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Origin and history

The church Saint-Genest de Curemonte, located in the hamlet of the Granges, dates from the 14th century. It originally belonged to the parish of Saint-Genest, an annex to the church of Saint-Barthélémy, and was under the dependence of the Grand Priory of Fieux of the Hôpital-Beaulieu, an establishment linked to the order of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem, in the diocese of Cahors. This monument, of rectangular plan, is distinguished by a nave with a north-west turret housing a spiral staircase leading to the bell tower. Its history is marked by its attachment to the chestnutland of Turenne, while maintaining a certain communal autonomy until the beginning of the 20th century.

The parish of Saint-Genest was one of the first given by Saint-Rodolphe in 860 at the abbey of Beaulieu, although its current construction dates back to the fourteenth century. The building, inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 13 October 1971, is now owned by the municipality of Curemonte. Its modest architecture reflects its role as a local place of worship, integrated into a wider parish network dominated by powerful religious institutions such as the order of Saint-Jean-de-Jérusalem.

The church also illustrates the feudal and religious dynamics of the region: dependent on Turenne chestnutry for five villages, it retained its own identity, thanks in particular to its communal organization. The turret and the spiral staircase, defensive and practical, emphasize the adaptation of religious buildings to local needs, between spirituality and protection. Its late registration (1971) reflects a relatively recent heritage recognition, despite its seniority.

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