Saintes, France - 7 September 2015; no people in view. Saintes is a historic town in southwestern France, in the Charente-Maritime department. It dates back to Roman times.Built on the banks of the Charente River, the triumphal Arch of Germanicus remains a landmark of the town. It was erected in the year 18 or 19 by a rich citizen of the town and dedicated to the emperor Tiberius, his son Drusus Julius Caesar, and his adopted son Germanicus.