Church of Saint-Genès à Soulignac en Gironde

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Genès de Soulignac, located in Gironde, finds its origins in a primitive building probably dated the twelfth century. Léo Drouyn, during his visit, identified Romanesque features: narrow windows, non vaulted nave, and stain marks on bedside stones. Recent excavations have confirmed these Romanesque foundations, of which today only bedside stones and three reliefs re-used on the current facade remain. Among these sculptures, a dressed ornament evokes the beginning of the twelfth century, while two others, very degraded, include an allegory of libido typical of the end of that same period.

In the 16th century, the sanctuary experienced major enlargements, followed in the 17th century by the addition of two lower sides surrounding the early nave. The western facade, with a rectangular bell tower-wall pierced with two bays, is supported by side-by-side foothills. A canonial dial, probably from the seventeenth century, adorns the southern foothills. Inside, the 15th century baptismal fonts and a 17th century stone pulpit, decorated with geometric motifs, bear witness to this architectural evolution.

The church was inscribed in the historic monuments in full by decree of 21 December 1925. Its history thus reflects a stratification of styles, from Romanesque origins to transformations of the 16th and 17th centuries, to preserved interior elements. The nave and chorus date back to the 16th century, while the lower sides, not vaulted, were later added, before a restoration completed in 1853.

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