Gensac-la-Pallue - Saint-Martin

Gensac-la-Pallue is a small town (10kms southeast of Cognac) with a population of about 1500. Saint Martin is the large parish church of Gensac-la-Pallue. It is unknown, who financed this church, when it was erected within the 12th century (the choir and tower were added a century later) and there are no obvious connections to one of the important abbeys of the area, but for a parish church, built on swampy grounds, this is a pretty prestigious structure.

Saint-Martin has an extraordenary western facade, that is basically typical for the Saintonge with the two blind arches, flanking the central portal. There are no carved archivolts, but a long frieze-like band extending over the facade.

Two large mandorla-carvings are symmetrically placed. On the left side the Virgin, on the right St. Martin Of Tours, seen as the bishop holding a crozier. Both are surrounded by angels.