous urban unit of [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]], and extends over {{convert|15|km|mi|spell=in|abbr=off}} from north to south.

Its [[functional area (France)|functional area]] has 179,758 inhabitants (2018),<ref name=comp/> and is composed of 94 communes in the impact zone of the city.<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/aire-attraction-des-villes-2020/062-angouleme Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 d'Angoulême (062)], INSEE</ref>

===Demographic changes===
In 2017 Angoulême had 41,740 inhabitants, down 13% from its largest population in 1962, and down 2.2% compared to 2007. The commune was 172nd in size at the national level, while it was at 145th in 1999, and 1st at the departmental level out of 366 communes.

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|853|Angoulême}}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=evol2017/>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |11500
|1800 |13000
|1806 |15011
|1821 |15025
|1831 |15186
|1841 |18622
|1846 |20085
|1851 |21155
|1856 |22811
|1861 |24961
|1866 |25116
|1872 |25928
|1876 |30513
|1881 |32567
|1886 |34647
|1891 |36690
|1896 |38068
|1901 |37650
|1906 |37507
|1911 |38211
|1921 |34895
|1926 |35994
|1931 |36699
|1936 |38915
|1946 |44244
|1954 |43170
|1962 |48190
|1968 |47822
|1975 |47221
|1982 |46197
|1990 |42876
|1999 |43171
|2007 |42669
|2012 |42014
|2017 |41740
}}

===Distribution of age groups===

'''Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Angoulême and Charente Department in 2017'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!  !! colspan=2 | Angoulême !! colspan=2 |  Charente
|-
! Age Range !! Men !! Women !! Men !! Women
|-
| 0 to 14 Years || 16.7 || 14.4 || 16.7 || 14.8
|-
| 15 to 29 Years || 25.2 || 21.7 || 15.7 || 13.8
|-
| 30 to 44 Years || 19.3 || 16.7 || 17.1 || 16.3
|-
| 45 to 59 Years || 17.4 || 18.7 || 21.1 || 20.8
|-
| 60 to 74 Years || 13.9 || 16.1 || 19.6 || 19.8
|-
| 75 to 89 Years || 6.6 || 10.3 || 8.9 || 12.0
|-
| 90 Years+ || 0.8 || 2.1 || 0.9 || 2.4
|}
Source: [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]]<ref name=evol2017>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-16015 Évolution et structure de la population en 2017: Commune d'Angoulême (16015)]</ref><ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=DEP-16 Évolution et structure de la population en 2017: Département de la Charente (16)]</ref>

==Economy==
Angoulême is a centre of the paper-making and printing industry, with which the town has been connected since the 14th century.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> Papermaking is favoured because of the uniform temperature and volume of the water year-round, partly due to the river Touvre, which joins the [[Charente (river)|Charente]] at Angoulême. The Touvre is the second largest river with an underground source in France after the [[Sorgue]] ([[Fontaine-de-Vaucluse]]).

[[File:Gondp foulpougne1.JPG|thumb|275px|right|Former pumping station to bring up water from the Touvre.]]
The Touvre emerges as a full-blown river from the head of the valley at [[Ruelle-sur-Touvre|Ruelle]]. A trout fishery is located at the source and a pumping station supplies the drinking water needs of Angoulême.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Most of the paper mills are situated on the banks of watercourses in the neighbourhood of the town.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> Cardboard for packaging, as well as fine [[vellum]] for correspondence, have been produced in quantity.

The best known export is [[Rizla]] cigarette roll-up paper, a combination of ''riz'' (rice paper) and LaCroix, after Monsieur LaCroix the founder. ''Le Nil'' is another local brand of roll-up paper, named not after the Nile in Egypt but after a small tributary of the Charente. The Le Nil paper-mill is now the Paper Museum.<ref>[http://www.angouleme.fr/museep "Le Musée du Papier d'Angoulême"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816203757/http://www.angouleme.fr/museep/ |date=16 August 2011 }}, Official Website (in French)</ref> Paper-making in the town has been in decline.

