Saint-Jean d'Angely travel guide

Visit Saint-Jean d'Angely (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)

The small town of Saint-Jean d'Angely is situated in the heart of the Charente-Maritime department to the north of Saintes.

Explore Saint-Jean d'Angely

France This Way comment: in Saint-Jean d'Angely you will discover several sites of interest and a pleasant historical centre of 18th century townhouses as well as winding streets and medieval houses and the vestiges of a 15th century abbey, so the town is interesting to visit.

The centre of Saint-Jean d'Angely contains an interesting mix of architecture, partly the traditional white stone houses of the region and also a good number of older half-timbered medieval houses. Part of the centre is also pedestrianised making it a pleasant place for a stroll.

The town centre has two main squares. The Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is surrounded by the town hall and other imposing 19th century buildings, and in the Place du Marché you will find the market hall as well as several of the older buildings of the town.

In the streets around the Place du Marché you will discover the Place du Pilori with a pretty stone fountain and the imposing belltower, as well as a number of cafes and shops.

Among the most noteworthy buildings in Saint-Jean d'Angely are:

the substantial stone belfry with a stone gateway below, rebuilt in the 15th century on the site of one of the original 12th century gateways into the town (Rue Grosse Horloge)
a very decorative renaissance style fountain called the 'fontaine du pilori' (Place du Pilori)
the 19th century market hall (markets each Saturday morning) (Place du Marché)
the Salle Alienor d Aquitaine*
several grand townhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries
the Town Hall, an imposing building very typical of many of the town halls built across France during the 19th century (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville)

* The Salle Alienor d Aquitaine, now the Salle des Fetes for St Jean d'Angely, has an interesting history - the arches that constitute the outside of the building were originally the cloisters in the Royal Abbey, brought here to construct the walls of a covered market. Then at the beginning of the 20th century the arches were filled in and the building converted to its current use.

Abbey church of Saint-Jean d'Angely

The Royal Abbey gained its name because the Sun King, Louis XIV, stayed here when attending a marriage nearby.

The most important historical monument in the town is the abbey church, now listed as a UNESCO heritage site as one of the religious monuments on the medieval pilgrimage routes through France. It is situated to the south-west of the town centre, on Rue Aguesseau.

The church includes a small part of the original 15th century church (flying buttresses and a part of the chevet). There is also a substantial facade with two towers - you can ascend the towers for a nice view across the town and countryside.

Part of the church was built in the 18th century as the start of a grand plan to build a replacement for the earlier version, but the plan was never completed since the revolution put an end to monastic settlements.

Although the abbey church was never completed, the monks constructed the associated abbey buildings in the 17th century, and these can still be seen as the Royal Abbey. Built in the classical style typical of the 17th century, these buildings are now used as the town library and music school.

Cordeliers Museum

Close to the Abbey Church and established in an imposing 19th century mansion that was once the Town Hall for Saint-Jean d'Angely, this museum contains an eclectic collection of artefacts, and is best known for its exhibits relating to the expeditions by Citroen across the Sahara desert and across Africa in the 1920's, including one of the cars especially adapted for the journey.

Attractions nearby

Most leisure activities for visitors to Saint-Jean d'Angely are focussed along the Boutonne River, which offers a pleasant place for a stroll and is also popular with anglers.

The tourist office have a wide range of selected walks and cycle routes in the surrounding area and although they are in French only they are quite detailed and easily followed. We suggest the walk called 'Rando Secrets' as an introduction.

Enthusiasts of roman style architecture will enjoy visiting some of the small churches in the surrounding villages such as those at Varaize, Matha and Bagnizeau to the south-east and Aulnay, Dampierre-sur-Boutonne and Saint-Mande-sur-Bredoire to the north-east, all within about 15 kilometres of St Jean d'Angely centre.

You can find more travel ideas in the Charente-Maritime guide and the Poitou-Charentes guide.

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Visit near Saint-Jean d'Angely with France This Way reviews

Saint-Savinien

In an attractive setting on the banks of the Charente River, Saint-Savinien also has a few historic sites of interest

Saint-Savinien guide

Saintes

The town of Saintes is very interesting, with an extensive old-town to explore and a Roman amphitheatre

Saintes guide

Surgeres

It is the cluster of monuments in the park in the centre of Surgeres that are the principal attraction in the town

Surgeres guide

Cognac

Cognac has an extensive old twon and town centre, nice riverside walk and lots of Cognac distilleries. Definitely recommended.

Cognac guide

Rochefort

Rochefort is an attractive 18th century town with a famous corderie, where ropes and ships were made

Rochefort guide

Marais Poitevin

The Marais-Poitevin is a region of canals and marshes, an unusual environment best explored by boat

Marais Poitevin guide

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

Address: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Poitou-Charentes, 17400, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 45.9466, longitude -0.5294

Plan your visit to Saint-Jean d'Angely, Charente-Maritime

Attractions, places & markets near Saint-Jean d'Angely

Charente-Maritime places to visit

Driving distances & route maps

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby

Saint-Jean-d'Angély, abbaye royale (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site
Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux): religious monument (8 km)
Eglise de Saint Germain (Varaize): religious monument (8 km)
Aulnay église St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (16 km)
Eglise de Saint-Pierre (Dampierre-sur-Boutonne): religious monument (16 km)
Eglise de Saint Vivien (Bagnizeau): religious monument (18 km)
Eglise de Saint Pierre et eglise de Saint Hérie (Matha): religious monument (18 km)
Eglise de Saint-Brice (Saint-Mande-sur-Bredoire): religious monument (19 km)
Abbaye de Fontdouce (Saint-Bris-des-Bois): religious monument (20 km)
Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes (Saintes): religious monument (24 km)
Saintes: town of art and history (24 km)
La Roche Courbon: remarkable garden (24 km)

The French version of this page is at Saint-Jean d'Angely (Francais)