Location
Saint-Emilion is located 35
km north-east from Bordeaux, between Libourne and
Castillon-La-Bataille. This medieval town stands proudly at the top
of a hill overlooking the Dordogne valley, and was built in the
shape of an amphitheatre. From the moment the bell-tower can be
seen, Saint-Emilion is an enchantment.
The commune covers an area of
27 km².
Saint Emilion is an incredible
open-air museum. The most surprising remains are with no doubt its
underground monuments: galleries covering more than 70 ha. (about
150 acres) and the breathtaking monolithic church, dug out of solid
limestone.
This is not the unique jewel
that will move you: fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins are
stretching all along the steep and narrow streets, braving time
passing by.
Emilion the Hermit is still with us ...
In the eighth Century, a
Breton monk named Emilian first came to what is now known as
Saint-Emilion. He left his family and native region to take holy
orders. Originally victim of great injustice, he always reacted by
being extremely kind.
Bursar in a
Benedictine monastery, Emilian was much praised and respected
because of his great virtue. He decided to withdraw from society
and went to live in the forest that used to cover Saint-Emilion’s
hill. Emilian became a hermit and devoted himself to God. He
performed miracles, such as restoring sight to a blind woman and
died on January 6th 767.
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The fortifications
Seven gates which once protected the
town:
Porte Bourgeoise to the north, Porte Brunet to the east, Porte
Bouqueyre to the south-east, Porte Sainte-Marie to the south, Porte
Saint-Martin to the west, Porte du Chapitre to the north-west and
Porte de la Cadène inside the village. Which of Saint-Emilion’s seven
gateways will you go through to feel the pulse of the town?
The
spirit of the Stones
You will never be
alone in Saint-Emilion. You will be accompanied everywhere by the
spirit of the town and the memory of its founding father.
Saint-Emilion is imbued with religious, military and political
history... and beyond all this is the omnipresent spirit of the stone
- the essence of Saint-Emilion. The stones hold the town’s secrets and
express centuries of history through architectural splendour.
Something remains sure: the buildings can guide you, like a mentor, to
the soul of Saint-Emilion.
Underground : monuments sheltered
from time
The hermitage, (the oldest monument of the village), the ossuary, the
catacombs, and the monolithic church were all carved out of solid
limestone rock, as were the tens of kilometers of underground
galleries. Among them, those which were turned into wine cellars or
museums are accessible to visitors.
Above ground : sun-drenched stones
Wherever you go in the town, you will be struck by Saint-Emilion’s
inherent harmony. All the houses have the same warm colour, as they
are made from luminous, ochre limestone extracted from the local
subsoil. The roofs are all similar, they are covered by «Roman» arched
tiles. The entire town is now protected to preserve this harmony. |
