Church of Saint-Genès
Listed as a Historic Monument in 1845, its construction dates from the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th century, this building is one of the most imposing and beautiful monuments of Romanesque art in Berry. This church is particularly remarkable for its large number of sculpted capitals. There are 131 of them, illustrating the struggle of man confronted with demonic forces.
About this building
The church is oriented, built in the shape of a Latin cross, it surprises by its size: 52 m long. It includes an apse and 6 apse chapels. Its vault, originally, must have been a stone barrel vault (vault primers at each bay). This vault was replaced by an overhanging framework hidden by a plaster ceiling, which was then removed and replaced by wood. One can still notice the traces of a litre, black band painted around the church, with the coat of arms of the lords of Châteaumeillant, affixed for burial ceremonies. The stained-glass window above the altar represents St Genès, one can also see the hunting of St Gervais venerated during numerous pilgrimages (to have the children blessed), the statue of St Vincent, patron saint of winegrowers and that of St Solange, patron saint of Berry.
