Saintes is a French commune and historic town, a subprefecture in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. It is in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Saintes.
Before the French Revolution, Saintes was the capital of the old province of Saintonge.
Saintes is in the central eastern part of the Charente-Maritime department, in the old province of Saintonge, along the Charente river that flows through the commune from south to north.
The commune has an area of 45.6 km2 (17.6 sq mi),[2] and its average altitude is 42 m (138 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 20 m (66 ft).[3]
The distances from Saintes to other cities are:
The commune of Saintes is surrounded by the communes:
The climate of Saintes, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.
The inhabitants of this city are known, in French, as Saintais (women: Saintaises).[4]
With a population of 25,149,[5] Saintes has a population density of 552 inhabitants/km2.
Evolution of the population in Saintes
Saintes is a subprefecture of the Charente-Maritime department, the capital of the arrondissement of Saintes and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of the canton of Saintes.
It is part of the intercommunality CA Saintes (French: Communauté d'agglomération de Saintes).
Saintes is twinned with: