Saint-Émilion, Medieval commune in Gironde, France
Saint-Émilion is a commune in the Gironde department that spreads over limestone hills with medieval lanes and stone buildings. Vineyards cover large parts of the area and shape the landscape around the historic town center.
The settlement arose in the 8th century when the monk Émilion built a hermitage in the limestone caves here. His followers developed the community further and created the monolithic church directly in the rock during the 11th century.
The name comes from the Breton monk Émilion, who founded a hermitage here in the 8th century. Wine tastings and cellar visits shape daily life, while local artisans continue to produce traditional goods such as almond pastries.
The tourism office offers guided tours through the underground structures, including the church carved from limestone in the 11th century. The narrow lanes are mostly accessible on foot, and sturdy footwear makes walking easier on the uneven pavement.
Nuns of the Ursuline order developed the original recipe for macaroons from almonds, sugar, and egg whites in 1620. This specialty is still made and sold today using traditional methods in local confectionery shops.
Location: Gironde
Location: arrondissement of Libourne
Elevation above the sea: 42 m
Shares border with: Libourne, Montagne, Moulon, Néac, Pomerol, Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, Vignonet
Address: Saint-Émilion, France
Phone: +33557247209
Email: accueil@ville-stemilion.fr
Website: https://saint-emilion.org
GPS coordinates: 44.89433,-0.15572
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:43
French medieval locations feature architecture from the 11th to 15th centuries. Fortified walls, castles, churches and stone-paved streets define the historical urban structure. Residents maintain traditional crafts, regional cuisine and local customs. Many of these UNESCO heritage sites document important periods of French history.
In France, each region hides villages that seem out of time. These places are made of stone, wood, and light, where history is written on facades and in paved streets. Some are nestled in valleys, others cling to cliffs or overlook vineyards. There are old houses, squares lined with arcades, castles, Romanesque churches, and sometimes a river winding between gardens. These villages have retained the charm of their era, the slow pace of residents, and the sound of wind in shutters. From Breton granite to Alsatian half-timbered houses, from southern golden limestone to Alpine shingle roofs, each tells a way of life, a color, an accent. They form the deep face of the country, one that is only visible when taking the time to stop.
Château Cheval Blanc
3.9 km
Château Ausone
574 m
Église monolithe, Saint-Émilion
127 m
Château-Figeac
3.6 km
Château Canon
615 m
Cordeliers Cloister
153 m
Collégiale Saint-Émilion
66 m
Château Soutard
579 m
Château Franc Mayne
1.4 km
Menhir de Peyrefitte
3.9 km
Chapelle de la Trinité de Saint-Émilion
140 m
Château La Serre
419 m
Église Saint-Martin de Mazerat
687 m
Église de Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens
3.6 km
Château Troplong Mondot
1.2 km
Église Saint-Georges De Montagne
4.1 km
La Grande Muraille
182 m
Chapelle de la Trinité
159 m
Église Saint-Laurent de Saint-Laurent-des-Combes
2.1 km
Bâtiment accolé à la porte de la Cadène
78 m
Église Saint-Jean de Pomerol
5.5 km
Château de Lescours
3.5 km
Château du Roi
284 m
Cloister of the Collégiale Saint-Émilion
90 m
Logis de Malet
168 m
Porte de la Cadène
92 m
Palais Cardinal
186 m
Doyenné de Saint-Émilion
108 mReviews
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