Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office

The Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office invites you to discover the remarkable history and heritage of Saintes, which has been awarded the ‘Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire’ (City and Region of Art and History) label, on water rides and guided tours of the historic town (booking required).

The Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office has been awarded the Tourisme & Handicap label for welcoming people with disabilities (hearing, mental, motor and visual).

2 place Saint Pierre
17100 Saintes

Guided tour - The cathedral and the lower town

Guided tours

Follow the guide on a 1? hour walking tour through the charming alleyways and secret corners of the historic centre to discover the living history of Saintes.

Included with the La Rochelle Océan Pass: your pass gives you access to 1 guided or commented tour of Saintes to choose from among 4 offered according to the seasonal calendar: The Cathedral and the Lower Town; History and Secrets of the Upper Town; The church of Saint-Eutrope and the life of pilgrims; The Little Electrain.

Booking essential (except for the little electric train).

Discover the charm and history of Saintes on this tour: the ancient city gate, Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the old alderman's residence, the changes in the modern town and, to make sure you don't miss out on any of the local atmosphere, the tour ends with a visit to the market and local specialities.

Access by bus

Bus connection BUSS :
Sainte Claire stop - Lines A and C then walk to Place Bassompierre (about 3 minutes).
BUSS bus routes, timetables and traffic changes 

PLEASE NOTE: BUSS buses are not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass. You must pay for your tickets when you board.

Access by car

Nearest Q-Park car park :
Q-Park Centre-ville: 10 Rue Eugène Pelletan 17100 SAINTES

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass (adult fare only): get a €10 discount on the hire of a Yélomobile car.
Reach the sites included in your pass around La Rochelle with the yellow-topped Yélomobile car-sharing car: book in advance for 1 hour or several days and Yélomobile cars will make it easier for you to get around La Rochelle. 

Details of prices and conditions of access to the Yélomobile service. 

Access by train

The train journey from La Rochelle takes an average of 1 hour to Saintes. The SNCF station is a 15-minute walk from Place Bassompierre, the starting point for the guided tour of the Cathedral and the lower town; you can also take a BUSS bus (not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass). 

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Ocean Pass: unlimited access to TER NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE trains between La Rochelle and Saintes.
In the application, press the ‘TER train transport’ button and then the button for your destination, i.e. La Rochelle < > Saintes. Generate your ticket by pressing the ‘Press here to validate your TER train ticket when boarding’ button. Your e-ticket will appear: it is valid for 2 hours. For your return journey, generate a new ticket by repeating the previous operation.

Find TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine train timetables easily.

Additional information

Departure from the Saintes and Saintonge Tourist Office, duration 1h30.

Opening hours

From 7 July to 17 September 2025: Wednesdays at 11am. 

Reservation

Reservations must be made by telephone with the Office de l'agglomération de Saintes et la Saintonge: 05 46 74 23 82, giving your pass number. Subject to availability.

Seasonal closure
Public price
Adult : €8.00
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : €8.00
Price with the pass
Adult : Free
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : Free

Guided tour - History and secrets of the upper town

Guided tours

Take a step back in time and retrace the history of Saintes with your guide. This 45-minute tour begins with a visit to the Saint-Louis belvedere and its exceptional panorama of the town and river.

Included with the La Rochelle Océan Pass: your pass gives you access to 1 guided or commented tour of Saintes to choose from among 4 offered according to the seasonal calendar: The Cathedral and the lower town; History and secrets of the upper town; The church of Saint-Eutrope and the life of the pilgrims; The small electrain.

Must be booked in advance (except for the little electric train).

From this promontory and its unrestricted view, discover the great hours of Saintes: the Gallo-Roman city, the Middle Ages marked by the construction of numerous churches, the classical city and the slate roofs of its town houses.

Access by bus

Bus connection BUSS :
Stop at Theatre - Lines A and C then walk to Place du Capitole (about 4 minutes).
BUSS bus routes, timetables and traffic changes

PLEASE NOTE: BUSS network buses are not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass. You must pay for your tickets when you board.

Access by car

Free parking Place du 11 novembre, 230 spaces.

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass (adult rate only): receive a €10 discount on the hire of a Yélomobile car.
Reach the sites included in your pass around La Rochelle with the yellow-topped Yélomobile car-sharing car: book in advance for 1 hour or several days and Yélomobile cars will help you get around near La Rochelle.

Details of prices and conditions of access to the Yélomobile service.

Access by train

The train journey from La Rochelle takes an average of 1 hour to Saintes. The SNCF station is a 25-minute walk from Place du Capitole, where the guided tour starts; you can also take a BUSS bus (not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass).

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Ocean Pass: unlimited access to TER NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE trains between La Rochelle and Saintes.
In the application, press the ‘TER train transport’ button and then the button for your destination, i.e. La Rochelle < > Saintes. Generate your ticket by pressing the ‘Press here to validate your TER train ticket when boarding’ button. Your e-ticket will appear: it is valid for 2 hours. For your return journey, generate a new ticket by repeating the previous operation.

Find TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine train timetables easily.

Additional information

Departure from Place du Capitole, duration 45 min.

Opening hours

From 7 July to 17 September 2025: every Monday at 10am.

Reservation

Reservations must be made by telephone with the Office de l'agglomération de Saintes et la Saintonge: 05 46 74 23 82, giving your pass number. Subject to availability.

Seasonal closure
Public price
Adult : €5.00
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : €5.00
Price with the pass
Adult : Free
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : Free

Guided tour - The church of Saint-Eutrope and the life of the pilgrims

Guided tours
Access by bus

Bus connection BUSS:
Reverseaux stop - Line A then walk to rue Saint-Eutrope (about 5 minutes' walk).
BUSS lines, timetables and changes to bus services

PLEASE NOTE: BUSS network buses are not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass. You must pay for your tickets when you board.

Access by car

Free parking Place du 11 novembre, 230 spaces.

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass (adult rate only): receive a €10 discount on the hire of a Yélomobile car.
Reach the sites included in your pass around La Rochelle with the yellow-topped Yélomobile car-sharing car: book in advance for 1 hour or several days and Yélomobile cars will help you get around near La Rochelle.

Details of prices and conditions of access to the Yélomobile service.

Access by train

The train journey from La Rochelle takes an average of 1 hour to Saintes. The SNCF station is a 36-minute walk from Rue Saint-Eutrope, where the guided tour starts; you can also take a BUSS bus (not included in your La Rochelle Océan Pass).

ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Ocean Pass: unlimited access to TER NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE trains between La Rochelle and Saintes.
In the application, press the ‘TER train transport’ button and then the button for your destination, i.e. La Rochelle < > Saintes. Generate your ticket by pressing the ‘Press here to validate your TER train ticket when boarding’ button. Your e-ticket will appear: it is valid for 2 hours. For your return journey, generate a new ticket by repeating the previous operation.

Find TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine train timetables easily.

Additional information

Departure from Rue Saint-Eutrope, on the forecourt, duration 45 min.

Opening hours

From 7 July to 17 September 2025: every Monday at 11.15 am.

Reservation

Reservations must be made by telephone with the Office de l'agglomération de Saintes et la Saintonge: 05 46 74 23 82, giving your pass number. Subject to availability.

Public price
Adult : €5.00
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : €5.00
Price with the pass
Adult : Free
Child (6 to 11 years old) : Free
Teenagers (12 to 17 years old) : Free