Easy hikes and walks around Saintes

A place out of time, magnificent!

The height of the two pavilions relative to the central body of the castle gave me a hard time identifying this castle. Indeed, the photo was taken from the Charente river, so the perspective is distorted compared to those existing on the WEB, and even AI had some difficulties. However, it was the heritage source that provided a decisive indication: the current main entrance is located to the south, at the end of the park, and opens directly onto the Quai des Fleurs and the Charente river with a gate perfectly aligned with the central body, and which is officially described as having square pillars and wrought iron gates. Note that the castle is private and unfortunately not open to visitors. 1. The estate already existed in the 17th century The Pépinière is therefore not a creation of the late 19th century. In 1660, documents mention Marie de Puyrigaud as "lady of La Pépinière". There was therefore already a noble dwelling at this location. The choice of this location is logical: the property is situated on a hill overlooking the Charente, just above the large shipyard of Saint-Savinien. This shipyard was active for several centuries, from the 13th century until around 1860. The location of La Pépinière thus allowed it to directly overlook the activities of the port and the shipyard. 2. The castle visible on Claude Masse's plan in 1713 In 1713, the military engineer Claude Masse produced a plan of Saint-Savinien and the Charente valley. At the location of La Pépinière, he depicts: a massive construction flanked by three or four towers, preceded by a large garden descending towards the Charente. In other words, the estate then had a much more fortified silhouette than that of the current castle. This also means that the two elements surrounding the central body are part of an ancient architectural tradition of the site, even if the pavilions you see today are not necessarily the old towers. 3. 18th century: outbuildings remain Several buildings around the current castle could be the former outbuildings of the estate. One building located on the other side of the path to La Pépinière notably bears the date 1760, engraved on the keystone of its gate. There were also, towards the Charente, constructions that could have served in the 19th century as housing for employees or the caretaker. 4. 1847: the park is still organized around the old dwelling The eastern boundary wall bears the date 1847. The Napoleonic cadastral map of 1828 still shows the old dwelling surrounded by its park, as well as several annex buildings. We can therefore reconstruct this succession quite precisely: 17th century → old noble dwelling ↓ 1713 → vast house with 3 or 4 towers, according to Claude Masse ↓ 18th century → transformation and development of outbuildings ↓ 1828 → old dwelling still present ↓ 1847 → dated boundary wall ↓ circa 1900 → disappearance of the old dwelling and construction of the current castle 5. The current castle is much more recent as it dates from the very beginning of the 20th century. It was built by J. Lestrade, a contractor from Saint-Savinien, from plans attributed to the architect Georges Naud. The new building was designed with an H-shaped floor plan: -a central body; -two wings forming pavilions; -the pavilions have three levels; -their slate roofs are hipped and very high; -the central body has a Mansart roof. The heritage notice precisely describes these two pavilions as being topped with hipped conical roofs. The two "towers" appear taller than the central body. They are in reality the two side pavilions, which have three levels and whose very high roofs further accentuate this impression.

Built from the 11th century on the cliff overlooking the Gironde estuary, this church is sometimes considered the archetype of the Saintonge Romanesque style.

You absolutely must follow the guided tour by this passionate and fascinating volunteer guide, photos are not allowed inside the site but it is worth the detour and the effort to climb to the top of the cliff. It is possible to bring the bikes inside the fence, so they are safe.

