SAINT-ÉMILION. FRANCE. Places to visit.

Описание: Perched on one of the many hills that form the Bordeaux wine-growing area, the Saint-Émilion appellation needs no introduction. Its wine-producing territory was the first in the world to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With many renowned vineyards and exceptional wines, Saint-Émilion is the main wine town in the Libournais district of Bordeaux.
Romantic and hilly, famous for its beautiful villages and wines, the Saint-Emilion appellation is part of the Libournais region of Bordeaux. The town lies just a few miles north of the Dordogne, in the final stages of the river's journey from the hills of the Massif Central to the Gironde estuary.
The origins of Saint-Émilion date back to 56 B.C, the period from which the oldest amphorae of wine have been found. The history of local winemaking started when the forest of Cumbis was cleared to plant the first vines.

Later in 97 A.D, the Roman Emperor Nerva decreed that the best way to ensure the success of the empire’s wines was to eliminate competition in its colonies. This decree precluded further expansion in Saint-Émilion until the end of the 3rd century when the order was reversed.

The history of the classification goes back to 1884 when the first wine-producers union was founded in Saint-Émilion. This encouraged solidarity between winemakers and promoted the region's wines. Since 1955, this classification has been updated five times in 1969, 1985, 1996, 2006, and 2012 - making it more progressive and modern than the Bordeaux Classification of 1885 (though every update tends to stir up a lot of emotion in the Saint-Émilion wine-making community).

The place worth seeing is the 12th-century Monolithic church in Saint-Émilion. It’s the largest Monolithic church in Europe and its construction required the extraction of stones.

During your trip, you will have the opportunity to visit other underground sites and learn more about the history of the city. Apart from the church itself, you will see the catacombs, where famous people used to be buried in the middle ages.
Monolithic church.
While the church itself is well hidden in the rock, its bell tower is tall enough to be seen from every spot in the city. If you’re interested in architecture, the tower is a fascinating monument by itself, built in both Romanesque and gothic styles. You can even climb over the tower and see a magnificent view of Saint-Émilion.

The Collegiate church is a beautiful monument built between the 12th and 15th centuries, and you can visit it all by yourself, without taking a tour. Here again, you can see the mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, reflecting the long period of its construction.

While the west door of the church is from Romanesque style, the north door is a Gothic one from the 14th century. This diversity of construction makes the church more interesting and beautiful. You will see other fascinating items such as graves, statues, and even a little dragon.

La tour du Roy
The 13th-century King’s Keep is one of the most famous military architecture monuments in Gironde. There’s still a debate between historians on who ordered its constructions, but one thing is sure, it’s a stunning monument. Also, it is a great spot to see the view of the vineyards of Saint Emilion.


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