Shopping in Angoulême
Between the comics bookshops of the upper town, the boutiques along the plateau's main shopping streets, the Champ de Mars shopping centre and the gourmet food shops stocking Charentais specialities, Angoulême offers a varied shopping scene for all tastes and budgets.
Comics bookshops and specialist stores
Angoulême is the world capital of comics: it would be surprising if the city lacked an excellent network of specialist bookshops. And indeed, the upper town has several essential addresses for lovers of the ninth art.
The plateau's specialist comics bookshops typically carry a wide stock: classic and contemporary Franco-Belgian albums, manga, American comics, graphic novels, luxury editions and original printings. Some also offer a selection of prints, original page artwork and artist silkscreens — a niche market that has grown with the prestige of the International Festival. Prices for a standard album range from €10 to €20; special editions and original works can reach several hundred euros.
The Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image (CIBDI) also has a bookshop-boutique at the museum entrance, with a selection tied to current exhibitions, catalogues, merchandise and editions from the national comics collection. It is often the most accessible address for those wanting a souvenir linked to their museum visit.
Festival season: each late January (when the Comics Festival takes place — the 2026 edition was cancelled, a revival is planned for 2027), the city's bookshops open extended hours, host signing sessions and stock temporary collections linked to invited authors. It is the richest period for collectors, but also the busiest — be prepared to queue at the tills.
The plateau's main shopping streets
The upper town concentrates most of the city-centre commerce along three main axes.
Rue Hergé & around Les Halles
Rue Hergé, named in tribute to the creator of Tintin, is one of the most emblematic commercial streets on the plateau. It connects place des Halles to other pedestrian streets and concentrates fashion boutiques, accessories, press kiosks and several bookshops. The atmosphere is lively on weekdays and very busy on Saturday mornings when the Halles market draws large crowds.
Rue de Périgueux
Rue de Périgueux is one of the main shopping streets of the upper town, with a varied offer: national fashion chains, shoes, opticians, pharmacies and services. It is the most accessible street for everyday shopping, with good footfall throughout the day. It connects to place du Palet and the heart of the plateau.
Rue Marengo
Rue Marengo has a more local and independent character, with designer boutiques, quality food shops and several galleries. Its row of Angoumois facades and proximity to the pedestrian streets make it ideal for more off-the-beaten-track shopping. Several light restaurant and café addresses are also to be found here.
The Champ de Mars shopping centre
The Champ de Mars shopping centre, located below the upper town around the square of the same name, is Angoulême's main covered retail hub. It groups together a large food supermarket, national fashion and homewares chains, mobile phone shops and fast-food restaurants. Parking is easy, making it the preferred choice for families with cars and residents from the outskirts.
For visitors who want to complete practical purchases (pharmacy, supermarket, sportswear) without venturing into the picturesque but parking-scarce upper town, Champ de Mars is the most efficient solution. It is served by several TACO network lines.
Local producers, gourmet shops & specialities
One of the pleasures of shopping in Angoulême is returning home with authentic Charentais products. The region is rich in well-regarded food specialities, available both at the markets and in the gourmet food shops on the plateau.
Galette charentaise & chocolatiers
The galette charentaise is a buttery shortbread biscuit with orange flower water, particularly popular as a gourmet souvenir. Several biscuit-makers and gourmet shops in the upper town stock them under various brands and packaging. Angoulême also has artisan chocolatiers producing quality dark chocolate creations, sometimes paired with Charentais spirits (Cognac, Pineau) — a delicious local combination.
Cognac, Pineau des Charentes & wines
Cognac and Pineau des Charentes are the region's emblematic spirits. Several gourmet shops and wine cellars in the upper town offer a selection of bottles from regional producers — from the major houses to small independents — at prices from around €15 for an entry-level Pineau to €60 and above for a quality VSOP or XO Cognac. The markets (see our markets guide) sometimes allow you to buy directly from producers.
Markets and direct-from-producer shopping
The best way to discover local products — Charentais goat's cheese, mogettes (white beans), walnuts, honey, seasonal vegetables — remains the markets. The Halles market (Tuesday to Sunday morning) is the weekly meeting point for locals. It takes place in and around the covered market at place des Halles. The Sunday morning market at place Mulac is larger and draws producers from across the Charente department.
Crafts & local designers
The upper town houses several artisan galleries and designer workshops, notably in the lanes around rue Marengo and place du Palet. They offer ceramics, jewellery, textiles and illustration — often by local Angoumois or Charentais artists. For gastronomy more broadly, see our dedicated guide.