The economy of the modern town also is supplemented by annual tourist events and festivals. For example, the printers and paper-makers, whose industry relied on intricate machinery, became skilled mechanics and among the first to become fascinated with the motor car in the late 19th century. Motor trials were held regularly, starting on the long straight road through Puymoyen, now a suburb. Monsieur LaCroix (of RIZLA+) was a celebrated motorcycle racer. The Paris-Madrid road race of 1903, notorious for its cancellation due to numerous deaths, passed through Angoulême. Marcel, one of the brothers [[Renault]], was one of the victims. The place of his death is marked by a memorial on road RN10 to Poitiers.

The town has been closely associated with motor trials and racing. The [[Circuit des Remparts]] is held annually, one of the last such street-racing course in France, together with Pau (and Monaco). In addition to local heroes, internationally known racing drivers, such as [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], [[José Froilán González]], [[Jean-Pierre Wimille]], [[Pierre Veyron]] and [[Maurice Trintignant]], have been regular participants. The cars which they drove frequently are presented at the modern event. The hotel and restaurant trade receives a considerable boost from the races.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Subsidiary industries, such as the manufacture of machinery, electric motors and wire fabric, are of considerable importance. Angoulême is the most inland navigable port on the Charente River. The traditional river boat is the Gabare. Iron and copper founding, brewing and tanning also continue. The manufacture of gunpowder, confectionery, heavy iron goods, gloves, boots and shoes (including the traditional ''pantoufle'' carpet slippers) and cotton goods are also important.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> There is wholesale and retail trade in wine, cognac and building-stone.

==Transportation==
[[File:Angouleme 1914.jpg|thumb|275px|Angoulême in 1914.]]
The [[LGV Sud Europe Atlantique|new high-speed rail link between Tours and Bordeaux]] bypasses the town centre to the west, but with a link to [[Angoulême station]] from both the north and south. It opened in July 2017.<ref>{{Citation | title = SNCF opens two high speed lines in one day | newspaper = [[Railway Gazette International]] | date = 3 July 2017 | url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/sncf-opens-two-high-speed-lines-in-one-day.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170706194138/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/sncf-opens-two-high-speed-lines-in-one-day.html | archive-date = 2017-07-06 | access-date = 2019-06-15}}</ref> Direct [[TGV]] journeys from Paris [[Gare Montparnasse]] take just over two hours.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://en.oui.sncf/en/train/timetables/paris/Angoul%C3%AAme | title = Train timetables between Paris and Angoulême | publisher = [[SNCF]] | access-date = 2019-06-15}}</ref> The [[Angoulême station|Angoulême railway station]] offers connections to Paris, Bordeaux, Tours, Limoges and several regional destinations. The main line of the [[Paris–Bordeaux railway|Paris Bordeaux railway]] passes through a tunnel beneath the town<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> and is due for large-scale refurbishment to improve travel time.

[[Angoulême - Cognac International Airport]] is situated {{convert|9.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} NE of the city centre in Champniers, just off the N10. The runway can accommodate [[Boeing 737]]s, and a new restaurant and shops were added in 2008.<ref>[http://www.angouleme.cci.fr/ "Angoulême"], Official Website</ref> However Ryanair stopped its Angoulême-Stansted service in 2010. Air France used to operate a service to Lyon. There are currently no regular flights to/from Angoulême airport.

'''Local Buses''' – The city bus system is run by [http://www.stga.fr/ STGA].

==Culture and heritage==
[[File:Angouleme20050314Blorg.JPG|thumb|275px|right|Angoulême]]

Angoulême and Angoumois country together are classified as a [[French Towns and Lands of Art and History|City of Art and History]].

