SAUMUR, a town of France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Maine-et-Loire, on the left bank of the Loire, 25 miles S.E. of Angers. It is a picturesque, cheerful, white town, occupying the side and foot of a hill by the river's side. The upper portion, called the high town, is very irregular, overhung by the old castle, with its tall donjon and terraced bastions, looking out on the rich flat country through which the Loire flows. The low town is more imposing in its architecture, and contains a good quay, and a quaint old town-hall, with high sloping roof and embattled walls. On the other side of the river stands a suburb, to which access is gained by a very fine stone bridge of twelve arches. The streets of Saumur are in general crooked, and many of them steep. Besides those already mentioned, the principal buildings are two churches, that of St Pierre, in the pointed style, but disfigured by a modern Italian front; and that of Notre Dame de Nantilly, which has some portions as old as the eleventh century, and is hung with curious antique tapestry from the Flemish looms. There are here a public library, museum, theatre, baths, courts of law, a college, riding-school, &c. Linen, cambric, glass, enamelled articles, leather, and salt-petre, are produced here; and there is some trade in corn, flour, wine, hemp, &c. During the reign of Henri IV., Saumur was a flourishing town of 25,000 inhabitants, and a stronghold of the Protestant interest; but after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, its population dwindled to one-fourth of its previous amount, by the loss of its most industrious inhabitants. During the revolutionary war, it was the scene of one of the most brilliant exploits of the Vendéans, under Larochejacquelien. With a very small force he stormed the heights, which were defended by a republican army of 15,000 men with 100 guns, and afterwards drove the enemy from the town, and compelled the castle to surrender. This took place in June 1793. Pop. (1856) 13,073.