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Saint Genest d'Ambière

History of the commune.
As Marolles, Saint Genest d'Ambieres, which cannot boast about the title of historic town, has however, a past not deprived of interest!

Our churches :

Lived from the neolithic, the village was called Ambigaria (region in the contrasted relief) by Romans, in the IV^th century, then Ambere in the medieval time. One added it Saint Genest's name in 1402 during the construction of the church (of the XIV^th century). From 1830, it starts to be dilapidated and account-returned Town council of the time show that the every 8 to 10 years he work had to be carried out there, this periodicity accelerating about 1890. After 1890, it is decided, between the commune, the parish and the State, to build another church in the same place. The summary of the financing of the project is dated from November 29, 1901, and the summary table of work of November 19, 1904. It will thus have taken approximately 3 years to build what an admiror of construction calls a happy combination of blind arcades out of iron covered with cement which made it possible the abile architect to give an imposing width and a beautiful rise to the great nave. The Modern Church has a pulpit of the XVII^th century, resulting from Visitation of Poitiers.
Subscription to restore the bells of the church

After the restoration of the stained glasses, the common one engaged of work on the bells, particularly fragile. With time, a bell wears at the point of striking and the leaf; it loses its resonance and is likely to crack, to break or fall.

The three bells of the church [+]

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The Bells of Saint Genest
A LITTLE HISTORY : The blessing of largest of the 3 bells, heavy 411kg, called "Marie France", August 15, 1949 to 3 p.m.. Its Excellence Mgr Henri Vion, coadjutor of his Excellence Mgr Mesguen, bishop of Poitiers, accompanied by Mr. Backès, general vicar and of Mr. Canon Boinot, secretary-general of évêché, arrived at 14h30 at the cure, where it was accepted by Mr. the abbot Forgeard, priest of St Genest, was surrounded of Mr. the Petit abbot, clean-senior of Lencloitre, and all the priests of the canton: Mr. the abbot Beautiful, priest of Scorbé Clairvaux, Mr. the Amier abbot, priest of Savigny, Doussay, Cernay, Mr. the Dauger abbot, priest of Ouzilly, Mr. the Rivalleau abbot, priest of Sossais and Orches. Mr. Clotaire Aubugeau, mayor of St Genest, in the name of his town council present and of the population of the commune, presented at his Excellence his wishes of welcome and a splendid sheaf gave to him. The fabric committee, the musicians, the firemen, the combatants of the two wars and the parishioners also greeted Monseigneur. After all these presentations, a procession preceded by the brass band "Espérence" of St Genest, directed by its chief, Mr. Gabriel Pasquier, was organized to support its Excellence and all the personalities present at the monument of dead depositing a sheaf. One went then to the church decorated with taste. Before blessing the bell, its Excellence went up in pulpit for saying to the compact crowd which filled the too narrow church for the circumstance, which meant the voice of the bells for the Christians practise and even the unbelievers. Then the ceremony of the baptism of "Marie-France started". The songs with 4 mixed votes were carried out by the control of Notre-Dame of Lencloître (80 executants) directed by Mr. Robert Simoneau. Mr. the priest made a point of thanking all the artisants for such an imposing demonstration, in particular the parains and godmothers who so liberally discharged their functions: Mr. Antonin Thiollet, Mr. Fernand Savaton, Mrs. Georgette Gouin, Miss Georgina Thiollet. After the ceremony with the church, it was the procession with the high monument road of the station, in the honor of Our Injury of Peace and the concert given on the place by the music of St Genest. When Mr. Robert Simoneau, carpenter with Lencloître, helped of the carpenters and workmen of St Genest, had installed in the bell-tower the baptized news, it was the great chime which resounds with distribution of dragees. A reception grouped, in the well decorated church hall, around Mgr Vion, all the members of the town council, the parochial council, all the companies of St Genest, of the choral society of Lencloître and all the personalities present at this festival.
Restoration of the bells of the church : The church of St Genest, built in the first years of the XXth century, succeeds a building of XIVth century, itself built on a sanctuary dating from VIIth century. The bell-tower of this church shelters three bells. Oldest was blesses in 1780 and classified in 1944. On her dress, one distinguishes a virgin with the child, a bishop and a cross. The second bell goes back to 1886 and the last which is highest and largest, of 1949. With time, a bell wears at the point of striking and of the leaf, metal grows hollow and is hammer-hardened. The bell weakens, loses its resonance and is likely to crack, to break or fall. We do not make departures from the rule and it is the situation to which we must face today. The Foundation of the Inheritance and the elected officials thus decided to launch a subscription to allow the restoration of these bells, which many givers answered present. The restoration began at the end of September when the largest bell was descended. For that purpose, the artisants carried out the demounting of the false ceiling to the right of the oculus, before using a crane for the descent itself. Restored once, the bell should take again its place during December. Work of the second bell, less important, will be carried out on the spot, while the third bell will be descended and restored in 2008.
Source : Municipal Bulletin n° 35 of december 2007 Hide this text [-]

