La Flow Vélo offers you the chance to enjoy a unique cultural journey. The numerous towns along the cycle route boast a very wide array of museums that prove fascinating, even exciting, to a good number of cyclists. Many of the museums along the way are very appealing, some highly reputed, so it’s difficult to make a small selection from among them.
Here, though, follow 10 unmissable museums along La Flow Vélo cycle route:
Musée Napoléonien Africain of Aix Island
Emperor Napoleon I spent his very last days in France on Aix Island, in July 1815, confined to the commander’s house on a square he had ordered to be built just a few years earlier, in 1808. The house is now owned by France’s national museums organization and is open to visitors who wish to visit this historic place. There are some ten rooms dedicated to the memory of Napoleon Bonaparte, the man and his legend, and decorated with famous period works and inscriptions paying homage to its most famous resident.
The imperial entourage is also represented via the many mementoes on display, plus portraits. Napoleon’s bedroom remains in the style of those times, allowing you to appreciate the period atmosphere. In the garden, there’s a ash tree grafted at the time the building was constructed.
There’s also the Musée Africain to visit, located a bit further along the same street. It includes an extensive collection of weapons and shields, plus further objects used for hunting by Baron Gourgaud at the start of the 20th century. Numerous animal hunting trophies are also displayed here, showing the animals life-sized, providing an exotic side to the end of your visit.
Rochefort Musée des Commerces d'Autrefois
Rochefort is a town that displays an extraordinary Ancien Régime cultural heritage, most visible in its architecture. There’s also the Musée des Commerces d’Autrefois taking you back to a different world, presenting some 20 reconstituted, old-fashioned shops and workshops dating from the beginning of 20th century. The museum boasts of displaying the largest collection of period French advertising pieces. It attracts some 26,000 visitors a year.
Its themes and decors are inspired by the Belle Epoque period (leading up to World War I), creating an elegant atmosphere, the aim to reproduce as faithfully as possible shops of that period. The place continues to add to its collections, even putting together new boutiques from time to time. In addition, since 2008, there’s the re-creation of a Rochefort bar from the 1900s at which to enjoy a drink.
History buffs or those who are simply curious, don’t hesitate to stop here on your cycling trip along La Flow Vélo, as the Musée des Commerces d’Autrefois will amaze you, as well as offering you the chance to relax a bit.
Corderie Royale de Rochefort
Nicknamed the Versailles de la Mer (the Versailles of the Seas), Rochefort’s Corderie Royale (or Royal Ropery) allows you to immerse yourself in the extraordinary naval adventures of Louis XIV’s times, and on through the Ancien Régime and beyond. On a visit to the Centre International de la Mer inside the Ropery, learn about the history of the Corderie and its manufacturing activity. Visitors can even enjoy immersive, participatory workshops, with demonstrations of rope-making and at the spinning workshop, plus seamanship workshops.
PALEOSITE – SAINT CESAIRE
Plongez dans l’univers des archéologues pour découvrir la Préhistoire de façon ludique et interactive : d’où venons-nous ? Qui sommes-nous ? Qu’est-ce que le Paléolithique et une période glaciaire ? Quel est le rôle d’un archéologue ?
Votre aventure débute au camp de base des archéologues, où vous vous préparez à une incroyable expédition, une rencontre avec Néandertal et un voyage aux origines de l’humanité. Faîtes connaissance avec Pierrette, l’individu néandertalien mis au jour à Saint-Césaire et découvrez les raisons de sa célébrité.
Au programme : Découverte du gisement archéologique, visite du site, ateliers participatifs pour toute la famille. Démonstration d’allumage du feu, tir au propulseur, taille de silex et bien plus encore !
Musée des Savoir-faire du Cognac
If riding through the town of Cognac, one of the main points of interest at which to stop is the reputed Musée des Savoir-faire du Cognac. It stages regular temporary exhibitions, but also has a very extensive collection covering all the high-quality crafts needed to create the famed local spirit, cognac, its continued success due to a fine mix of traditional and modern methods.
Learn all about the way of growing the special grapes used to make cognac, the art of distillation and the whole range of crafts specifically associated with the sector. All the stages in making cognac are covered, from making the spirit to marketing it. Find out just how all these elements combined have enabled cognac to become an iconic drink known around the world.
We do, however, advise you to try out the liqueur in moderation if you’re offered a tasting, or dégustation. Or then wait a while before heading off again by bike, so as not to find yourself drunk in charge of a bike!
