Saintes

Saintes is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France. It serves as a subprefecture of the arrondissement of Saintes and is situated on the Charente River, downstream from Angoulême and upstream from Rochefort. The town is part of the historic region of Saintonge. The population is around 25,000 inhabitants.

Historically, the site was inhabited by the Santones, a Gaulish tribe. In Roman times it developed as Mediolanum Santonum, the capital of the civitas Santonum and a key river and road hub on routes linking Lugdunum (Lyon) with Aquitaine and Hispania. Notable Roman remains include the amphitheatre of Saintes and the Arch of Germanicus, which reflect the city’s ancient significance. In the Middle Ages Saintes grew as an episcopal center; the cathedral of Saint-Pierre and other medieval churches illustrate the town’s ecclesiastical importance. The old town preserves narrow streets, as well as Romanesque and later Renaissance architecture, and fortifications that attest to its strategic position along the Charente.

Main sights include the large Roman amphitheatre, the Arch of Germanicus, medieval churches and cloisters, and the Musée d’Archéologie et d’Histoire, which houses regional artifacts. The surrounding Charente valley remains an agricultural region, while tourism concentrates on the Roman and medieval heritage, river scenery, and nearby wine areas.

Transport and administration: Saintes is connected by rail on the Bordeaux–Paris corridor, with regional services linking to Angoulême and Royan. The town has river ports on the Charente and serves as a local service and commercial center for the surrounding communities.