Boucle des Bénédictins - Paunat

Paunat is a charming village whose center lies along a valley, with buildings on both sides. It has an imposing church, the abbey church of Saint-Martial. The abbey existed in the 8th century but was sacked several times and destroyed during the Norman invasions of 860. It was rebuilt in 991. The abbey was destroyed again in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 12th century with a dungeon bell tower. The church is built in Latin cross. In a troubled region, the architecture of the church was designed to serve as a possible refuge for the monks and the inhabitants of Paunat. The commune has a direct access to the Dordogne, located at the Bac de Sors. In the past, a ferry crossed the river several times a day to take pedestrians to the town of Alles sur Dordogne.