Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde
Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde is a small commune in the Charente department in southwestern France, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It covers 131.22 square kilometres and had 1,254 residents in 2023. The inhabitants are called Baignois or Baignoises. The town lies about 15 km southeast of Jonzac and 18 km north of Montlieu-la-Garde, near the border with Charente-Maritime. The N10 highway forms part of its southeastern boundary, and several regional roads connect the village to nearby towns. The landscape includes pine forests, lakes and farmland; the Pharaon river runs through the commune and marks part of its eastern border.
Historically, the area was home to the abbey of Saint-Étienne and the village was known as Beania in the Middle Ages, with ties to Cluny. The Montausier barony was nearby, and its castle stood north of the town until it was destroyed in 1793. In the 19th century, cattle farming and textile work were important, and in 1893 Charente’s first dairy cooperative started here, giving the famous Beurre de Baignes butter. In 1855, Sainte-Radegund merged with Baignes to form Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde.
Today the commune has one flower in the Towns and Villages in Bloom competition. It is the capital of its canton and of Petit Angoumois, a natural region with pine forests and lakes. The area hosts several historical monuments and religious buildings. The climate is oceanic, similar to Cognac, and the town provides essential services with a police station, a first aid station and a post office.
Michel Dubojski has been the mayor for 2020–2026. Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde is part of the Cognac arrondissement in the Charente department.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:49 (CET).