Saintes

Abbaye aux Dames

Founded by Count of Anjou Geoffroy Martel and his wife Agnes of Burgundy in 1047, it was once one of the most important female monasteries in southwestern France. It was richly endowed by the Dukes of Aquitaine and at its peak home to up to a hundred nuns from French nobility. Madame de Saintes, the abbess of this monastery, had a very powerful position. She carried a bishop's staff, for female religious leaders an almost unheard of privilege at the time, and also had the right to mint money and act as a judge. In 1320 it was placed under the protection of the French king, as the right bank became French territory, which greatly angered the Duke of Aquitaine (the English king). After the revolution, indeed already somewhat before, the monastery declined, and was converted into a jail and later a barracks. In the mid 20th century it became a religious building again, and is now also a cultural institution. The abbey also has a separate church, the Église Saint-Marie, which has an interesting bell tower which is said to look like a pine cone and a decorated portal, plus some additional buildings related to the abbey.

Akashiso

Japanese cuisine, mostly sushi sets. The food is prepared on-site with fresh ingredients.

Amphithéâtre gallo-Romain

Sitting in a green valley, the Roman amphitheater was built almost 2000 years ago under the rule of Tiberius and Claudius. It could seat 15000 spectators (undoubtedly much of the city's inhabitants) and was one of the most important in Gaul. It's built to an elliptical structure and has a size of 126 x 102 m, and fits neatly into the valley. The amphitheater was used as a stone quarry during the Middle Ages, so it's by no means intact. Little remains of the cavea (seating area), the gates are somewhat better preserved. Still it's an important historical monument from the time when the city was named Mediolanum Santonum.

Arc de Germanicus

A triumphal arch built in 18 or 19 AD by Caius Julius Rufus, to celebrate emperor Tiberius, his son Drusus, and his nephew and adoptive son Germanicus. In Roman times it marked the eastern entrance to the city and was placed in the front of the bridge across Charente. When the quai was modernized in 1843-51, the arch was disassembled and rebuilt 15 m away at its current place. Some Roman inscriptions are still visible on the arch.

Atlantic Cinema

Ciné Atlantic

One of the largest cinemas in the Poitou-Charentes with eight auditoriums. They screen the latest releases, as well as documentaries and shows including live broadcasts of shows at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Some screenings have subtitles for the hearing impaired. On Facebook.

Bar du théâtre

The theater bar is a nice place to have a glass direct next to the theater and justice palace.

/ Toute la journée

Basilique Saint-Eutrope

Founded in 1081 by Guillaume VIII, Duke of Aquitaine, it's actually two churches superimposed on each other with stairs in the nave connecting them. The basilica was built to house the relics of martyred Saint Eutrope with his sarcophagus in the upper church and his skull in the lower church. It has been an important stop on the Way of St. James route to Santiago de Compostela ever since. In 1096, not long after it was finished, pope Urban II visited to preach the First Crusade. In 1886, pope Leon XIII promoted the status of the church to basilica. Basilique Saint-Eutrope is considered an architectonical masterpiece with its Romanesque walls, Gothic choir, 11th century baptismal fonts, paintings and stained windows and one of the largest Romanesque crypts in Europe in the lower church surrounding the sarcophagus of the saint.

free

Burger Palace

A range of quality hamburgers, nuggets and sandwiches at low prices. There's a dining room upstairs for eating in, or you can take the food with you.

menus from EUR 6.90

Canoe and rowing boat rental

Canoes can be rented for half a day to take a relaxed trip on the Charente and admire the city and its surroundings from the river. It's very pleasant when the weather is good. A journey of 20 km will take about 7-8 hours, a journey of 12 km about 4 hours.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre

The large cathedral that's the namesake of the district dominates the old town. There has been at least two cathedrals here earlier, a Merovingian cathedral founded by St Pallais, and a Romanesque cathedral of which the southern cross and a dome have been incorporated in the current building. The Gothic cathedral was once much higher, up to three times higher than its current version. Traces of the ridge raising up to 39 m are still visible on the bell tower, and arcs on the outside raise up above the roof. During the 15th and 16th centuries it was built to those grand proportions, and the cathedral was almost finished when it was largely destroyed by Protestant troops in 1568 during the French Wars of Religion. There weren't funds to rebuild it as large as it had been, and the current height is about a third of what it once was. Surrounding buildings related to the cathedral like the bishops' residence were also not rebuilt.

