{"id":2154,"date":"2026-03-12T10:56:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T09:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.camping-charente-maritime-17.com\/tourisme-saintes-cognac\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T16:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T14:00:02","slug":"tourism-saintes-cognac","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.camping-charente-maritime-17.com\/en\/tourism-saintes-cognac\/","title":{"rendered":"Saintes & Cognac"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Saintes & cognac<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting Saintes and Cognac<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Two cities with an exceptional heritage<\/strong> that are a must-see during your stay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From your campsite near Saintes<\/a> Val de Boutonne, Saintes<\/strong> is just 25 km<\/strong> and Cognac<\/strong> 35 km<\/strong> away, two ideal destinations for days ofexploration<\/strong> rich in history, culture and flavors. Between Gallo-Roman remains, century-old wine cellars, Renaissance ch\u00e2teaux and strolls along the Charente, the golden Saintonge<\/strong> region has unforgettable memories in store for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complete your program with our other ideas: explore La Rochelle, Rochefort and the Ile d’Ol\u00e9ron<\/a>, go to the Palmyre zoo<\/a>, visit the La Rochelle aquarium<\/a> or discover the Marais Poitevin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Saintes <\/strong>and Saintonge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many sites and monuments to visit in and around Saintes. The region’s cultural heritage is extremely rich.Saintes<\/strong>, listed as a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (City of Art and History)<\/strong>, is one of the most beautiful cities in Charente-Maritime. As the ancient Gallo-Roman capital of Saintonge, it offers a fascinating insight into over 2,000 years of history and creativity<\/strong>. Start your visit at theGallo-Roman amphitheatre<\/strong>, one of the oldest in Gaul, built in the 1st<\/sup> century AD to accommodate over 15,000 spectators. Not far from there, theArch of Germanicus<\/strong>, erected in 18-19 AD, is one of the ten most beautiful Gallo-Roman remains in France, and an ideal starting point for exploring the city along the Green Line<\/strong>, a tourist route marked out on the ground and linking all the must-see monuments in the historic center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t miss theAbbey aux Dames<\/strong>, the first women’s monastery in Saintonge, now converted into a musical city with its world-unique musical carousel<\/strong>. The Basilica of Saint-Eutrope<\/a>, a UNESCO World Heritage<\/strong> Site and a stage on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela<\/strong>, boasts one of the largest Romanesque crypts in Europe. For castle lovers, the Ch\u00e2teau de la Roche-Courbon<\/strong> (30 min from the campsite), the Ch\u00e2teau de Panloy<\/strong> and the Ch\u00e2teau de Crazannes<\/strong>, nicknamed the “Ch\u00e2teau du Chat Bott\u00e9”, are well worth a visit. River cruises on the Charente<\/strong> in an electro-solar boat, in a gabare with commentary or in a canoe offer a whole new way of discovering the town and its surroundings. To plan your stay, visit theSaintes et la Saintonge tourist office<\/a> website. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Cognac, a city of many facets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Just 35 km<\/strong> from the campsite, Cognac, also a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire<\/strong>, is much more than just the world capital of eau-de-vie. Discover its medieval historic center<\/strong>, its half-timbered houses, the imposing Saint-L\u00e9ger church<\/strong> and the lively quays of the Charente<\/strong>, ideal for a bucolic stroll. The Ch\u00e2teau Royal de Cognac<\/strong>, where Fran\u00e7ois I\u1d49\u02b3<\/strong> was born in 1494, overlooks the river superbly and houses the cellars of the Baron Otard cognac house: a visit<\/strong> that brilliantly blends royal history and the secrets of eau-de-vie. Let’s not forget that Cognac is also an exceptional product known and recognized the world over: cognac<\/strong>.Wine tourism<\/strong> is, of course, Cognac’s star attraction. The great houses of Hennessy, Martell, R\u00e9my Martin, Camus and Meukow open their doors for immersive tours of their century-old warehouses<\/strong>, stills and ageing cellars, always followed by memorable tastings. Cognac, made from Charentais wines since the XVII\u1d49 century, is now listed as part of France’s intangible cultural heritage<\/strong>, a fascinating human and industrial adventure to explore along the streets. To prepare your visit, visit theCognac Tourist Office<\/a> website. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Family visits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saintes and the surrounding area are packed with activities for the whole family! The Pal\u00e9osite de Saint-C\u00e9saire<\/strong>, Europe’s leading prehistory interpretation center, just 10 km from Saintes<\/strong>, transports young and old into the world of Neanderthal, with animal reconstructions, archaeological digs, flint knapping and cave painting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A must-see<\/strong> for curious families! For a fun way to explore our heritage, Terra Aventura<\/a>, a free geocaching<\/strong> application, lets you discover Saintes and the villages of Saintonge through treasure hunts punctuated by enigmas and surprises. Seven routes are available in Saintonge. More traditionally, the Ch\u00e2teau de Panloy<\/strong> offers a treasure hunt and a large nature trail for children, while the Ch\u00e2teau d’Usson<\/strong>, converted into a theme park, offers a life-size treasure hunt with 27 adventure games in a wooded setting. To find out more, take a look at our selection of things to do in Charente-Maritime<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We offer special rates with the Saint-C\u00e9saire Paleosite and the F\u00e2 Museum (see conditions at the campsite reception).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n

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