Saint-Étienne de Baignes Abbey is located in the commune of Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde, in the Charente department, 19 km southwest of Jonzac.
A legend has long claimed that its origin dates back to the first centuries of Christianity and that after being destroyed by the Saracens, it was refounded by Charlemagne.
In reality, the most likely is that its origin dates back to the 1060s. Dedicated to Saint Stephen, under the archpriest of Archiac, the monastery welcomed Benedictine monks. Rapidly flourishing thanks to donations from the lords of Barbezieux and Montausier, it certainly suffered some setbacks during the Hundred Years' War but at its peak the abbey had some fifty priories under its control, most of them in the region.
The Wars of Religion put an end to this golden age. The commendation regime does not help, which places at its head lay people more eager for financial goods than for spirituality.
When the Revolution occurs, there are already only a few monks left in the monastery.
Apart from the abbey church which becomes a parish, the convent buildings and annexes are then sold or destroyed.
Today, only the basic Romanesque church (11th century) remains, but redeveloped in the 17th century. Consolidated by buttresses, the building includes a large choir with a flat apse with exterior arcatures in the 12th century.
Significant work was still undertaken in the 19th century (vault, plaster, roof, bell tower, facade). What remains of the abbey as such are the gutter walls, and a pulpit in the nave. The part adjoining the nave allows you to observe the columns and high capitals of the early church. A ribbed vaulted chapel retains traces of wall painting and a niche with a swimming pool.
Both sober and perfectly maintained, the abbey church displays real charm. The ultimate testimony of the abbey, it also has stained glass windows of noble quality, some of which are recent.
Information on +33 5 45 78 40 04.
