Basilica of St Eutrope in Saintes
Discover the Basilique St Eutrope at Saintes in Charente maritime
The Basilica of Saint Eutrope is a church located in the St Eutrope district of Saintes, in the Charente Maritime department of Saintonge. It was built in 1081, on the initiative of the Duke of Aquitaine, and consecrated in 1096 to honor Saint Eutrope, the martyr who evangelized the region, and whose tomb can be seen in the crypt. In 1803, the church lost its nave. It was elevated to the status of minor basilica in 1886 by Pope Leon XIII.
It is an example - indeed, a masterpiece - of Romanesque art in Saintonge, although it also contains elements of Gothic art. It rises to a height of 80m, and its spire can be seen from many parts of the town of Saintes. Not far away, in a valley below, lies the Gallo-Roman amphitheatreone of the oldest in Gaul, is a must-see.
It's also easy to get to the right bank in just a few minutes. the arch of Germanicusor l'abbaye aux dames.
It is a Unesco World Heritage Site as a stage on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and has been listed as a historic monument since 1840.
The Basilica of Saint Eutrope in Saintes is one of the stops on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where pilgrims gather at the tomb of St. Eutrope. It's easy to get to thecity of Saintes from the basilica.
Saintes, is a pretty inland town, crossed by the Charente river, and remarkable for its archaeological sites dating back to Roman times.
