Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire
Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire (French pronunciation: [baʁbəzjø sɛ̃.t‿ilɛʁ]) is a commune in the Charente department, Southwestern France. The commune was formed in 1973 by the merger of the former communes Barbezieux and Saint-Hilaire. With 4,714 inhabitants (2019), it forms the most important town in Southern Charente.
Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire | |
|---|---|
The church square in Barbezieux | |
|
Coat of arms | |
Location of Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire | |
Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire | |
| Coordinates: 45°28′25″N 0°09′15″W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Charente |
| Arrondissement | Cognac |
| Canton | Charente-Sud |
| Intercommunality | 4B Sud-Charente |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | André Meuraillon |
| Area 1 | 26.55 km2 (10.25 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | 4,732 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (460/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 16028 /16300 |
| Elevation | 32–131 m (105–430 ft) (avg. 79 m or 259 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Barbezieux is a fortified hill town on the historic route south west from Paris – Poitiers to Bordeaux – Spain, now served by the N 10, which bypasses Barbezieux. The town rises from narrow streets of unspoilt, typically Charentais buildings to the medieval chateau, which dominates the western approach. Barbezieux-Saint-Hilarie is the birthplace of world-record breaker pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie and his brother, fellow vaulter Valentin Lavillenie.