Saintes , is a commune and historic town in southwestern France, in the Charente-Maritime department of which it is a sub-prefecture, in Poitou-Charente. Its inhabitants are called Saintaises and Saintais. Saintes is the second largest city in Charente-Maritime, with inhabitants in 2008. Its immediate surrounds form the second most populous metropolitan area in the department, with inhabitants, the majority of which is fertile, productive fields; a significant minority for the region remains forest, its natural state.