Volunteer Adventures in Angouleme

After a lovely week at La Giraudiere the volunteers and interns were off on a weekend of exploration and adventure in Angouleme. Angouleme is a city, which lies on a high plateau above the Charente and Anguienne rivers in southwestern France. We boarded the train on a sunny, warm Friday at Chalais station. A half an hour later we arrived at our destination, ready to go! To our delight, as we began our adventure, we encountered beautiful wall art on the buildings.

Wall art in Angouleme

Angouleme had so many wonderful sights to see! After checking into our B&B we had a plan of action.  The volunteer adventures in Angouleme began with a train tour around the old city and ramparts (dating back to the 9th century).

Volunteers explore by train

Then, with maps in hand, it was time to begin our walking tour.  The cathedral stood majestic against the skyline. After much exploration of the sights, it was time for a lunch break. There were so many outdoor cafes from which to choose!  Afterwards, it was time to explore the museum of Angouleme. We practiced our French along the way! We ended our evening with a drumming extravaganza outside the church!

The next day brought the volunteer adventures in Angouleme to the infamous: Le Musée de la Bande Dessinée (Comic Museum). We explored the origins of comics through the ages: Tin Tin, Popeye and Lucky Luke to name a few.

Adventures at the Comic Museum

It was a lovely weekend in Angouleme. There was much laughter, French conversation and exploration of the city! We ended our time with a scenic boat trip down the Charente River!

Boat tour of Angouleme

Angouleme was a city rich in culture, history and beautiful sights! The highlight of our stay was capturing all of this ambience together-from the Cathedral, parks and river, to the museums and wall art, along with the cafes and French restaurants. Angouleme has become a cherished memory!

Cathedral in Angouleme