Saint-Émilion

For the Italian wine grape known as Saint Emilion, see Trebbiano.

Saint-Émilion
Coat of arms
Saint-Émilion
Location within Aquitaine region Saint-Émilion
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department	Gironde
Arrondissement	Libourne
Canton	Libourne
Intercommunality	Saint-Émilion
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Bernard Lauret
Area1	27.02 km2 (10.43 sq mi)
Population (2012)2	1,931
• Density	71/km2 (190/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	33394 / 33330
Elevation	3–107 m (9.8–351.0 ft) (avg. 23 m or 75 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Reference	932
UNESCO region	Europe
Inscription history
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)

Saint-Émilion (pronounced: [sɛ̃t‿e.mil.jɔ̃]; Gascon: Sent Milion) is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in south-western France.

History

Saint-Émilion's history goes back to prehistoric times and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow streets.

The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.

The town was named after the monk Émilion, a travelling confessor, who settled in a hermitage carved into the rock there in the 8th century. It was the monks who followed him that started up the commercial wine production in the area.

Geography

Saint-Émilion is located 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Bordeaux, between Libourne and Castillon-la-Bataille.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1800	2,761	—
1851	2,828	+2.4%
1861	3,014	+6.6%
1872	3,059	+1.5%
1881	3,034	−0.8%
1891	3,233	+6.6%
1901	3,392	+4.9%
1911	3,408	+0.5%
1921	3,165	−7.1%
1931	3,367	+6.4%
1946	3,232	−4.0%
1954	3,252	+0.6%
1962	3,335	+2.6%
1968	3,403	+2.0%
1975	3,323	−2.4%
1982	3,010	−9.4%
1990	2,799	−7.0%
1999	2,345	−16.2%
2006	2,124	−9.4%
2007	2,090	−1.6%
2008	2,020	−3.3%
2012	1,931	−4.4%

Sights

• Romanesque church
• Monolithic church, carved from a limestone cliff

Wine

Main article: Saint-Émilion AOC

Saint-Émilion is one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux along with the Médoc, Graves and Pomerol. The region is much smaller than the Médoc and adjoins Pomerol. As in Pomerol and the other appellations on the right bank of the Gironde, the primary grape varieties used are the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with relatively small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon also being used by some châteaux.

Saint Émilion wines were not included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. The first formal classification in Saint-Émilion was made in 1955. Unlike the 1855 classification, it is regularly revised.

Panoramic view of St Emilion, August 2012.

Panoramic view of St Emilion, August 2012.

Personalities

• Marguerite-Élie Guadet

See also

• Cordeliers Cloister
• Bordeaux wine
• French wine
• Plan Bordeaux
• Bordeaux wine regions
• Classification of Saint-Émilion wine
• Communes of the Gironde department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website
• Saint-Émilion tourist office website
• aerial photography of the Saint-Émilion and Aquitaine area
• Cash-strapped French wine town Saint Emilion sells off historical monument RFI English