Angoulême / Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire

Once you’ve enjoyed your fill of cartoons in Angoulême, including on its giant painted walls, time to pick up the thread of the Scandibérique again. The route crosses the city peacefully via the Coulée Verte beside the Charente, which you continue to follow, the river’s banks dotted with little ports and locks, the slopes above producing cognac and pineau. Châteauneuf-sur-Charente is well worth a halt, one of the historic ports for transporting cognac, a spirit known around the world since 1700, and a leading French export today. The final stretch of this first stage connecting two renowned viticultural areas, the Charente and the Bordelais, continues through vineyards to Barbezieux-St-Hilaire.

The route

No particular difficulties on this stage. The way is shared with La Flow Vélo. Greenways run beside the Charente River and through the Haute-Saintonge area, with minor roads from Linars. Continue along quiet roads between Châteauneuf-sur-Charente and Viville, then join a greenway along a former railway line up to Barbezieux-St-Hilaire. Take care at the crossing at the place named La Croze, leaving the RD72 road. Signposted EV3.

Surfacing smooth: asphalt and compacted tracks.

Trains

Angoulême train station :

• Regional TER line Angoulême - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente - Jarnac - Cognac - Saintes - Saujon - Royan
• Regional TER line Angoulême - Poitiers
• Regional TER line - Angoulême - Bordeaux
• High-speed TGV line Angoulême - Bordeaux, Angoulême - Paris ; Angoulême - Poitiers
• Châteauneuf-sur-Charente train station
• Regional TER line - La Rochelle - Royan

Don’t miss

• Angoulême: the murs peints, outdoor walls painted with huge images; the Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image and its Musée de la Bande Dessinée (a whole area devoted to cartoons and including a museum on the subject); the Musée du Papier, a museum on paper, and the nearby themed La Table à Dessin for a bite; the Fond Régional d'Art Contemporain Poitou-Charentes (displaying regional contemporary art collections); the Musée d'Angoulême (on arts and archaeology); St-Pierre Cathedral
• Fléac: Ste-Barbe Church
• Fleurac: site of the 3 locks
• St-Simeux: St-Siméon Church
• Mosnac: St-Saturnin Romanesque church
• Châteauneuf-sur-Charente: the Charentais vineyards 
• Barbezieux-St-Hilaire: the fortified gateway