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Origin and history

The captainy of the Houmeau, located in Angoulême, was built in the 1st quarter of the 19th century in the most densely populated and prosperous suburbs of the city. This neighborhood owed its wealth to its port, attested from the twelfth century, which made it a major warehouse for commerce. The presence of a local militia, necessary for the management and security of the port, justified the existence of a captainship, conceived as an administrative and residential building.

The master's architecture adopts a U-shaped plan, organised around an inner courtyard closed by a gate to the west. The central body, on two floors plus one floor of attic, is flanked by two wings in return to one floor. The openings of the ground floor are surmounted by the doculi (circular windows), decorative on the main building and functional on the wings. The first floor window door, overlooking a wrought iron balcony, is the only notable decorative element of the central body. The attic floor evokes ancient temples, with its fluted triglyphs and small windows.

The facades, roofs, entrance gate and balcony were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 10 September 1985. The site, now owned by an association, also retains a well in the backyard. Its location at 19 Besson-Bey Boulevard reflects the historical importance of the Houmeau suburb, linked to the river and commercial activity of Angoulême.

The Houmeau suburb, already dynamic in the 18th century, illustrates the key role of inland ports in the regional economy. The captainry, a symbol of this prosperity, also bears witness to the military and administrative organization of the peripheral neighbourhoods, often autonomous from the city centre. Its sober architecture, combining utility and classic references, reflects the needs of a place that is both functional and representative.

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