Also called Saint-Augustin-sur-Mer, the commune of Saint-Augustin takes place in Charente-Maritime, in region New Aquitaine. The village is located on the peninsula of Arvert, on the Côte de Beauté. Only ten kilometers from Royan, and about thirty kilometers from Rochefort and Saintes, the town is ideally located to appreciate all the tourist sites of the region.
The territory of Saint-Augustin benefits from a very ancient human occupation as evidenced by the vestiges of workshops of extraction of Gallic salt found on the spot. Formerly covered in part by a sea gulf, the town must wait until the sixteenth century to illustrate itself, notably through its strong Protestant influence. A town mainly agricultural and vegetable since the second half of the twentieth century, Saint-Augustin is today a popular tourist resort that takes a special place in the agglomeration of Royan.
The architectural and religious heritage of the village of Saint-Augustin attracts a large number of visitors every year, eager to discover the typical style of this part of Charente-Maritime. Located in the production area of the common woods, the town is also known for its vineyards used to make Pineau des Charentes or Cognac.
Dependence of the abbey of Saint-Etienne de Vaux, the old church Saint-Augustin was of medieval foundation. Situated above the Gulf of Barbareu and a small fishing port, it was deeply redesigned in the 19th century due to its dilapidated state. At that time there is a classic style façade and a small bell tower. Inside you can see an altar of Baroque inspiration, as well as several statues of Saint Michael, Saint Joan of Arc or Saint Teresa.
Strongly influenced by Protestant faith in the sixteenth century, the commune of Saint-Augustin has always been a great place of religion. However, it was not until the 19th century that the latter welcomed a temple in its midst. Opened in 1862, it reveals large bay windows, a stone facade of Thénac with a door of Gothic inspiration, and a beautiful oculus.
Not far from the temple, a recumbent dating from the second half of the 19th century testifies to funerary art in the Arvert peninsula. A work by two sculptors from Saujon, Malterre and Cougrand, he represents a young man who died during the Franco-Prussian war, Justin-Elie Leclerc. One can discover its semi-elongated representation, in uniform, with its rifle and its bayonet.
Saint-Augustin stands at the gates of the forest of Coubre and that of Combots d'Ansoine. Protected natural areas, they include several marked hiking trails, some of which extend to the Atlantic coast.
Set of wet meadows, the swamp of Saint-Augustin also stands on the town of Etaules. It represents 1586 hectares of diverse fauna and flora that can be admired during visits guided by specialists of this nature.
The weekly market of Saint-Augustin offers different schedules depending on the time of year: from July to August, it takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in June and September, it is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays mornings, and In April, May and October, it is organized on Saturday morning. The town also offers a lively Christmas market in December.
For the national holiday, the city offers a popular ball and fireworks.
