Travel Guide Saint Emilion

This medieval town was founded in the 8th century by a Breton monk, Emilian. At the end of the 11th century, the Benedictines began excavating the monolithic church, a monumental work that took some ten years to complete. Over the following centuries, religious from other congregations built convents and churches in the town, then surrounded it with ramparts. Jean sans Terre founded the town in 1199, giving it a political organization in the form of a jurade. Surrounded by limestone hillsides, Saint-Emilion devoted itself to wine and traded with England during the Hundred Years' War. The town was covered with mansions and hôtels particuliers, while wealthy landowners stored their wine in 70 hectares of underground galleries. Of all the villages in France, Saint-Emilion is certainly one of the richest in historic monuments. These include the troglodytic church of Saint-Pierre, built between the 9th and 12th centuries, the quarries, the catacombs, the Madeleine chapel, the commandery, the Cordeliers convent and the Dominican convent. Saint-Emilion is also a ritual stopover on the way to Santiago de Compostela, where pilgrims honor the relics of Saint Emilion in the underground church. The portal of the Jacobins convent is adorned with a 15th-century sculpture. Saint-Emilion is also the first vineyard to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its landscapes, heritage, flavours and charm are sure to win you over.