Founded in the 1st century, Saintes is a City of Art and History with an important architectural and religious heritage. The Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, the Germanicus Romanesque arch, the Abbaye-aux-Dames abbey and its magnificent church of Romanesque style, and the Saint-Pierre cathedral are examples of its rich past. For the art lover, the Présidial museum and the Échevinage museum have collections of paintings on display.
With a rich history of over 2 000 years Saintes boasts an exceptional heritage and a vibrant cultural life.
Labeled City of Art and History since 1990, the city boasts a remarkable cultural vitality, as the number of structures (municipal and voluntary) within its territory and the quality of activities and projects developed by each. The offer is rich and varied and organized into clusters of skills and expertise in the areas most varied cultural (Music: Abbaye aux Dames / Center for Cultural Exchanges, Conservatory of Music and Dance, Space Resources Saint Eutropius current music, workshops Saints Current Music, Performing arts: Theater Gallia; Public Lecture: media libraries, Heritage Museums, Heritage Workshop Saintonge, etc..).
