Saint Savin, Vienne

Description:

Geography and Transport Links

Saint Savin is a village in the east of the Vienne Department, close to the border with Indre (Centre).  The village is situated on the N151 which links it to Poitiers (43km) and Chauvigny (18km) in the west and to Le Blanc (Indre) to the east (18km).  Montmorillon (18km) is to the south on the D5, and the village is situated next to the village of Saint Germain on the opposite side of the Gartempe River.  The nearest rail link is at Montmorillon for TER regional services.  The nearest commercial airport is at Poitiers Biard, with year-round services to the UK (reduced in winter).
See also:  Antigny, Angles sur l'Anglin

Climate

Climate here is maritime, and therefore temperate with clearly defined seasons.  Average Summer temperatures are between 23C to 26C (11C-13C low), and in Winter this drops to 8C to 9C (2C to 3C low).  Wettest month is October with 59mm and the driest is March with 26mm.  Saint Savin is within an area that receives between 1750 and 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Tourism

The Romanesque Abbey Church of Saint Savin built in the 11^th century, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983, owing to its important collection of well-preserved murals painted in the 11^th and 12^th century.  The church set on the picturesque Gartempe River includes an area of educational films, models and multi-media stations.  10 other sites with murals can be seen by following the Valley of the Frescos, a picturesque riverside walk from Saint Savin to Saulge along the Gartempe.  Nearby at La Bussiere is the Jardin Botanique, with medicinal plants, roses and an arboretum with over 1000 trees.

Facilities

The village has an outdoor swimming pool (open June - August), and there are facilities nearby for tennis and fishing.  There is a large market on the first Friday each month.  There is a Michelin starred restaurant in Saint Savin. The Restaurant Christophe Cadieu is in a converted barn near to the abbey.  There is municipal camping at Moulin de la Gassotte, and nearby are also facilities for motor homes.

Economy

Saint Savin is part of the Montmorillon economic zone, which has an unemployment rate of 6.7%, compared against the regional rate of 8.6% and the national rate of 9.1% (INSEE 2006

Education

There is a state nursery/primary school and secondary school (College) here, but for College (Lycee) the nearest is at Montmorillon (18km).

Key Stats

76.8% of properties here are classed as primary residences, with 8.9% classed as second homes.  There are more females than males resident here (52.1% vs 47.9%), and there are more people aged 60 or over than the national average (23.8% vs 21.3%).  There are more retired people here than against the national average (27.4% vs 18.2%) and 21.6% of the population are below the age of 19.

Key Facilities and Services: