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

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

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).

in June I saw hundreds of American crayfish coming out of the Charente River and moving across the road.

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.

The Saint-Pierre Cathedral is located in the heart of the old town on the left bank of the Charente. According to tradition, the founding of this episcopal see goes back to Saint Eutrope. The construction of the first Christian building on the site of the current cathedral could not be dated with any precision. It probably dates back to the 6th century.