In place of its ancient [[fortification]]s, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the ''Remparts'', from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the [[cathedral]] and the ''[[Seat of local government|City Hall]]'', the architecture is of little interest to purists.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/> However, the "old town" has been preserved, maintained and largely reserved for pedestrians. It has a cobbled restaurant quarter, with several galleries and boutiques.

Angoulême contains a very large number of buildings and structures which are registered as historical monuments.<ref>{{Search Mérimée|16015}}</ref> Below are listed some of the most interesting sites.

===Civil heritage===
[[File:Angoulême Hôtel de ville 2012.jpg|thumb|The approaches to the [[Hôtel de Ville, Angoulême|Hôtel de Ville]] (city hall) with elegant green spaces]]

*The '''[[Hôtel de Ville, Angoulême|Hôtel de Ville]]''' (town hall) (13th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104211|PA00104211 Town Hall}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> was designed by [[Paul Abadie]] and is a 19th-century structure. It has preserved and incorporated two 13th-century towers, Lusignan and Valois, from the Castle of the [[Counts of Angoulême]] on the site on which it was built. It contains museums of paintings and [[archaeology]].<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/><ref>[http://charente.angouleme.free.fr/angouleme/angouleme/angouleme/angouleme_105klw.jpg City Hall]</ref>
*The '''Ramparts''' (4th century).{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=Ramparts/><ref name="ReferenceB">Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104229|PA00104229 Ramparts of the Duke of Epernon}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The ramparts form a balcony overlooking the Charente.
*The '''Market building''' (1886){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00125672|PA00125672 Market buildings}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> is made of architectural glass and iron of [[Victor Baltard|Baltard]] type.
*The '''Palace of Justice''' was built on an old convent at the end of the 19th century by Paul Abadie's father.
*The '''Municipal Theatre''' has a superb façade.
*The '''College Jules Verne''', a former deanery, it has preserved the old chapel with stained glass and carved woodwork in the music room and a vaulted chapel with stone keystones and stained glass - visible from the Rue de Beaulieu - which has become the CDI.
*The '''[[:fr:Lycée Guez-de-Balzac|Guez de Balzac School]]''' built by Paul Abadie father and son.

There are very many old houses:
*The '''Maison Saint-Simon''' in Rue de la Cloche-Verte (16th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104222|PA00104222 Maison Saint-Simon}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> built in the [[Renaissance style]].<ref>[http://www.vieil-angouleme.org/stsimon/index.html Old Angoulême website - St. Simon] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Hotel de Bardines''' at 79 Rue de Beaulieu (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104212|PA00104212 Hotel de Bardines}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> is attributed to the Angoulême architect [[Jean-Baptiste Michel Vallin de la Mothe]]. The building is impressive in size.<ref>[http://www.vieil-angouleme.org/bardines/index.html Old Angoulême website - Bardines] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Hotel Montalembert'''<ref>[http://www.vieil-angouleme.org/montalembert/index.html Old Angoulême website - Mantalambert] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''House called Archers'''<ref>[http://www.vieil-angouleme.org/archers/index.html Old Angoulême website - Archers] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Hôtel Mousnier-Longpré''' at 24 Rue Friedland (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104210|PA00104210 Hôtel Mousnier-Longpré}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> was rebuilt in the 15th century. It has remarkable façades on the Rue de l'Évêché, Rue de Friedland, and the courtyard.
*A '''Hotel Particular''' described in ''[[Illusions perdues]]'' (Lost Illusions) by [[Honoré de Balzac]] as that of Madame de Bargeton.
*An '''Ancient Portal''' at 59 Rue du Minage (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104224|PA00104224 Ancient Portal at 59 Rue du Minage}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*An '''Ancient Portal''' at 61 Rue du Minage (16th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104225|PA00104225 Ancient Portal at 61 Rue du Minage}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

