Savignac is a small farm-based `commune’ or village, straddling the river Bandiat It is one of the smallest communes in France, with only 182 inhabitants. There are a number of former watermills and forges in the commune running along the river.

The village has a small shop and bar, a Mairie, ambulance and taxi service, a number of small businesses, and a church.

Toponymy (Place name history)

The origin of the name `Savignac’ is from “the domain of Sabinius’, a family name current in gallo-roman times. Originally `Sabiniacum, later `Savinhacum’, the gallic suffix “-acum” designating `the domain of’.

In Langue d’Oc (Occitan dialect), it is written `Savinhac’ (the final `c’ being silent.) A further local example is found in `Quinsac’, which derives from “the domain of Quinsus’

Other Savignacs in France

Savigna (Département de l’Isère)	Savignac sur LEYZE (Lot et Garonne)
Savignac (Gironde)	Savignac Lédrier (Dordogne)
Savignac sur l’Isle (Gironde)	Savignac de Miremont (Lot et Garonne)
Savignac les Eglises (Dordogne)	Savignac les Ormeaux (Ariège)

The Church Bells

One bell was consecrated in 1772. The present church has two modern bells which were both blessed in June 1902 by M. Lasudrie, curate and senior priest of Nontron. It is more than likely that the old bell of 1772 was melted down to become the two new bells.

On the right-hand bell can be seen the words:

“ I have for Godfather Pierre Garrigue, and as Godmother, Mathilde Marie Agard, née Boulestin. My name is Pétronille Marie. I weigh 165 kilograms. I sound the note `re’ J. H. Arlie, curate - Alfred Agard, Mayor of Savignac de Nontron.”

It is decorated with drawings of a large cross, a woman holding a book in front of a child, and John the Baptist.

The bell on the left carries the legend:

“I have for Godfather Armand Agard, treasurer at the Foundry, and for Godmother Marie Adolphine Pierre Garrigue, née Renault. My name is Françoise Adolphine. I weigh 90 kilograms. I sound the note `fa’. J. H. Arlie, curate - Alfred Agard, Mayor.” Its markings include a cross, a Virgin and Child, and St Joseph holding the infant Jesus.

At the bottom of both of them, the craftsman who made them has etched his name: Emile Vauthier, foundryman at Saint Emilion, Gironde.

On the 15th June 1902 these two bells were blessed, “ due to the zeal of the curate of the parish, and to the exemplary generosity of his followers: not a single inhabitant of Savignac refused to make a small donation” (- The Religious Week, a parishional journal of the time)