Saint-Émilion is without doubt one of the most well-known appellation and most visited village near Bordeaux. The Romans first planted vines here some 2000 years ago, today the entire village of Saint-Émilion and vineyards in the area are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Strolling along the cobble stones alleys between the honey-coloured houses really make you feel like you're walking into history. Don't worry about getting lost because the 68-metre bell tower of the magnificent monolithic church will guide you back to the info centre.
The Monolithic Church of Saint-Émilion was carved in the early 12th century, transforming and sustaining the test of time being painted in the 14th, destroyed in the 16th, destroyed again in the 18th during the French Revolution, and finally restored in the 20th century.
The name of the village comes from a legendary monk - Émilion who was born in Brittany in the 8th century. He fled to a the area from prosecution of his faith, and made his home here digging a cave from the limestone. Legend has that in the following years Émilion performed many miracles, including restoring a blind woman's sight. Soon he had many followers and disciples, and was joined by other monks.
Over the next 300 years, the monks dug up a network of caves and catacombs and carved the Monolithic Church out of a single piece of limestone, hence the name 'monolithic'- meaning 'from a single piece of rock'. It remains as the largest of its kind in Europe today.
Thanks to its abundance of limestones, which offers a perfect habitat for grape vines due to its water-retention capabilities and nutrient access, flourished with the wine trade and stone quarries. However, its faith took a turn at the onset of the Hundred Year War in the early 14th century. Saint-Émilion's prosperity and population sharply declined after the 1789 French revolution. It had almost become a ghost town and revival took another century, until the 1800 when the wine trade boom started and brought life back to Saint-Émilion.
Here, you're not only tasting a bottle, or a few of the world's most sought-after wine. It is in fact, a taste of Saint-Emilion's rich history and the terroir that have been cradling grape vines since Roman times.
Depending on your travelling style and time, whether you like to follow your tastebuds, beautiful sceneries, architectures or culture and history; whether you have a few hours or a few days, Saint-Émilion is a must-see if you're thinking about visiting Bordeaux and its surroundings.
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