saintes

Dating back over two thousand years, Saintes was once the capital of one of the tribes of Gaul, the Santons, and of the Roman province of Aquitaine, with the name Mediolanum.
Converted to Christianity very early, it became an important religious centre. From the Middle Ages, Saintes was home to some large monasteries and convents, including the Prieuré Saint-Eutrope, one of the stops on the road to Santiago de Compostela, and the prestigious Abbaye aux Dames.
A frontier town during the Hundred Years War and liberated by Duguesclin, it experienced the ravages of the Wars of Religion before enjoying a more prosperous period during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Prior to the Revolution, modern urban design brought major changes, with the construction of wide thoroughfares and in the 19th century, the railway and its workshops, built on the outskirts, led to the regeneration of the east bank of the river.

Today, a centre of culture and tourism, Saintes has a rich heritage to offer visitors, who come to enjoy the incomparable atmosphere of th "Midi Atlantique".



	Dating back over two thousand years, Saintes was once the capital of one of the tribes of Gaul, the Santons, and of the Roman province of Aquitaine, with the name Mediolanum. Converted to Christianity very early, it became an important religious centre. From the Middle Ages, Saintes was home to some large monasteries and convents, including the Prieuré Saint-Eutrope, one of the stops on the road to Santiago de Compostela, and the prestigious Abbaye aux Dames. A frontier town during the Hundred Years War and liberated by Duguesclin, it experienced the ravages of the Wars of Religion before enjoying a more prosperous period during the 17th and 18th centuries. Prior to the Revolution, modern urban design brought major changes, with the construction of wide thoroughfares and in the 19th century, the railway and its workshops, built on the outskirts, led to the regeneration of the east bank of the river. Today, a centre of culture and tourism, Saintes has a rich heritage to offer visitors, who come to enjoy the incomparable atmosphere of th "Midi Atlantique".
	The houses which border the streets of the historic centre contribute to the charm and very special ambience of Saintes, with their high quality limestone construction and the care taken with their design and ornamentation. The most prestigious houses, known as "Hôtels", date from the 17th and 18th centuries : the Hôtel "Présidial", built in 1605 (the Fine Arts Museum), the Governor's lodge (hospital belvedere), the Hôtel de Brémont d'Ars (rue des Jacobins), the Hôtel de Monconseil (now the Dupuy-Mestreau Museum) built in 1738 on the banks of the Charente, the Hôtel Viaud (rue des Jacobins). During the 19th century, wealthy merchants from Cognac built some beautiful private houses : the villa Musso (now the Tourist Office), the Hôtel Rouyer-Guillet which overlooks the Charente (Quai de l'Yser) and others.
	Why not hear the story of Saintes, Ville d'Art et d'Histoire (Town of Art and History), told by a guide accredited by the French Ministry of Culture. Nobody knows all the many facets of Saintes better, giving you the keys to appreciate how the town developed as you move from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Ville d'Art et d'Histoire is a quality label and part of a national network. It is awarded by the French Ministry of Culture on the basis of a convention which sets out certain objectives and a quality charter.

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