Basilique Saint-Eutrope de Saintes

The Basilique Saint-Eutrope de Saintes is a Romanesque church in Saintes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, built largely in the 11th and 12th centuries and associated with the cult of Saint Eutropius. It is an important medieval pilgrimage church in the region.

Visitors come to see the extensive Romanesque crypt and the medieval chevet and nave, which display regional Romanesque masonry and sculpture. The structure retains significant medieval fabric and relic associations that make it a key stop on historical pilgrimage routes.

Construction occurred mainly during the high Middle Ages on the site of earlier Christian activity, and the church served as a major religious center linked to the veneration of Saint Eutropius. Over time the building has been maintained and studied for its Romanesque architecture and its role on pilgrimage paths.

The basilica is located in the centre of the town of Saintes in southwestern France, near the Charente river.

• UNESCO designation: Included on the Routes of Santiago de Compostela World Heritage listings as an important medieval pilgrimage church in France.
• Notable interior: The crypt is the church's most significant interior feature and is recommended for close inspection due to its medieval workmanship.

What to See #

• Crypt: Extensive Romanesque crypt beneath the choir dating to the medieval period, notable for its size and vaulting and for housing relics associated with Saint Eutropius.
• Chevet and nave: Romanesque chevet and nave constructed mainly in the 11th and 12th centuries, showing regional Romanesque sculpture and masonry typical of southwestern France.