Saintes and Vals de Saintonge

Bathed by the waters of the Boutonne and the Charente, this north-western part of Charente-Maritime offers green and hilly landscapes. Its churches listed as UNESCO heritage sites, its castles that are sources of beautiful stories, its discreet villages, its vineyards and Cognac cellars invite you to make as many authentic discoveries. The Boutonne valley is classified as a Natura 2000 site.

SAINTES, A TWO-THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CITY

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Saintes and its 2,000 years of history invite you to go back in time. Its Gallo-Roman amphitheater is one of the oldest in the Roman Empire and one of the best preserved. Its Abbaye aux Dames, the Arch of Germanicus saved by Prosper Mérimée, its museums... are all opportunities to explore the city bathed by the waters of the Charente.

A city of art and history and a 4-star flower town, the capital of Saintonge is a former prefecture of Charente-Inférieure. Today a sub-prefecture of the department, it is a tourist destination in its own right. On the left bank of the Charente, the medieval town extends around the Saint-Pierre cathedral, the construction of which on the foundations of an old Romanesque church was never completed.

A masterpiece of Romanesque art, the Saint Eutrope church is an essential stop on the pilgrimage routes. It houses the relics of the Saint. The remains of the arenas, on the side of a valley, in a green setting, bear witness to the ancient past of the city, as do the thermal baths of Saint-Saloine, or the Arch of Germanicus, threatened with destruction and reassembled on the right bank of the Charente.

It is on this bank that we discover the majestic Abbaye aux Dames. A Benedictine abbey, it was responsible for educating young girls from good families. It was transformed into a prison under the Empire. Its façade remains one of the most beautiful in Romanesque art . Every summer, it hosts the Saintes festival.

Museums to visit:

• The archaeological museum;
• The national stud farm.

Saintes is also the starting point for a tour of the Romanesque churches of Saintonge.

THE ROCHE COURBON CASTLE, SLEEPING BEAUTY CASTLE

The name "Sleeping Beauty Castle" was coined by the writer Pierre Loti in an article to save this building in danger. Completely restored since then, the Roche Courbon castle, first a medieval fortress then a Renaissance castle, is located a few kilometers from Saintes. It is perched on a promontory and surrounded by a magnificent oak forest. Once upon a time there was Roche Courbon, with its French gardens, its moats, its keep, its large lounges, its Saintonge cuisine, its superb stone staircase with balustrade... And just as original on the estate, its caves occupied since the Paleolithic era. A castle worthy of fairy tales.

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Saint-Jean-d'Angely and its abbey listed by UNESCO

A sub-prefecture town, a stopover on the roads to Santiago de Compostela, Saint-Jean-d'Angely is a town steeped in history. Its abbey founded in the 9th century contains the relics of Saint John the Baptist. Destroyed by the Vikings and then during the Wars of Religion, it was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The towers of the abbey church constitute an unfinished ensemble, they once served as a prison. Adjoining the towers, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church was built in the 19th century, as was the town hall square. The old town, with its superbly restored houses, bears witness to an exceptional heritage.

Aulnay-de-Saintonge, and its masterpiece of Romanesque art

The small village of Aulnay-de-Saintonge is home to a gem, a true jewel of Romanesque art built in the 12th century, just outside the town: the Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay church. It is located on the pilgrimage routes, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is surrounded by majestic cypress trees and an old cemetery. The building is beautifully sculpted with angels, virgins, zodiac signs, and representations of Christ and the Apostles.

Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, celebrates the Poitou donkey

Taillebourg, like a painting by Delacroix

Home to the remains of an ancient fortified castle, Taillebourg is a small town of 600 souls. It is known for its battle of 1242, opposing the King of France Saint-Louis to Henry III King of England, painted in a famous painting by Eugène Delacroix. The castle park offers a breathtaking view of the Charente and its valley.

A few kilometers from Taillebourg, you can visit the castle that inspired Charles Perrault. It is said that the latter took the castle of Crazannes, property of the Count of Caravaz, as a model for the famous tale of Puss in Boots and the famous Count of Carabas.

Crazannes

Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente, the discreet charm

Saint-Savinien has the discreet charm of small towns bordering the Charente. Its 12th century church perched on a promontory overlooks the river. Saint-Savinien owes its development to river trade, from the time when barges transported wood, wine, cognac and cut stone. Today, its quays are a very pleasant place to walk.