A walk with artists to discover GrandAngoulême’s local heritage
This summer, the residents of GrandAngoulême walked 8 km to experience what the future 140-kilometre metropolitan trail will offer, starting in spring 2025.
About 100 people participated in this Grande Marche. Divided into three groups, they walked from the Île de Bourgine—a large park on an island in the Charente, opposite the industrial and commercial port district of L’Houmeau—to Saint-Michel, one of the last remaining communes with an industrial paper mill (specialising in cardboard). Along the way, participants explored the history of the former municipal slaughterhouses, the large housing projects of the 1960s, the residents’ cooperatives (cités castors), as well as the history of the gunpowder factory workers’ camps, both colonial and national.
This day of collective walking was also an opportunity for participants to meet and share experiences. Artists winners of the HUB-IN project’s calls could draw inspiration from the metropolitan trail for their work. During the event, participants discovered these artistic works—photographic series, live performances, radio reports, and illustrations—and engaged with the artists.
Given that GrandAngoulême’s industrial history is both extensive and relatively unknown to its residents, events like this encourage citizens to learn more about the local heritage that makes this area so unique. A survey conducted among participants at the end of the day revealed that many of the places visited were not widely recognised as heritage sites. Additionally, participants appreciated that the artists’ works and performances offered them new perspectives, helping them to better understand the local heritage and fostering a sense of belonging.
Find out more about the actions GrandAngoulême’s HUB-IN is implementing here!
