Saint-Genis-Du-Bois: Church and Engranne

Saint-Genis-du-Bois brings together a protected church building, archaeological traces, and a natural area around the Engranne. When planning a stay, two distinct interests are particularly appealing: the church’s history and activities in a wider river area. A village walk, hiking, and mountain biking are also among the local options. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether heritage, landscape, or outdoor activities will shape your stay.

Church and archaeological traces

The church of Saint-Genis-du-Bois was built mainly in the 12th century. Since 21 December 1925, it has been listed as a historic monument in France. For those interested in cultural history, it is noteworthy not only for its period of construction: its surroundings include finds from different areas and periods.

The parish cemetery remains next to the church; graves dating from the 17th and 18th centuries were uncovered there. During rescue excavations north of the sanctuary, the foundations of an early Christian building were identified. Sarcophagus troughs from the early Middle Ages were also found north of the sanctuary. Another archaeological detail is a masonry element made of terracotta, characteristic of the hypocausts of Gallo-Roman baths.

The Engranne and activities

Saint-Genis-du-Bois is one of the 19 municipalities in the Réseau hydrographique de l’Engranne Natura 2000 site, which covers a total of 635 hectares. Fishing, hiking, and cycling are among the recreational activities in this area. The wider Engranne area thus complements the church’s connection to the village with a landscape focus offering a range of activities. The village washhouse is on the Engranne, a tributary of the Dordogne that flows through Saint-Genis-du-Bois. The INPN description of 12 June 2024 also places Saint-Genis-du-Bois in the Vallée de l’Engranne ZNIEFF (Type II) and describes a variety of habitats there, as well as abundant wildlife including species of particular conservation interest.

There is also a walk around the village, as well as opportunities for hiking and mountain biking. Activity levels and access conditions in the Natura 2000 site may vary; check trail conditions before planning an outing.

Other local features

The watermill on the Engranne is also located on the boundary between Martres and Saint-Genis-du-Bois. It dates from the 15th, 17th, and 19th centuries. The mill and the village washhouse are two distinct landmarks on the same waterway: a riverside structure on the municipal boundary and the village washhouse. Another named heritage site in Saint-Genis-du-Bois is the Tertre de la Commanderie hospitalière.

Visitors interested in church history and archaeology can consider the church building, the finds at the sanctuary, and the nearby cemetery as related subjects; the mill, washhouse, and Engranne broaden the picture to include other local features. This makes it possible to shape your travel plans around the interests that actually bring you to Saint-Genis-du-Bois.

Discover more destinations: Captieux, Sadirac, Montussan, Branne, Béguey, Auros, Le Haillan, Gensac

For the broader travel overview: Gironde.