Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church Sainte-Madeleine de Pallier, located in the place called "Paillier" in Gentioux-Pigrolles (Creuse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), dates mainly from the thirteenth century, with major changes in 1555. It was a dependency of the Hospital Order of Carrières, possibly linked to the Templars before moving to the Hospitallers. Its modest granite architecture reflects local medieval churches, with a rectangular nave and a flat bedside. A northern chapel, added in the 16th century, features remarkable decorations: ivy vaults, carved caps (bird, geometric motif), and a bas-relief depicting a bearded character framed by a polylobed arch and an shield supported by two figures.

The chapel is associated with the order of Malta, as evidenced by the funerary slabs of the neighbouring cemetery, engraved with crosses of Malta. Nearby, a royal notary house (1760), classified as a historic monument, was built by Alexis Jabouille and served as a farm until the 1980s. In the 20th century, the site housed guest rooms named "Pallier Commanderie" (closure in 2008), although the real capital of the commanderie was Gentioux and then Saint-Moreil. A medieval garden reconstruction, with aromatic plants and religious symbols, completes the visit today.

The church, registered as historical monuments since 1974, benefited from restorations in the second half of the twentieth century. Its history thus combines Templar heritage, hospitable role, and rural life of the Millevaches plateau, illustrated by unique architectural and funerary elements. Local archaeological references (Société des sciences naturelles de la Creuse, André Lecler) highlight its importance in the limousine religious heritage.

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