Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe travel guide
Visit Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
Book a visitThe village of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is about 50 kilometres east of Poitiers. Above all it is visited for the Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe.
Explore Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
Although it is the abbey that attracts visitors here, and that dominates the centre of the village, you will also want to have a walk around the historic centre of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. The town is on the scenic banks of the Gartempe river, which is crossed here by a 13th century stone bridge as well as a second bridge added in the 19th century. Hint: the best view of the river and old bridge is from the new bridge!
You can also see some parts of the towers and walls that once protected the centre of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, on Rue des Tanneries and Rue des Murailles.
Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
The finest example of roman style religious architecture in Poitou-Charentes, the abbey-church was built during the 11th century and towers imposingly over the little village. The painted vault, the carvings, and the nave are some of the finest examples of roman architecture to be found and are very representative of church architecture in 11th century Poitou-Charentes.
Not all parts of the abbey complex are so ancient - the associated abbey buildings were very damaged in the Wars of Religion and reconstructed in the 17th century in the classical style of architecture, while the church spire was added in the 15th century.
The round tower (on the logis), although of medieval appearance, was added in the 19th century as a device for supplying water to the rooms of the buildings.
Inside the church, you will first be struck by the large size of the church (it is more than 40 metres long) and the sweeping semi-circle of columns around the choir lit by the windows that surround it, and the ornately carved capital stones, mostly representing plants and animals.
Your eyes will soon be attracted to the large number of murals that also date from the 11th-12th centuries and cover several hundred square metres of the interior surface.
The murals are extremely well preserved (they were restored in the 19th century) and depict numerous biblical stories from the Old Testament, mostly from the books of Genesis and Exodus such as the creation of Eve, the story of Cain and Abel, and the story of Noah and the Arc, the building of the Tower of Babel and the crossing of the Red Sea.
Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe abbey is listed as a UNESCO world Heritage sites.
Attractions nearby
If you want to see more murals in the region, Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe tourist office can provide a suggested route that will pass by 12 other sites in the Gartempe valley. The abbey is on a route designated the 'Valley of Frescoes' between Saint-Savin and Saulgé which follows the Gartempe River and includes several important frescoed buildingssuch as those at Antigny, Montmorillon and Saint-Germain.
You will certainly also want to visit the pretty village of Angles-sur-l'Anglin, about 20 kilometres north of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe.
You can find more travel ideas in the Vienne guide and the Poitou-Charentes guide.
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Map of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe and places nearby
Visit near Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe with France This Way reviews
Angles-sur-l'Anglin
The pretty village of Angles sur l'Anglin and the river setting make this one of our favourite Vienne villages
Angles-sur-l'Anglin guide
Montmorillon
Although it is quite a small town, there is a lot to discover in the pretty town of Montmorillon - and bookshops!
Montmorillon guide
Chauvigny
We especially enjoyed exploring the castles along the hilltop when visiting Chauvigny
Chauvigny guide
La Roche-Posay
The castle donjon and the medieval gateway are the main historical monuments in the spa town of La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay guide
Brenne Regional Natural Park
This quiet region of small lakes and fields is a perfect place for cycling on peaceful lanes
Brenne Regional Natural Park guide
Nouaille-Maupertuis
Visit Nouaille-Maupertuis to see the substantial Abbey of Saint Junien
Nouaille-Maupertuis guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Vienne
Address: Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, Montmorillon, Poitou-Charentes, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 46.566944, longitude 0.864444
Plan your visit to Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, Vienne
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Abbaye de Saint Savin sur Gartempe (Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe): religious monument
- Angles-sur-l'Anglin: most beautiful village (14 km)
- Eglise de Notre-Dame (Montmorillon): religious monument (16 km)
- Montmorillon: town of art and history (16 km)
- Eglise de Saint Pierre (Chauvigny): religious monument (17 km)
- Chauvigny: recommended detour (17 km)
- Eglise de Saint Gervais et Saint Protais (Civaux): religious monument (20 km)
- Touffou: remarkable garden (22 km)
- Etangs de la Brenne: site of natural beauty (31 km)
- Brenne: regional natural parc (31 km)
- Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe Abbey: heritage site (32 km)
- Abbaye de Nouaillé-Mauperthuis (Nouaille-Maupertuis): religious monument (35 km)
The French version of this page is at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe (Francais)