Angoulême / Châteauneuf-sur-Charente
The Charente River now becomes the main thread on your journey along La Flow Vélo. The route takes you gently out of Angoulême, French comics capital, keeping to the riverside. Then it leads you up to slopes featuring the first vines of the Pays de Cognac area. The sweet-toothed might stop at Letuffe chocolate-makers’ at Trois-Palis. While up on the slopes, savour the lovely viewpoints before dropping down to Saint-Simeux, a village with lovely houses and gardens practically bathing in the Charente. Just before Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, the Bain des Dames boasts a lovely beach where you can enjoy the river to the full.
Gradients and elevation
Road types
Surface
The route
La Flow Vélo cycle route hugs the Charente River as you leave Angoulême, the track here with a limestone surface. You then continue along quiet country roads, but in future, the plan is for the track to be extended along the towpath once it has been restored. At Saint-Simeux, you rejoin a greenway up to Châteauneuf-sur-Charente. This makes an ideal outing for families, with just one slope to tackle just after Trois-Palis.
Link towards La Scandibérique
At Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, La Scandibérique cycle route leads you straight south. After some 10km on small roads, you join a well-surfaced greenway for a 35km stretch.
Train stations
- Angoulême and Châteauneuf-sur-Charente
- Regional train line (TER) Angoulême - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente - Jarnac - Cognac - Saintes - Saujon - Royan
- Train connection at Saintes for La Rochelle
- Train connection at Angoulême for Bordeaux, Poitiers, Tours, Paris
Don't miss
- Angoulême: Les murs peints, le musée de la Bande dessinée, la cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image, Le musée du papier, La table à dessin, Le fond régional d'art contemporain Poitou-Charentes, le musée d'Angoulême, La cathédrale Saint Pierre
- Saint Yrieix sur Charente : Nautilis center, water sports center
- Trois Palis: church, Letuffe chocolate factory
- Saint-Simeux: The port
- Châteauneuf-sur-Charente : Le Bain des Dames - Bases de loisirs, les iles de la fuie, L'église
Not to be missed on this route
