Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: coupole

Notre-Dame was built from white, local stones within the 12th century and got remodeled and enlarged at least three times, before the 19th-renovation startet. Actually parts of the transept are even older, dated to the 11th century. There is a nave, flanked by two aisles. Similar to (far away) Saintes and Gensac, three domes span over the nave. This church is known for capitals, that are really surprising.

Notre-Dame was built from white, local stones within the 12th century and got remodeled and enlarged at least three times, before the 19th-renovation startet. Actually parts of the transept are even older, dated to the 11th century. Similar to (far away) Saintes and Gensac, three domes span over the nave. Standing in the crossing, facing west to the portal, the domes can be seen partly.

Gensac-la-Pallue is a small town, about 10kms southeast of Cognac, with a population of 1500. Saint Martin is the large parish church of the town. It is not known, 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 a western facade, that is extraordenary, as not many churches in the Poitou have three horizontal registers/levels. For architects the impressing four domes, that span over the nave, are the most interesting features of St. Martin. While 40kms west in Saintes the domes of "Abbaye des Dames" collapsed during the Wars of Religion, here they are still in place.