Église monolithe, Saint-Émilion, Rock-cut church in Saint-Émilion, France
The church features a central nave with six bays separated by wide monolithic pillars, rising to a height of eleven meters within the limestone cliff.
Constructed in the 12th century under the direction of Pierre de Castillon, the church was carved directly into limestone after his visits to Cappadocia.
The underground religious structure contains numerous sculpted reliefs beneath its vaults, along the internal faces of pillars, and on the western wall.
The monument requires regular maintenance due to its geological composition, and visitors can access it through guided tours available at the Saint-Émilion tourist office.
The extraction process for creating this subterranean church required the removal of approximately 15,000 cubic meters of limestone rock.
Location: Saint-Émilion
Architectural style: rock-cut architecture
GPS coordinates: 44.89330,-0.15640
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:41
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region contains historic and natural sites often overlooked by traditional tourist routes. The area features military castles such as Bonaguil with its seven 13th-century towers, underground churches carved into limestone in Saint-Émilion and Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, as well as caves decorated with Paleolithic paintings like that of Villars. Medieval villages such as Talmont-sur-Gironde preserve their original layout and overlook the Gironde estuary. From Dordogne to the Pyrenean foothills, the region presents rock-hewn forts like Maison Forte de Reignac, Benedictine abbeys established since the 8th century in Brantôme, and Romanesque churches like the Collegiate Church of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. The Vayres and Roquetaillade castles demonstrate the evolution of fortified architecture from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. These sites reflect the military, religious, and cultural history of the region and provide diverse examples of southwestern France's architectural heritage.
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Remparts de Saint-Émilion
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Logis de Malet
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Porte de la Cadène
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Palais Cardinal
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Doyenné de Saint-Émilion
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