Saintes Bowl Skatepark – The Ultimate 70s Skateboarding Relic

If you're rolling through France hunting for concrete history, Saintes Bowl Skatepark is a must-hit. Built in 1978, this old-school beast in Saintes, Charente-Maritime, is a time capsule of transition skating, a place that has seen skateboarding evolve while keeping its roots deep in raw concrete. It’s one of the oldest surviving skateparks in France, and if you love flowing lines, deep bowls, and that pure 70s skate energy, you need to check this spot out.

The Story Behind the Concrete

Back in the late 70s, when skateboarding was just catching fire in Europe, a bunch of die-hard French skaters came together to fight for a proper spot to ride. Their push paid off, and in 1978, Saintes became home to one of France’s first real skateparks—complete with a gnarly snake-run feeding into two big bowls. The design was straight out of the early skatepark playbook: pure carve-and-flow vibes, built for high-speed slashing and old-school pool-style skating. Unlike so many other early parks that got bulldozed when skating dipped in the 80s, Saintes survived. The concrete stayed, the lines stayed, and even when street skating took over, the bowl stayed waiting. Fast forward 46 years, and Saintes Bowl is still serving up some of the smoothest lines in France.

The Spot – What to Expect

Saintes Bowl isn’t your typical modern skatepark—it’s a certified transition paradise. The main attraction? A killer snake-run that funnels speed straight into the deep bowls. If you’re into surfing concrete, this place is built for speed, flow, and aggressive grinds. The graffiti-covered walls and worn-in transitions tell the story of decades of skaters leaving their mark. It’s DIY in spirit, but the concrete holds up, and the locals keep it alive. Over the years, BMX riders and skaters alike have kept this place running, and while newer parks have popped up in Saintes, nothing beats this OG bowl.

Who’s Shredded Here?

This spot has legendary status in French skate culture. Some of the earliest French transition skaters, including pioneers from Bordeaux and Paris, used to session here in the late 70s and early 80s. Through the 90s and early 2000s, skaters on European road trips made pilgrimages to Saintes to experience one of France’s original skatepark builds. No, it’s not as famous as Marseille’s Prado Bowl, but real ones know. If you’ve ever flipped through a French skate mag, chances are you’ve seen shots of someone tearing up the snake-run at Saintes. It’s been featured in local skate zines, YouTube edits, and underground transition documentaries, all celebrating the pure speed and surfy flow this park delivers.

Featured in Skate Media

Saintes Bowl has appeared in various French skate magazines, blogs, and local news features. It’s been called a “skateboarding relic” and one of the last surviving 70s parks in Europe. While it hasn’t been in massive productions like Thrasher tours, it’s a staple in French skate history and keeps getting rediscovered by new generations. You’ll find footage of the snake-run getting slashed by transition heads on YouTube, and there are a few legendary road trip videos from skaters who hit Saintes along with other old-school concrete parks. If you’re looking for a raw, untouched, no-frills bowl experience, this is the spot.

Why You Need to Skate Saintes

If you love bowls, speed lines, and history under your wheels, Saintes is calling. It's not just another skatepark; it’s a piece of European skateboarding heritage that’s still shreddable today. Whether you’re into high-speed carves, classic 70s transitions, or just want to session a place that has stood the test of time, Saintes Bowl is an experience every real skater needs.

📍 Spot Details: Location: Saintes, Charente-Maritime, France