;Places (Squares) in Old Angoulême<ref>[http://www.vieil-angouleme.org/places.html Old Angoulême website - Places] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
[[File:Angouleme place du Palet.jpg|thumb|The ''Place du Palet'']]
*The '''Place du Minage''' with its fountain from the [[Second Empire architecture|Second Empire]] and its benches has a Mediterranean flair in the heart of the old town. In the 14th and the 19th centuries there was intense commercial activity.
*The '''Place Henri Dunant'''. Named after the founder of the [[Red Cross]], it now borders the Gabriel Fauré conservatory, formerly the Saint-Louis College then a police station.
*The '''Place New-York'''. This square, formerly called ''the Park'', was installed in the 18th century in the first real town planning project. It has remained a promenade and a venue for various events. In 1956 the square changed its name again. The city council decided to call it the ''Place New York'', in memory of the journey by [[Giovanni da Verrazzano]] in the service of [[François I]] who, in 1524, named the site of the present [[New York City|New York]]: [[New Angoulême]].
*The '''Place Beaulieu''. Located at the western end of the plateau and the old city, it offers a vast panorama to passers-by and has long been a pleasant place to walk. It borders the imposing Guez de Balzac School on the site of an ancient abbey.
*The '''Place Bouillaud''' and the '''Place de l'Hotel de Ville'''. In addition to the City Hall there is also (in front of the entrance to the City Hall) an [[art nouveau]] façade.
*The '''Place Francis Louvel'''. Formerly called ''du mûrier'', it was and remains one of the busiest places in the old town. Formerly the garden of a convent until the 16th century, it was embellished in the 18th and 19th centuries with new buildings and a fountain. The Palace of Justice is there. The place changed its name in 1946 to take the name of ''Francis Louvel'' - a resistance fighter shot by the Germans in 1944.
*The '''Place du Palet'''. This site occupies a vast space which, in the past, was in front of the main gate of the old city and for three centuries housed an imposing hall. The site was redeveloped in the 1980s.
*The '''Place du Général Resnier'''.

Tours of the town include the ''murs peints'', various walls painted in street-art cartoon style, a feature of Angoulême and related to its association with the ''bande dessinée'', the comic strip. A statue has been erected to [[Hergé]], creator of ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]''. The attractive covered market ''Les Halles'', on the site of the old jail, was restored and refurbished in 2004 and is a central part of city life.

In 2009 the National Council of Cities and Villages in Bloom of France<ref>[http://www.cnvvf.fr/site/index.php?page=1&idpt=16 Towns and Villages in Bloom website]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> awarded four flowers to the commune in the competition for cities and villages in bloom.

<gallery>
Angoulême1.5.JPG|Watchtower in the old Épernon wall
Ang hv6.JPG|City Hall
France - Charente - Angoulême - Rue piétonne - 92.jpg|The Pedestrian shopping area in 1992
Angoulême Hôt Montalembert Portail 2012.jpg|The 19th-century gate on the Hotel Montalembert
Angoulême Palais de justice 2012.jpg|The Palace of Justice
Angoulême Théâtre façade 2012.jpg|The Municipal Theatre
Angoulême Lycée Guez de Balzac entrée 2012.jpg|Entrance to the Guez de Balzac school
</gallery>

