Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Ambuluwawa Tower
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
Hesperus Mountain.
Hesperus Mountain
Miniature Collection at Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, passes over the flight line at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 9, 2024
Who Swarmed Langley Air Force Base With Drones?
about 23 hours ago
Our producer Manolo Morales would spend his final days perusing the shelves at Book Off.
Where Would You Go to Wait for the Apocalypse?
2 days ago
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
3 days ago
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Angoulême Murals of Angoulême

Murals of Angoulême

The vibrant buildings in the “capital of the comic strip” celebrate the art form that made it famous.

Angoulême, France

Added By
mark selwood
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Wall near a motorcycle shop.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Wall near a motorcycle shop.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Near Les Halles.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
End wall, between the city and river.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
City center.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Near the Palais de Justice.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Apartment block.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Car Park near the council offices.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
House end wall, city station.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
House end wall, near the railway station.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Nr Champ de Mars.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
City Archives.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Near the Plateau area.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Behind the theater.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Ramparts.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
House end wall, Ma Campagne.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Apartment building near the railway station.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
City Center/end wall of a burger joint.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
End wall, Ma Campagne.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Angoulême   pris72 / Atlas Obscura User
Bins, Les Halles.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Fake neighbors.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Apartment block, seen from the railway station.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
City center apartment block.   markchateaudelacouronne / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

A stroll through this charming French city is like walking through an open-air museum. Beautiful murals adorn many of the buildings, transforming their walls into enormous canvases for art.

Angoulême has a long and proud connection with the paper and printing industries. It was once at the nucleus of France’s paper production, supplying the material to the whole country. Later, the local cartoon and graphic novel art scene kept its paper in high demand, even as the industry slipped into a decline in the 20th century.

To celebrate its history with and love of art, the city commissioned murals on many of its buildings, both private and municipal. Pleasant depictions of everyday life cover the walls of some buildings. On others, silly scenes like a farmer laughing with his horse add splashes of delightful humor. An image of elephants and a rhino bursting forward gives one building an exotic feel, while a different mural of robotic figures shooting lasers from their eyes feels like a fantasy-like glimpse of the city’s future.

You can grab a camera and spend a day "mural collecting," which is a great way to tour the city and get under its artistic skin. All the murals are easily visible from public areas. People are justly quite proud of them, and love to share the beautiful artwork with visitors.

Related Tags

Cities Murals Art Public Art

Know Before You Go

The murals are all over the city, on both municipal and private buildings. Start in the city center, then just wander.

Community Contributors

Added By

markchateaudelacouronne

Edited By

pris72

  • pris72

Published

April 6, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-05-21/how-angouleme-france-became-a-street-art-capital
  • http://www.angouleme-tourisme.co.uk/the-painted-wall-trail-unique-across-the-world
  • https://theworldyourhome.com/2013/02/15/angouleme-and-its-murals/
Murals of Angoulême
Angoulême
France
45.647878, 0.143344
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Galarie D'Art Park

Angoulême, France

miles away

Motte de la Jacquille

Fontenille, France

miles away

Underground Church of Saint-Jean at Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Angoulême

Angoulême

France

Places 2

Nearby Places

Galarie D'Art Park

Angoulême, France

miles away

Motte de la Jacquille

Fontenille, France

miles away

Underground Church of Saint-Jean at Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Angoulême

Angoulême

France

Places 2

Related Places

  • May you rest in peace.

    Birmingham, England

    'A Life in the Year of the Chinchillas'

    The ceiling of this shopping arcade is adorned with six trompe-l’œil artworks, including a grim funeral scene.

  • Hundreds of artists have painted on this wall.

    St. Louis, Missouri

    The Mural Mile (Floodwall)

    Hundreds of graffiti artists have decorated this flood-wall on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

  • View from southwestern corner.

    Cataño, Puerto Rico

    Pirámide de Cataño

    A former pyramid-shaped library with colorful murals lies just across the bay from Old San Juan.

  • San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

    Barrio de Guadalupe Street Art

    Colonial architecture meets urban art in this sprawling open-air gallery.

  • The work is full of symbolism.

    Morelia, Mexico

    'Uandákua Tsïuaxati/Brota la Lengua' ('The Language Springs')

    One of Mexico's few murals dedicated to an indigenous language.

  • Valerie Hobson.

    Larne, Northern Ireland

    Valerie Hobson Mural

    A vibrant portrait celebrates the actress in her hometown.

  • View from the cafe.

    Pisa, Italy

    'Tuttomondo'

    A local student's chance encounter with Keith Haring led to the creation of one of Europe's largest murals.

  • Evanston Garage Door Gallery.

    Evanston, Illinois

    Evanston Garage Door Gallery

    The murals have transformed a residential alley into a vibrant drive-through gallery.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.