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Origin and history

The Saint-Genest church of Azat-le-Ris, located in the Haute-Vienne department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic religious building built in the 12th century. It is the last remaining place of worship in the village. Its architecture combines a unique two-span nave and a transept surmounted by a dome, typical of the Limousin Romanesque style. The church was fortified in the 15th century with the addition of a scallop and watch windows, reflecting the defensive needs of the time.

Inside, the church houses a monolithic limestone statue from the Virgin to the Child, dating from the 15th century, as well as a stone virgin from the same century, from the former Priory of Sainte-Madelaine de la Plain (Tersannes). The choir features a triplet of geometric stained glass windows and a cross arch of warheads. In 1926, the church was listed as historical monuments, and two years later, eleven gold shields of Charles VI were discovered in the attic.

The current bell tower, rebuilt in 1816 after the destruction of the original by lightning, dominates the building. The main gate, in the middle of the hanger with columns and archvolts, as well as the mascarons adorning the west and east facades, bear witness to its medieval heritage. A turret without a staircase, with a single rose and a shield engraved with a snake biting its tail, suggests a past use of vigie. The church once depended on a priory linked to the abbey of Saint-Martial de Limoges, founded in 1080.

The interior, in Latin cross, reveals arches in full hangar or obtuse warheads, and two central pillars with capitals inspired by the Corinthian style. The transept, surmounted by a hemispheric dome, houses two chapels dedicated to Mary and Joseph. The choir, completed by a vault of ridges, preserves stained glass windows representing Saint Genest (the patron saint of the church), Saint James and Saint Peter. The building, a communal property, remains a major architectural and historical testimony of the region.

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