Angoulême
Angoulême, known as the "balcony of the Charante" due to its geographical position on a plateau overlooking a meander, is the capital of the Charante. At a 45-minute drive away, it is the closest city to Chez Mathieu.
Angoulême has a long history; it held importance in the Kingdome of France in the late Middle Ages, when it rose as a fortified city due to its positioning at the crossroads of important communication routes. This history has left some interesting architecture in its wake. The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, for example, built on a pre-Christian site which was developed at various points over the centuries, includes 70 sculptures on its façade.
The city has a vibrant cultural scene, most famous of which is that it is the Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image. In-line with this title, murals of comic art decorate the city. Angoulême hosts an annual International Comic Festival every January and has a museum dedicated to comics, Le Musée de la Bande Dessinée. Unsurprisingly, the city is also home to the ENJMIN, the first school in Europe to focus on teaching video games and other interactive media.