Angoulême
Angoulême is the capital of the Charente department and is located on a plateau overlooking a meander of the Charente River, the city is nicknamed the "balcony of the Southwest". The city’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 fifteen kilometres 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. Dominated by the famous Angoulême International Comics Festival, the FFA Angoulême Francophone Film Festival and the Metis Music Festival that contribute substantially to the international renown of the city. Each September the renowned ‘Circuit des Remparts’ sees classic cars challenging the tight corners in the town drawing in spectators and competitors from all over Europe.
