Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Saint-Genulph Chapel, located in Selles-Saint-Denis in the Loir-et-Cher department, is a religious building built between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1862, especially for its 15th century murals, which depict scenes from the life of Saint Genulph, a local saint whose worship was widespread in the region.

The Loir-et-Cher, where this chapel is located, is a department marked by a rich medieval history, notably linked to the counties of Blois and Vendôme. At that time, the region was a crossroads of influences between Touraine, Orléan and Berry, with a strong presence of the Church and feudal nobility. Chapels like Saint-Genulph played a central role in the spiritual and community life of villages, often built or embellished under the patronage of local lords or abbeys.

The wall paintings of the chapel, typical of medieval religious art, bear witness to the popular devotion and importance of hagiographic accounts in the education and culture of the faithful. These works, often carried out by itinerant artisans or local workshops, served as both decoration and educational support to tell the lives of saints to parishioners, mostly illiterate.

The classification of the chapel in 1862 reflects the growing interest in preserving the medieval heritage in the 19th century, during which time many French monuments were protected under the impulse of intellectuals and historians like Prosper Mérimée. Today, the chapel remains an architectural and artistic testimony of this period, anchored in the historical landscape of the Loire Valley, a region renowned for its exceptional heritage.

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