Centre Commercial de Bellevue

Local shopping mall with a pharmacy, a library (with parcel service), a bakery and a restaurant.

Centre Commercial des Boiffiers

A smaller shopping center with a supermarket and some smaller shops including a bakery, laundry shop and a book shop.

Centre E. Leclerc - Abbaye

The only mall at the right bank of the Charente, with the same selection as the E. Leclerc in Coteaux at the left bank. It features a gas station and a small brewery.

Centre aquatique Aquarelle

Big swimming complex designed by architect Éric Lemarié and opened in 2012. Indoors there's a 25-meter-long semi-Olympic pool, a leisure pool with a hot tub, a children's pool, a hammam, a sauna and a squash area. Outdoors there's another 25-meter-long pool with artificial waves and leisure facilities. Also used for events, there are seats for 500 persons indoors (year round) and another 600 persons outdoors (in the summer).

Centre commercial des Coteaux

The most important mall in Saintes with surroundings, built around a E.Leclerc hypermarket. There's a cinema, many restaurants, chain shops as well as small boutiques.

Couvent des Jacobins

A Dominican monastery established in 1292, it was rebuilt in the 15th century. After the revolution it became a dwelling house. In the 19th century a certain Maurice Martineau with a large collection of books lived there and as he passed away in 1928, the house and the books became the property of the city. Therethrough the municipal library came into being, and which it has been ever since. Only the Gothic choir with its grand bay and inscriptions reveal that this was once a house of worship.

Crêperie Victor Hugo

An old town institution, here you can enjoy sweet and savoury Brittany-style crêpes.

Fernand-Chapsal public gardens

Jardin public Fernand-Chapsal

Formerly known as Parc Bassompierre, the garden on the Charente river offers great views to the old town and the cathedral. It's divided into a French and an English garden, and has a music kiosk and a playground for children.

free

Full Karting

Karting track with a length of 700 m and karting cars for rent. For adults and children aged 8 and over (length requirement 1.35 m).

Galeries Lafayette

The Galeries Lafayette chain has a store in Saintes. It's a good place for shopping for clothes, jewelry and cosmetics. On Facebook.

Gallia Theatre

Théâtre Gallia

The theatre was established in a building built by Parisian architect Bourla in 1852 and has remained the city's finest cultural institution ever since. The façade of the building with its many details remains original, the rest was thoroughly modified in 1932 and demolished and rebuilt in 2003. It has a theatre stage and a cinema for art movies. On Facebook.

Gault Traiteur

French cuisine with excellent food and service. 25 seats indoors, 35 seat outdoors. Consider making a reservation, because the place is often full.

menus from EUR 14.90

Golf Louis-Rouyer-Guillet

Founded in 1953, it's the oldest golf course in Poitou-Charentes. It's the heart of a park 40 hectares in size, and includes an 18 hole course, a practice course, a restaurant and the ruins of a Roman aqueduct.

Governor's house

Logis du Gouverneur

One of the last parts of a 17th-century citadel. A few decades after its completion, the region of Saintogne revolted against the king, the rebellion was struck down, and Cardinal Richelieu ordered the citadel to be torn down. In addition to the governors house, there's little left of the fortifications. Later a Carmelite convent, a hospital (later wrecked) and a chapel was built on the grounds. The older buildings have been incorporated in the new Saint-Louis residential district.

Kraken Bar

Nice ambiance and sometimes small concerts. They also have tapas, tartines and ice cream.

La Gabare de Saintes

Wooden ferry taking passengers on 1.5 hour-long river cruises where you can enjoy the landscapes and the city views in a relaxed way.

de mai à septembre

La Musardière

In the heart of Saintes, in an old decorated building. Here you can enjoy good Italian chocolates, coffees and other hot and cold drinks.

La Romana

Italian pizzeria in a contemporary setting, also take-away. They also have Italian groceries and wine for sale.

menus EUR 13-EUR 26

La Taverne de Maître Kanter

Alsatian cuisine and brewery with several types of choucroute (Sauerkraut).

menus €21-33

La table du Maroc

marocain

Moroccan restaurant with a view to the Charente. You can enjoy tagines, couscous and similar dishes here.

EUR 14.90-33.