Épenède (; ) is a commune in the

Charente Charente (; Saintongese: ''Chérente''; ) is a department in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. It is named after the river Charente, the most important and longest river in the department, and also the r ...

department in southwestern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. Épenède, of which the Latin ''spina'' would mean ''thorn shrub'', is bordered to the north by the department of

Vienne Vienne may refer to: Places *Vienne (department), a department of France named after the river Vienne *Vienne, Isère, a city in the French department of Isère * Vienne-en-Arthies, a village in the French department of Val-d'Oise * Vienne-en-Bessi ...

and to the southwest by the valley of the river Transon. The village is situated on the dividing line of the waters of the

and the

. The parish of Épenède was a dependant of the vast domains of the Benedictine abbey at nearby Charroux and in the diocese of Poitiers.

Population

Sights

The Holy Church of St. Hilaire is 12th century and is of Limousin style (except the steeple bell tower which is more recent). This structure was burned at the time of the

Wars of Religion A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war (), is a war and conflict which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion and beliefs. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent ...

. The capitals of the four spans of the nave are ancient, and one of them represents a monster holding in its claws a human head that it is about to devour. Many water sources or fountains "miraculous" sprinkle the commune.

Population

Sights

See also