===Religious heritage===
*'''[[Angoulême Cathedral]]''' (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=cathed>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104203|PA00104203 Angoulême Cathedral}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> is dedicated to [[Simon Peter|Saint Peter]] and is a church in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style. It has undergone frequent restoration since the 12th century. It was partly rebuilt in the latter half of the 19th century by architect [[Paul Abadie]]. The façade, flanked by two towers with [[cupola]]s, is decorated with [[Arcade (architecture)|arcade]]s featuring statuary and sculpture with the whole representing the "[[Last Judgment]]". The [[crossing (architecture)|crossing]] is surmounted by a dome. The north [[transept]] is topped by a fine square tower over {{convert|160|ft|m|abbr=on}} high. The Cathedral contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42"/><ref name=cathed/>
*The remains of the '''[[Abbey of Saint-Cybard]]''' (13th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA16000038|PA16000038 Abbey of Saint-Cybard}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> at the International City of Cartoons and Images (CNBDI)
*The '''Church of Saint-André''' at Rue Taillefer (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=andre>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104207|PA00104207 Church of Saint-André}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> has been rebuilt several times. The church contains a large number of items that are registered as historical objects.<ref name=andre/>
*A '''Lantern of the Dead''' in the cemetery of the Church of Saint André (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104220|PA00104220 Lantern of the Dead}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> is actually a hearth - a remnant of the old Taillefer Palace.
*The old '''Bishop's Palace''' at Rue Friedland (15th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104208|PA00104208 Bishop's Palace}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> is today the Museum of Fine Arts of Angoulême. The bishop's house contains a number of items that are registered as historical objects:
**A [[Sarcophagus]] (6th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000027|PM16000027 Sarcophagus}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A [[Crozier]]: The Annunciation (13th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000026|PM16000026 Crozier: The Annunciation}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
**2 [[Crozier]]s: The Virgin (13th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000025|PM16000025 Crozier: The Virgin}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref><ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000024|PM16000024 Crozier: The Virgin}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
**A [[Crozier]]: Tau (12th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000023|PM16000023 Crozier: Tau}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Hospital Chapel'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00104209|PA00104209 Hospital Chapel}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> was the old Chapel of the [[Cordeliers]] Convent where [[Guez de Balzac]] is buried. The chapel contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Tapestry: Pagan Sacrifice to an Idol (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000336|PM16000336 Tapestry: Pagan Sacrifice to an Idol}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
**A Tapestry: Rest after the Harvest (17th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000033|PM16000033 Tapestry: Rest after the Harvest}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
**A Chest of Drawers (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000032|PM16000032 Chest of Drawers}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
**A Painting: The Virgin and Saint Antoine of Padua (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000031|PM16000031 Painting: The Virgin and Saint Antoine of Padua}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Painting: The Dead Christ (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000030|PM16000030 Painting: The Dead Christ}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Painting: The Descent from the Cross (18th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000029|PM16000029 Painting: The Descent from the Cross}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Painting: Virgin and child (17th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000028|PM16000028 Painting: Virgin and child}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Commemorative Plaque (1654){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000022|PM16000022 Commemorative Plaque}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
**A Bronze Bowl (16th century){{Palissy Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000021|PM16000021 Bronze Bowl}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Church of Saint-Jacques de Lhoumeau''' (1840){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA16000017|PA16000017 Church of Saint-Jacques de Lhoumeau}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The church contains a Gallery Organ (18th century){{Palissy Icon}} which is registered as an historical object.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000418|PM16000418 Gallery Organ: Instrumental part}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000417|PM16000417 Gallery Organ}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000020|PM16000020 Gallery Organ: Cabinet part}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Church of Saint-Martial''' (1849){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name=martial>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA16000018|PA16000018 Church of Saint-Martial}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> in Neo-Romanesque style by [[Paul Abadie]]. The church contains a large number of items that are registered as historical objects.<ref name=martial/>
*The '''Church of Saint Ausone''' from the same period and architect. The church contains a Statue of Saint Ausone (17th century){{Palissy Icon}} which is registered as an historical object.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Palissy {{Palissy|PM16000019|PM16000019 Statue: Saint Ausone}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Chapel Notre-Dame d'Obézine''' (or Bézines)(1895){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA16000019|PA16000019 Chapel Notre-Dame d'Obézine}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Hôtel-Dieu'''
*The old '''[[Carmelite]] convent'''

<gallery>
Angoulême 16 Façade cathédrale 2014.JPG|[[Angoulême Cathedral]]
Angoulême - Cathédrale Mandorle.JPG|An [[Aureola]] on the Cathedral
Ang obez4.JPG|Church of Obézine
Ang stroc1.JPG|Chapel Saint-Roch
Angou sacre2.JPG|Church of the Sacred Heart
Ang stjac2.JPG|Church of Saint-Jacques de l'Houmeau
Ang staus4.JPG|Church Saint-Ausone
Ang stcyb3.JPG|Chapel Saint-Cybard
Angoulême - Chapelle des Cordeliers.JPG|Chapel of Cordeliers
Angoulême Cheminée Taillefer 2012.jpg|"Lantern of the dead" near the Church of Saint-André
</gallery>

