Berthegon

The Poitou-Charentes regional archaeology department has confirmed that the site has been occupied since Gallo-Roman times, with traces of an ancient “villae” found at a place called Menuet. The name of the commune is thought to be a contraction of two first names, Berthe and Radegonde. Berthegon’s heyday coincided with the opening of the Saumur-La Châtre railway line in 1986, as seen here between Loudun and Châtellerault. At that time, the railways enabled wine to be transported via Châtellerault to the Halles de Bercy. Daniel de la Touche de la Ravardière, another Loudun man who set out to conquer the New World. This knight, born in Berthegon in 1570, took part in the colonial drive in Brazil at the request of Henri IV.