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. The sculpted capitals of the interior differ clearly in style. The four bays of the single nave church are vaulted domes on pendentives.