Construction of schooner 1859 (≈ 1859)
Last wooden schooner from the shipyards.
1879
End of river ferry
End of river ferry 1879 (≈ 1879)
Replaced by a bridge over the Charente.
1973
Discovery of the remains
Discovery of the remains 1973 (≈ 1973)
11th century Romanesque chapel brought to light.
1978
Establishment of the Association
Establishment of the Association 1978 (≈ 1978)
Foundation of the Friends of Saint-Savinien.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character named in the sources
Sources cite a collective association.
Origin and history
The Maison du Patrimoine de Saint-Savinien is housed in a historic building that once housed the bakery of the Marine and shops linked to the river port of the Charente. This place, located in the heart of the village, near the old passage of the ferry, was transformed into a museum after the discovery in 1973 of remains of a 11th century Romanesque chapel on site. These remains motivated the creation of the association Les Amis de Saint-Savinien in 1978 by the rural home, in order to preserve the local heritage.
The museum revolves around four major themes: the stone (prehistoric silex, Gallo-Roman objects, remains of the chapel), the local history (documents, photographs, genealogies), the shipwork on the Charente (boats, including a schooner of 1859), and the old trades. It contributes to the tourist development of the Charente Valley, in collaboration with structures such as the Pays Vals de Saintonge and the departmental tourism office.
In addition to the permanent collections, the Maison du Patrimoine organizes temporary exhibitions, often summer, and conferences on the history of Saint-Savinien. It also runs a tombstone garden, located on the former priory estate, where stone funeral elements threatened with disappearance are preserved. This museum, though modest, plays a key role in the transmission of local memory and attractiveness of the territory.
Open all year round by appointment and on Saturday mornings, the museum can host up to 18 visitors simultaneously. Its location in a site linked to historical port activity and its proximity to the river make it an emblematic place of Saintongeese identity, between built heritage, river memory and artisanal traditions.
