Tradition attributes the foundation of the Abbey of Baignes to Charlemagne, in the year 769. Monastic activity in the area has even been traced back to the time of Saint Martial of Limoges (3rd century), although such a claim should be considered legendary. It is possible that Baignes had some link with the Abbey of Saint-Martial de Limoges, but this is not documented until a much later date, in 1226.
Charlemagne’s involvement in the foundation or rebuilding of the monastery is plausible: later chronicles refer to earlier documents that would confirm this, although those have since been lost. What is considered certain is that, at the end of the 11th century, Bishop Ramnulfus of Saintes granted Baignes to Hugh of Cluny (†1109). The names of some abbots are also known, the earliest being Adémar, mentioned between 1032 and 1037. It is worth noting that the cartulary of Baignes was compiled in the 13th century with documents from various periods. The monastery suffered during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century and remained active until the Revolution.
Today, only the church remains, now serving as the parish church. It has undergone many alterations over the centuries. It is believed to have originally been much larger and to have had a different layout. Most of the preserved structure dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, consisting of a single nave with a rectangular plan. A small chapel is attached to one side. The rest of the monastic buildings have disappeared, although one or possibly two cloisters are mentioned in historical sources.
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1932). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 6. París: Letouzey et Ané
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- BRUDY, Pascale (2018). Enquête monastique. L’Actualité Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Núm. 121
- CHAILLOU, Mélanie (2008). Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde – Abbaye Saint-Étienne, chapelle de la Vierge. Archéologie de la France
- CHOLET, Abbé (1868). Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Baigne (en Saintonge). Niort: L. Clouzot
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
The former abbey is located in the commune of Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde, southwest of Angoulême, on the road to Bordeaux