Musée Angoulême
About This Museum
People come to the Musée d'Angoulême not just for its collections, but for the unique thrill of encountering art and artifacts within the hallowed, historic walls of a former bishop's palace. You can feel the weight of centuries as you move from rooms displaying fine European paintings into the dramatic, apse-like space that holds the stunning Oceanic and African art. It’s a place of fascinating dialogues, where a 19th-century French landscape might quietly converse with a powerful Senufo bird mask from Côte d'Ivoire. The entire experience feels less like a sterile museum and more like a deeply layered archaeological dig through both local and global cultures.
Collection Highlights
The undeniable heart of the museum is its non-Western collection, where you'll find yourself transfixed by intricately carved Kanak doorposts from New Caledonia and hauntingly beautiful ancestral figures. Don't miss the local archaeological treasures either, particularly the exquisite Gallo-Roman bronzes discovered in the nearby Charente river.
Visitor Information
Tucked away in the old town at Square Girard II, it's the kind of museum you can enjoy in a thoughtful afternoon without feeling rushed. Wandering its sequence of intimate rooms before emerging back into the cathedral's shadow is a genuinely memorable way to spend a few hours.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is a major part of the appeal—it's the historic Episcopal Palace, seamlessly attached to the cathedral, so you're essentially walking through beautifully restored medieval and Renaissance stone halls.
Contact & Location
Address: Musée d'Angoulême, Rue de L'Evéché, L'Houmeau, Angoulême, Charente, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France métropolitaine, 16000, France
Phone: +33 5 45 95 79 88
Website: Visit Website