Maison Natale François Mitterrand (Jarnac)
The birthplace of François Mitterrand, who went on to be French president from 1981 to 1995, is located at 22 Rue Abel Guy in the town of Jarnac. This home is therefore of historic importance. The future president spent a large part of his childhood at the house and retained a particular affection for it. Completely renovated in 2006, and opened 10 years after François Mitterrand’s death, the place became the property of the Institut François Mitterrand, given over by Jarnac town council in 2011. Visitors can learn about the history of the Mitterrand family. Thanks to furniture and objects handed down through four generations, you can appreciate the home’s atmosphere and imagine the life the young François Mitterrand enjoyed here. The permanent exhibition presents speeches and writings by the former president, giving further personal insights into the man.
Musée de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême
In a quite rustic setting beside the Charente River, the Musée de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême puts to the fore a large number of original comics, as well as prototypes, for example original drawings and draft comic strips, making it a unique collection in Europe. The museum constitutes just one part of the wider-ranging Angoulême’s Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image, which also encompasses a library, a bookshop, an art cinema and an artists’ residence, La Maison des Auteurs, for cartoonists.
Angoulême has gained an international reputation for its renowned Festival de la Bande Dessinée (or Comics Festival) and attracts tourists from around the world wishing to learn more about cartoonists and their works. That’s one event some might wish to focus on when planning a cycling trip along this stage of La Flow Vélo, but it’s worth noting that this museum has a constraint that adds to its ever-changing interest.
The fact is, no original work can be exposed to the light for more than three months in a row, which means that the museum has to rotate its collections regularly. So, within just a few months, it’s possible to visit the place again and be treated to a whole array of different works!
Musée du Papier d’Angoulême
Set up in the former Lacroix paper mills since1988, Angoulême’s Musée du Papier keeps alive memories of the city’s long and illustrious industrial past focused on paper-making and related products. Within old mill buildings on the Charente River, the museum covers many themes and makes the link between history and modern times, between the Charente River, exploited to help produce traditional paper, and the town’s contemporary Vallée de l’Image. As well as explanations on the craft of paper-making, there are interactive elements too. In addition, there’s a treasure hunt to complete that will keep you on your toes as you’re guided along by cartoon figures. Fittingly, the place puts imagination to the fore, a human power so encouraged by the development of paper-making.
Musée de la Coutellerie de Nontron
Open year-round on weekdays, the Coutellerie de Nontron allows you to visit a working factory, watching craft knife-makers at work up to 5.30pm. You’ll appreciate the skills maintained by the local company, as well as learning about some of the secrets of making such high-quality knives, put together right in front of your eyes.
The tour is free during weekday opening hours, but in summer the place is also open on Saturdays, even if you won’t see the craftspeople at work then, as they have their weekends off. Note that there are specific bicycle parking facilities at the factory.
Visiting here, you can look around the factory shop, which looks down on the workshops, just separated by a glass window. At the same time, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Bandiat Valley and the lovely local river. The staff who work here are always happy to answer any questions you might have on your tour, for those of you who’d like to know more. There’s a further dedicated shop in Nontron town centre, open year-round, Tuesday to Saturday.
Musée du Chocolat Bovetti (Terrasson)
Learning while feasting is quite possible here! You’ll see why this stop has already become popular with cyclists! Open during French school summer holidays, in July and August, this museum in Terrasson offers sweet temptation! Immerse yourself in the magical world of cocoa and its delicious flavours. The tour is fun but educational, divided into various sections. Follow the course of chocolate making, from the plantation to your palate, from the Mayans to the arrival of chocolate in Spain, then at the French royal Court.
All the stages in making chocolate are explained to young and old alike, including: work in the cocoa plantations; the transformation from cocoa into chocolate; and its commercialization. Then enjoy a demonstration in front of your very eyes, as you watch how the day’s chocolate production is made in the workshop. Finally, the tour ends with a demonstration of a reusable chocolate mould, followed by the much-anticipated tasting!
Musée d'Histoire de la Médecine (Hautefort)
Hautefort’s Hôtel-Dieu, or historic hospital, is set in remarkable 17th-century architecture. It was in 1669 that the Marquis Jacques-François de Hautefort signed the deeds founding the place. This followed a royal edict, issued by Louis XIV’s administration in 1662, commanding the creation of homes to house first the poor, and later also the sick. The edifice is a rare example of a surviving hospital built in the shape of a cross. Since 1994, it has housed the Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine (or Museum on the History of Medicine). On the ground floor, a section presents the history of the building, including a reconstitution of the Salle de Malades (or sick bay), plus there are displays of religious wear and Catholic liturgical objects from the 19th century. On the first floor, the displays cover the history of medicine and medical specialisms, presented both in the permanent exhibition and in temporary exhibitions.