go back to various times. Oldest was bénite in 1780 and classified in 1944. On her dress one distinguishes a Virgin with the Child, a bishop and a cross. The second bell goes back to 1886 and the last, which is highest and largest with 411 kg, of 1949. Work must start in September 2007 with the descent of the largest bell, which will be restored in workshop. This subscription is launched by the Foundation of the Inheritance. You can, by your gifts, to contribute to preserve this church.

Our castles :
One finds Castle of Pouët (XV^th century), a feudal Clod in border of the forest of Gironde, the farm of Bodinière (tower and outbuildings of the XVI^th century) there.
Town hall :a little history...
With the end of the year 2005, the work of rough-casting of the Town hall is completed. Now, we can already better appreciate the old charm of this building built in second half of the XIX^th century. This building was acquired by the commune in May 1955, whereas Mr. Albert Touzalin was the mayor. The old Town hall being at the time between the Church and the School, this acquisition made it possible to increase the School. The current town hall (old castle of Ormeau) was the housing of an old agricultural field which included also various buildings being used for the exploitation of the farm: stables, storerooms, wine storehouse as well as a park of 60 ares. The interior was refitted in 2002 in order to make the offices more functional. The park is accessible to all and is opened with the walk: do not hesitate to come to discover it. Source : municipal bulletin n°33 of December 2005

The medieval castle in Puygarreau's locality :
built on a clod at the beginning of the XIV^th century, strengthened in the XV^th century, it would have sheltered, during the Religious Wars, the negotiations led by Diane de France to bring together Henri III and Henri de Navarre, future Henri IV, and terminate the conflict. In the Revolution and until 1860 the site serves as stony career. Saint-Genest d'Ambiere and Sossay's events committees, organize a theatrical performance in the cellars of Puygarreau's castle, at the beginning of September. Thanks to the Association of Safeguard of the Old Castle of Puygarreau (ASVCP), the ditches dry were cleaned at the time of the Days of the Inheritance 2005. Work to come, recommended by the architect of the Building industries of France, is mainly the repair of the rampart which is next to the north-western tower, and possibly, the reopening of the mullioned windows. In addition, a detailed plan of the cellars east under development thanks to a teacher of Scorbé-Clairvaux, impassioned by the undergrounds.

Other places :
The round dovecote
the site: the fragment of a high round tower and an arched room of diagonal robs put around by an internal ditch, itself surrounded with a yard and with a farmyard of semicircular shape registered in a second ditch. Visit advised since the bottom of the leaky dry staves of immense vaults which served as site of extraction of the tuffeau and as place of house. Visit : on meeting. Information : M. Schyler, tel. +33 5 49 90 73 51.
The mill in dawns in the place said about Feneau
(XV^th - XVII^th centuries), on Envigne : the internal mechanism on three floors is in perfect state of walking. The mill still produced in 1996 some flour for the animal food. Visit : on meeting. Information : M. Fouchereau, tel. +33 5 49 93 31 52