According to legend, a pilgrim vowed to found an abbey in the spot where his staff, touching the ground took root. And hence PALNATUM which became, over centuries, POANAT, PAUNAC and, finally, PAUNAT.

• 991 : Consecration of the church by Bishop FROTAIRE of Périgueux.
• 1304 : Visit of Bertrand de Got, Archbishop of Bordeaux and future Pope Clement V.
• 1986 : Inauguration of the new bells.
• 1956 : Accorded listed building status.
• 1991 : Millennium anniversary of the 12th century abbey church

The village of Paunat, nestled in the hollow of a valley, has - apart from the abbey church - old houses, a presbytery, wash-house, spring and a stream which runs under the town hall. Paunat is situated in the canton of Sainte Alvère and can be reached by the D703 and C3 roads. Paunat boasts a second site of particular interest in the SORS cliffs carved out of rock by the confluence of the Pradelue and Dordogne rivers.

Paunat has a surface area of 1800 hectares and a population of 307.




Text translated by Pays du Grand Bergeracois (professional translator).