St Emilion
St
Emilion is a beautiful medieval town built on the slopes of a limestone
plateau overlooking the Dordogne Valley. With steep hilly cobbled
streets running through ancient limestone buildings. The 13th
century walls and winding ramparts remain, enclosing densely rowed
caves that offer a taste of the valley’s finest wines. The town and
surrounding vineyards are a
UNESCO world heritage site
The town derives its name from the hermit Emilion who lived there in the 8th century. Emilion carved out a cave for himself in the limestone and a monastery followed. The 12th Century belfry rises above a rocky spur encrusted with catacombs, a hermitage, a chapel and an underground church.
An absolute Mecca for any wine fan, the home to perhaps the most famous
French red. Chateaux after Chateaux line the green and rolling
roadsides. Ausone, Angelus, Beauséjour-Bécot, Bélair, Canon, Cheval
Blanc, Trottevieille, Figeac & Clos Fourtet are all to be found here.
