Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire

Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire 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 , it forms the most important town in Southern Charente.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 Charentaise 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.

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