🪩 The Louis Mérit and Roger Mauret Pétanque Court The Saujon pétanque court, officially named the Louis Mérit and Roger Mauret Pétanque Court, is a municipal facility located on the Voie de la Taillée in Saujon. It consists primarily of a pétanque court with a stabilized/cinder surface, suitable for both pétanque and jeu provençal. 📅 Origins and Development There is no precise official date published by the town hall or readily accessible online local archives, but sports directories indicate that this facility could date from 1965–1974 (estimate based on local data for referenced sports facilities). → This suggests that the courts were already in place in the second half of the 20th century, corresponding to a period when pétanque clubs were becoming more structured in France and dedicated municipal facilities were often created. 🏆 Activity and Functions Over Time The pétanque court hosts local pétanque competitions and events, including competitions open to the public such as those organized as part of community events (for example, a "Pink October" competition in October 2025). It is used by individual players, recreational groups, and the local pétanque club (Pétanque Saujon-Vaux), which organizes official FFPJP competitions—including departmental qualifiers and championships—at its facilities in Saujon and Vaux-sur-Mer. 🏅 Name and Local Recognition The naming of the court after Louis Mérit and Roger Mauret suggests that these two individuals likely made a significant contribution to pétanque or community life in Saujon (such names often honor active members of the local sports community), but online sources do not provide detailed biographies of these individuals. → More detailed information can be obtained by consulting the municipal archives, local association newsletters, or by contacting the Saujon town hall. 🏡 Position in local life The pétanque court is part of the traditional outdoor sports landscape in Saujon, alongside other municipal facilities (stadium, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.), and testifies to the deep roots of pétanque in local culture for several decades.

🏊‍♂️ Origins and Opening The Saujon swimming pool, now known as Espace Aquatique de la Lande, opened on June 22, 1995. It will therefore celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2025, with festive events planned to mark the occasion. ⚙️ Community Management For approximately 30 years, the facility was managed by a Single-Purpose Intermunicipal Syndicate (SIVU), bringing together several municipalities in the local area (including Saujon, Balanzac, Corme-Écluse, L’Éguille-sur-Seudre, etc.). This structure facilitated access to swimming, aquatic activities, and swimming lessons for local residents. 📉 End of the Syndicate and Transfer In 2025, the SIVU was dissolved, marking a new chapter in the swimming pool's history. The financial review and preparations for the transfer were completed at the last delegates' meeting. As of July 1, 2025, the management and responsibility for the swimming pool have been transferred to the Royan Atlantique Agglomeration Community (CARA) as part of a community swimming pool plan aimed at pooling resources, harmonizing services, and preparing for the facility's renovation. 🧠 Role and Local Impact The facility is considered a key leisure and aquatic sports venue for Saujon and the surrounding towns, attracting more than 80,000 visitors annually and offering a variety of activities such as swimming, aquagym, aquabiking, and sessions adapted for people with disabilities. 🛠️ Future Prospects As part of the CARA swimming pool plan, the Saujon swimming pool is slated for future renovation and is expected to be integrated into a larger network of aquatic facilities including other towns (such as Royan, Étaules, and Cozes). 📍 Current Features The aquatic center currently includes: A 25-meter indoor pool with a gradual depth, A paddling pool and outdoor pools with water slides (seasonal), Indoor and outdoor swimming slots depending on the time of year.

the eel pass

The flushing lock is located at the head of the port, between the north bank's embankment and the south bank's quay. A retention basin, occupying the non-navigable Seudre riverbed as far as Saujon, follows the flushing lock. Within the retention basin, rubble stone embankments extend the lock's return walls for a few meters. The lock itself forms a bridge carrying a road. The lock bridge consists of two piers, forming three arches, each housing two gates. On the upstream side of the lock, the piers have semicircular cutwaters. The three bands are stacked and terminate in clamps. The lock ends with a cornice resting on modillions. The cornice follows the shape of the cutwaters. A metal balustrade, also semicircular in shape, is fixed to the top of the lock. This balustrade is framed by two stone moldings. The sluice gate and its upstream and downstream return walls are constructed of dressed stone. The masonry is of medium and regular quality, except for the coping of the return walls, which features large and regular masonry. The upstream north return wall is lower than the one on the south bank. A small parapet of recently constructed white rubble masonry surmounts it. The sluice gate is equipped with metal gates, the modern racks of which are visible. The first sluice gate was built around 1825 on the site of a former tidal mill. During the works carried out between 1839 and 1842, the sluice gate's embankment was modified to allow the passage of vehicles. Between 1847 and 1853, the lock was enlarged to allow for larger flushes, and the reservoir was excavated. Return walls were also built to connect the flushing lock to the riprap. It was then restored in 1865 and completely rebuilt between 1868 and 1869. The lock is 10.50 m wide, and its gates are each 1.50 m wide. The reservoir is 700 m long and has an average width of 30 m.