Hilltop city of ramparts and comic art
Angoulême
About 35 minutes by car from Carmagnac
Angoulême sits high on a plateau above the Charente, ringed by ramparts that give long views across the valley. The old town within them is compact and walkable, built around the sculpted west front of the cathedral of Saint-Pierre.
The city is known across France as the capital of bande dessinée — comic art — with painted walls throughout the streets and a dedicated museum by the river.
It is the natural choice when you want a city day without going far: good restaurants, proper shopping and a covered market, all within a short drive of the retreat.
Worth your time
- Walk the ramparts for panoramic valley views
- Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and the old town
- Painted comic-art walls and the Cité de la Bande Dessinée
Stay nearby
Carmagnac is a five-star adults-only retreat for two in Vaux-Lavalette, with a private hot tub and panoramic views over the Charente countryside — about 35 minutes from Angoulême.