===Environmental heritage===
The valley of the [[Charente (river)|Charente]] upstream from Angoulême is a [[Natura 2000]] zone with remarkable species: 64 species of birds.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120604121047/http://natura2000.environnement.gouv.fr/sites/FR5412006.htm Natura 2000 website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Among them are species for marshland and wetland; and at Angoulême it is common to see [[wildfowl]] including [[mute swan]], [[black-necked grebe]], [[little grebe]], [[horned grebe]], [[great crested grebe]], [[greylag goose]], [[gadwall]], [[Northern pintail|pintail]], [[Eurasian wigeon]], [[shoveler]], [[garganey]], [[teal]] and [[common pochard]], [[tufted duck]] on the Charente. It is more rare to see waders. [[Tern]]s and [[great cormorant]]s return during periods of storms from far upstream on the river.

Marquet island and the Forest of la Pudrerie have been finally cleared and will be provided to the population.

Hiking trails and an old haulage road have become part of the green corridor which allows walks along the river.

===Museums===
*[[Museum of Angoulême]]
*Museum of Paper{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA16000049|PA16000049 Old Paper Mill}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*Museum of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Charente
*Museum of Resistance and Deportation
*Museum of [[Comics|Cartoons]] (CIBDI)
*Decentralized branch of the Regional Contemporary Art Fund of [[Poitou-Charentes]]

===Cartoons===
In 1983 the Regional School of Fine Arts in Angoulême (EESI) was created with the first cartoon section in France. Angoulême is home to the ''International City of Cartoons and Images'' which registers all the comics published in France. There is also at ''la Cité'' the ''ENJMIN'' which is the first state-funded school in Europe for the key subjects of video games and interactive media.
*Angoulême, known as the "City of the Image" or "Capital of Cartoons", is known for its "'''Painted walls'''" of cartoons "that punctuate the city centre.<ref>[http://www.toutenbd.com/murs_peints/ The painted walls of Angoulême] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105214047/http://www.toutenbd.com/murs_peints/ |date=5 January 2011 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Other cultural places===
*The '''National Theatre'''<ref>[http://www.theatre-angouleme.org/ Angoulême Theatre website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103093048/http://theatre-angouleme.org/ |date=3 January 2014 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The ''Espace Carat''' (Exhibition and Convention Centre of Grand Angoulême - events, concerts)<ref>[http://www.espace-carat.fr/ Espace Carat website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317041944/http://www.espace-carat.fr/ |date=17 March 2007 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*'''La Nef''' (Concert Hall)<ref>[http://www.dingo-lanef.com/ La Nef website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*'''Gabriel Faure conservatory''' which has an auditorium and a library<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agglo-angouleme.fr/index-module-orki-page-view-id-34.html |title=Gabriel Fauré conservatory |access-date=26 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615185647/http://www.agglo-angouleme.fr/index-module-orki-page-view-id-34.html |archive-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*'''The Alpha''', a library currently under construction (opening scheduled for March 2014)

===Schedule of festivals===
End of January: [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]],
Late May: ''Musiques Métisses'' (Mixed Music),
Late August: Festival of Francophone Films,
September: [[Circuit des Remparts]] (Car Race),
Late October: Piano en Valois,
Late November: Gastronomades,
Early November: The Grand Dance Festival

===City of festivals===
Angoulême, along with paper and printing, has long been associated with animation, illustration and the graphic arts. The Cité internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image<ref>[http://www.citebd.org/ "La Cité internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image"], Official Website (in French)</ref> includes an exhibition space and cinema in a converted brewery down by the river. A new museum dedicated to the motion picture opened in 2007 at the newly restored ''[[Chai (wine)#Chai|chais]]'' on opposite side of the river at Saint Cybard. The architect was Jean-François Bodin. The [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]] takes place for a week every year in January and attracts nearly a quarter of a million international visitors.

