Saintes tourism and travel guide

Visit Saintes: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The town of Saintes is very interesting, with an extensive old-town to explore and a Roman amphitheatre

Saintes is situated in the Charente-Maritime department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Tourist classifications for Saintes include "town of art and history", "secteur sauvegarde" and "ville fleurie 4*". It is unusual for a town to have 3 awards, which indicates how important Saintes is as a tourist destination!

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Saintes in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include Pons at 19 km and Cognac at 24 km.

Saintes, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Saint-Savinien

at 16 km (direction north-north-west)

In an attractive setting on the banks of the Charente River, Saint-Savinien...

See Saint-Savinien guide

Pons

at 19 km (direction south-south-east)

Pons is a quiet small town overlooked by a castle tower that...

See Pons guide

Cognac

at 24 km (direction east), in the Charente department

Cognac has an extensive old twon and town centre, nice riverside walk...

See Cognac guide

Saint-Jean d'Angely

at 24 km (direction north-north-east)

The historic centre of Saint-Jean d'Angely has several notable monuments including the...

See Saint-Jean d'Angely guide

Mornac-sur-Seudre

Most Beautiful Village at 32 km (direction west)

Not far from Royan the centre of Mornac-sur-Seudre is attractive and very...

See Mornac-sur-Seudre guide

Talmont

Most Beautiful Village at 32 km (direction south-west)

Talmont-sur-Gironde is one of the prettiest villages in Charente-Maritime, well known for...

See Talmont guide

Church Sainte-Radegonde of Talmont

Church at 32 km (direction south-west)

The Church Sainte-Radegonde is a roman style church of the 12th century...

See Church Sainte-Radegonde of Talmont guide

Meschers-sur-Gironde

at 33 km (direction west-south-west)

The beaches and rocky coast attract visitors to Meschers, and you can...

See Meschers-sur-Gironde guide

Royan

Seaside resort at 34 km (direction west-south-west)

At Royan you will enjoy the beaches and also the promenade along...

See Royan guide

Rochefort

at 35 km (direction west-north-west)

Rochefort is an attractive 18th century town with a famous corderie, where...

See Rochefort guide

Jarnac

at 35 km (direction east), in the Charente department

Visitors to Jarnac can explore the small old town, walk along the...

See Jarnac guide

Jonzac

at 36 km (direction south-south-east)

Best known as a spa town Jonzac also has a small castle...

See Jonzac guide

Brouage

at 37 km (direction west-north-west)

The town of Brouage is visited for the substantial fortifications and citadel,...

See Brouage guide

Le Verdon-sur-Mer

Seaside resort at 40 km (direction west-south-west), in the Gironde department

The small resort of Le Verdon-sur-Mer is quiet but has long sandy...

See Le Verdon-sur-Mer guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Charente-Maritime

Arrange a visit to Saintes

Map of places to visit near Saintes

Markets in and near Saintes

Market days in Saintes: weekly market: every day except Monday;

• Pons: market Wednesday and Saturday (19km)
• Cognac: market Tuesday & Friday (23km)
• Cozes: market Wednesday (24km)
• Saujon: market every day except Monday and Friday (25km)
• Matha: market Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (28km)
• Echillais: market Wednesday (31km)
• Saint Georges de Didonne: market all days exc. Thursday - seasonal market only (32km)
• Saint Georges de Didonne: market Sunday and Monday (32km)
• Meschers-sur-Gironde: market Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - seasonal market only (33km)
• Breuillet: market Thursday & Sunday (33km)

More information about Saintes, Poitou-Charentes

Tourist attractions near Saintes, France

What to do at Saintes? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Saintes.

Grand sites of France

• Brouage Fortifications (37km)

Heritage sites

• Saintes basilique St Eutrope (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (2km)
• Pons ancien hopital des pèlerins (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (20km)
• Saint-Jean-d'Angély, abbaye royale (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (24km)
• Aulnay église St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (37km)
• Soulac-su-Mer basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-fin-des-Terres (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (46km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Mornac-sur-Seudre (32km)
• Talmont (32km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Jonzac (36km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes (Saintes) (0km)
• Abbaye de Fontdouce (Saint-Bris-des-Bois) (13km)
• Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) (17km)
• Eglise de Saint-Germain (Gimeux) (23km)
• Eglise de Saint Germain (Varaize) (25km)
• Eglise de Saint Pierre et eglise de Saint Hérie (Matha) (27km)
• Abbaye Notre Dame de l'Assomption de Châtre (Saint-Brice) (29km)
• Eglise de Saint Vivien (Bagnizeau) (29km)
• Eglise de Saint Martin (Gensac-la-Pallue) (30km)
• Eglise de Saint-Pierre (Dampierre-sur-Boutonne) (40km)
• Eglise de Saint-Brice (Saint-Mande-sur-Bredoire) (40km)

Remarkable gardens

• La Roche Courbon (15km)
• Parcs et jardins du château de Beaulon (35km)
• Jardin du Chaigne (42km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Forêt de Pons (19km)
• Château de Richemont (Charente) (20km)
• Forêt de la Lande (31km)
• Forêt de Suzac (33km)
• Pointe de Suzac (33km)
• Hiers-Brouage (37km)
• Pointe de Grave (41km)
• Forêt domaniale de la Coubre (45km)

Towns of Art and history

• Royan (34km)
• Rochefort (35km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Zoo de la Palmyre (43km)
• Zoodyssée (48km)

Geography and distances

Saintes is in the west of France at 62 kilometres from La Rochelle, the department capital (general information: Saintes is 412 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors will arrive by car typically from a channel ferry ports such as Saint Malo, Caen or Cherbourg, a drive af about 4-5 hours. For driving distances to Saintes from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 6 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Bussac-sur-Charente, Chaniers, Courcoury, Ecurat, Fontcouverte and Les Gonds.

This page in French: Visiter Saintes