Arrondissement of Saintes
Saintes is in the central part of the department. It is bordered to the north by the arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély, to the east by the arrondissement of Cognac (Charente department), to the south by the arrondissement of  Jonzac, to the southwest by the Gironde department (through the Gironde estuary), to the west and northwest by the arrondissement of Rochefort.