Another festival, small yet influential, is FITA, held each December. FITA stands for ''Forum International des Technologies de l'Animation'', International Forum for Animation Technologies. The event was started in 1998. Some 250 to 300 French professionals from animation, effects, post-production and game development studios: SFX supervisors, head of studios, animators, technical directors, meet to share information and hear internationally renowned speakers on the latest advances and new ideas in entertainment technology.

The [[Circuit des Remparts]] motor racing event, with its street circuit around the ramparts and past the Cathedral, is held the Sunday of the middle weekend in September. It is also the occasion of the world's largest gathering of pre-war [[Bugatti]] race cars,{{citation needed|date=January 2011}} usually around 30 cars, many being examples of the legendary T35, the [[Ferrari]]s of their day. British vintage and classic cars are also in attendance, most having been driven to the event. The Saturday of the "Remparts" weekend includes a tourist rally (as opposed to a speed event) for classic and sporting cars, around the Cognac area.

In another international sports event, Angoulême was the site of the finish of Stages 18 and 19 (ITT) in the [[2007 Tour de France]].

Angoulême also hosts the ''Gastronomades'' festival at Christmas, Music ''Metisse'' in May and ''Piano en Valois'' in October.

A new exhibition centre (Le Parc Des Expos) and a new shopping mall at the Champ de Mars in the town centre (opening Sept/Oct 2007) are the latest additions to the town.

Angoulême is the seat of a [[Diocese|bishop]], a [[Prefecture|prefect]], and an [[assize court]]. Its public institutions include tribunals of first instance and of commerce, a council of trade-arbitrators, a chamber of commerce and a branch of the Bank of France. It has several lycées (including the Lycee de l'Image et du Son d'Angoulême (LISA – High School of Image and Sound)), training colleges, a school of artillery, a library and several learned societies.<ref name="Chisholm 1911 pp. 41–42">{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Angoulême |volume=2 |pages=41–42}}</ref>

==Facilities and services==

===Education===

====Colleges====
*[[Marguerite de Navarre|Marguerite de Valois]] College
*[[Anatole France]] College
*Pierre Bodet College
*[[Jules Michelet]] College
*[[Jules Verne]] College
*Michèle Pallet College

====Schools====
*[[:fr:Lycée Guez-de-Balzac|Lycée Guez-de-Balzac]] : general education school hosting literary [[Classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles|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, Charente|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====
[[File:ang univ1.JPG|thumb|The Faculty of Law at [[La Couronne]]]]

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<ref>Article in the journal [[Sud-Ouest (newspaper)|Sud Ouest]] of 11 September 2010 ([http://www.sudouest.fr/2010/09/11/1-015-eleves-inscrits-au-conservatoire-181485-757.php Read online]) {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*Isfac: a training centre offering 8 [[Brevet de technicien supérieur|BTS]] courses alternately as well as training for business
*CNAM: a branch of the [[Conservatoire national des arts et métiers|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 {{climbing grade|9a}} 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, Charente|Saint-Michel]].<ref>[http://www.ch-angouleme.fr/ Centre Hospitalier d'Angoulême website], CHA Service Informatique, Inovagora, consulted on 24 May 2009 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*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 Cathedral|Saint-Pierre Cathedral]]
*Saint-André Church
*Church of Our Lady of Obézine
*Church of St. Ausone
*Saint-Jacques Church of l'Houmeau
*Church Saint-Martial
*Church of Saint-Bernadette
*Parish church of Saint-John the Baptist: the church is located on the Rue Pierre Aumaître
*Church of Saint-Cybard
*Church of the Sacred Heart

===Markets===
*The market of Halles, or ''Covered Market''. With its large roof and its late 19th-century architecture, it has been registered as an historical monument since 1993.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA00125672|PA00125672 Covered Market}}</ref>
*The Victor Hugo market
*The market of Saint-Cybard
*The districts of Basseau and Ma Campagne also have their markets.

