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beautiful passages along the Charente with pretty monuments and small waterfront cafés in Port d’Envaux and Saintes.

Courcoury is a natural island surrounded by the Charente and Seugne rivers, giving it a unique landscape setting between marshes and waterways, conducive to biodiversity and outdoor activities. It is also the only village in Charente-Maritime to have been awarded 4 stars by the "Villes et villages étoilés" label, recognizing its efforts to reduce light pollution through intelligent and environmentally friendly public lighting.

The Arch of Germanicus, built around 18-19 AD in Saintes, is a two-bay road arch erected in honor of the Emperor Tiberius, his son Drusus, and his nephew Germanicus, financed by a local notable, Gaius Julius Rufus. It marked the main entrance to the Roman city of Mediolanum Santonum, at the bridge over the Charente, organizing traffic in both directions. This sober monument, nearly 15 meters high, is adorned with fluted pilasters and composite capitals, among the oldest in the West. Saved from demolition in 1843 thanks to Prosper Mérimée, it was moved and restored, becoming a major symbol of Romanization and one of the best-preserved Gallo-Roman remains in Saintes. Listed as a historic monument since 1905, it testifies to the importance of the city during the Roman era.

The Gallo-Roman amphitheater of Sainte, also called the Arena of Saintes, is an elliptical monument built between 40 and 50 AD, probably during the reigns of Tiberius and Claudius. It measures approximately 126 meters by 102 meters and could accommodate between 12,000 and 15,000 spectators, making it one of the largest and oldest amphitheaters in Gaul. Located in a natural valley called the "Arènes valley," it takes advantage of the topography to limit construction work, with stands backing onto the hill. The site has two monumental gates, the "Gate of the Living" to the east and the "Gate of the Dead" to the west, and has been the subject of a major restoration project since 2021 to preserve this exceptional heritage. Accessible on foot from the city center, it offers an immersion in Roman history with an educational trail and activities for families

I really enjoyed this ride. I’m 46, I did it on a 40 year old road bike, it’s more suited to a cyclocross bike!

View of the Arch of Germanicus and the Saintes pedestrian bridge

Saintes train station. Direct connection to La Rochelle, La Roche-sur-Yon, Nantes… (By bike, via prior reservation).

The arch was first built on the Roman bridge over the Charente. It is not a triumphal arch, but rather a homage to Tiberius, Germanicus and Drusus.