Discover Genac: Church, Natura 2000 and horse riding

Genac as a destination for a stay

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Genac, you can understand the area through three distinct themes: the Église Saint-Pierre-des-Martyrs and its building history; the Natura 2000 site “Les coteaux calcaires entre les Bouchauds et Marsac”, which extends across the commune; and horse-riding options involving horses and ponies. These themes range from long-standing cultural heritage to activities whose availability may change. This lets you consider which aspect suits your reason for travelling without treating the themes as interchangeable.

Church: building history and layout

The Église Saint-Pierre-des-Martyrs was assigned to the cathedral chapter of Angoulême in 1110 and rebuilt in the 13th century. It has been classified as a historic monument since 24 December 1980. These dates refer to different events: an earlier assignment, a later rebuilding and a subsequent protected status. This chronology helps distinguish the three details rather than treating them as a single event.

The church has a single-nave main body; “single-nave” means that the main body has one principal nave. At the eastern end, the choir has a flat termination, while a rectangular bell tower stands to the west. Two side chapels open off the choir. The parts can thus be distinguished by their position: the main body and choir, the western tower, and the chapels opening off the choir. Anyone interested in church architecture can use these details to follow the east-west orientation and the arrangement of the spaces.

Landscape and protected site

The Natura 2000 site “Les coteaux calcaires entre les Bouchauds et Marsac” extends across the commune of Genac. Its name refers to limestone slopes between Les Bouchauds and Marsac and adds a landscape perspective to the connection with the area. A specific building and a protected site therefore stand alongside one another as distinct ways of understanding Genac.

Horse riding with horses and ponies

Les écuries de Genac focuses on outdoor horse riding with horses and ponies. Its offerings include riding lessons, rides, hikes and courses. These formats offer different ways to engage with riding: lessons, rides and hikes each have their own focus. Availability may change. If you are planning a particular format for your stay, bear in mind that you will need to check whether it is available at your desired time.

A dated fishing event

On 17 July 2026, a public introduction to fishing was offered at the La Touche de Genac landing stage in Genac-Bignac. This offer was scheduled for a specific summer day and has now passed, so it should not be planned as an upcoming event.

Timing and travel planning

The time frames differ for travel planning: the church’s building history and protected status provide a long-term perspective, while horse-riding availability may change. The fishing introduction, by contrast, took place on a specific date that has now passed. If a riding activity is central to your stay, check its availability in advance for your travel dates. This keeps a lasting feature of the area distinct from an activity with changing availability and an event that has already passed.

Discover more destinations: Cellefrouin, Villebois-Lavalette, Brie-sous-Chalais, Mansle, La Péruse, Lessac, Saint-Paul, Maine-de-Boixe

For the broader travel overview: Charente.