==Military presence==
Two regiments of the French armed forces are currently garrisoned in the City:
*[[File:INSIGN~1.JPG|border|20px]] [[1st Marine Infantry Regiment]]
* The 515th ''[[Train (military)|régiment du train]]''.

Several other military formations have been previously garrisoned in the city, including:
*[[File:Insigne régimentaire du 107e régiment d'infanterie (1939).jpg|border|20px]] The [[107th Infantry Regiment (France)|107th Infantry Regiment]], from before 1906 for an unknown period of time and then from in 1939 to 1940
* The 21st Artillery Regiment, 1906
* The 34th Artillery Regiment, 1906
* The 41st Divisional Artillery Regiment, 1939–1940
* The 502nd Tank Regiment, 1939–1940.

==Notable people==
[[File:Angoulême Hôtel de ville 2012.jpg|thumb|Angoulême City Hall]]
*[[Isabella of Angoulême]] (1186–1246), Queen of England as the second wife of [[John, King of England|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 of France|Francis I]]
*[[Margaret of Valois-Angoulême]] (1492–1548), princess of France
*[[André Thevet]] (1516–1592), explorer, cosmographer and writer
*[[François Ravaillac]] (1578–1610), assassin of King [[Henry IV of France|Henry IV]]
*[[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 the Great|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 (sculptor)|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===
[[File:Marie Thérèse of France column, Angoulême, Charente.jpg|thumb|upright|Column of the [[Marie Thérèse of France|Duchess of Angoulême]] (1815), sister of [[Louis XVI]]]]
*[[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<ref>Notice by Samuel S de Sacy. in the collection: ''Les Secrets de la princesse de Cadignan''. Classic Folio, Gallimard. {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*[[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''<ref>Paul VALERY s'est arrêté ici le 9 décembre 1931 AAC "O récompense après une pensée, qu'un long regard sur le calme des dieux"</ref>
*[[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)

==See also==
* [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]]
* [[Counts and dukes of Angoulême]]
* [[Angoumois]]
* [[Bishopric of Angoulême]]
* [[Poitou-Charentes]]
* [[Communes of the Charente department]]
* [[Nouvelle-Angoulême]]
* [[Angolemi]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Angoulême}}
{{Commons category|Angoulême}}
* [http://www.angouleme.fr Official Web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207145652/http://www.angouleme.fr/ |date=7 December 2005 }} {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050316025034/http://france-for-visitors.com/atlantic/charente/angouleme.html Visiting Angoulême]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060421184615/http://www.cef.fr/catho/imageview/themes/comprendre_art/angouleme.jpg Picture of the Cathedral]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070812003936/http://www.circuit-des-remparts.com/ Circuit des remparts] {{in lang|fr|en}}
* [http://www.angoulemecricketclub.com Angoulême Cricket club] {{in lang|fr|en}}
*[http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil?c=0.16,45.65&z=7.92265E-5&l=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.3D$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS@aggregate(1)&l=ADMINISTRATIVEUNITS.BOUNDARIES$GEOPORTAIL:OGC:WMTS(1)&permalink=yes Angoulême on Géoportail], [[Institut géographique national|National Geographic Institute]] (IGN) website {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=45.65&lon=0.16&zoom=13 ''Angoulesme'' on the 1750 Cassini Map]
* {{cite EB9 |wstitle=Angoulême |volume=2  |page=45–46  |short=x}}

{{Préfectures of départements of France}}
{{Charente communes}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angouleme}}
[[Category:Angoulême| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Charente]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]
[[Category:Papermaking in France]]
[[Category:Cities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]