Free walking tours in Saint-Émilion and what to see

Must-sees

Saint-Émilion is a medieval stone village about forty kilometres from Bordeaux, high on a slope surrounded by vineyards. Its jurisdiction, the village and the surrounding wine communes, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape. The cobbled streets, called tertres, drop steeply between limestone houses, and from the bell tower you can see the whole village.

The big visit is underground: the monolithic church, carved out of the rock, together with the hermitage where the monk Émilion lived and the catacombs. Above are the collegiate church and its cloister, the Cordeliers cloister and the King’s Tower, a 13th-century keep. Between visits, the village wine shops offer tastings and the famous Saint-Émilion macarons. All around, the wine châteaux open their vineyards and cellars to visitors.

Free tours and guided visits

Saint-Émilion has no regular free walking tours. The monolithic church can only be visited with a guide through the tourist office, which also runs other tours of the village and the vineyards. Civitatis offers a château visit with a wine tasting and a private tour of the village. Many day trips from Bordeaux combine Saint-Émilion with local wineries.

How long to spend

About four hours is enough for the village and the monolithic church, but it is worth staying all day and adding a château visit with a tasting in the afternoon. If you are into wine, spend two days and also explore Pomerol or the Castillon hillsides. The streets are steep and slippery, so wear comfortable shoes. In summer and during the harvest it gets very busy, and it is best to book the guided tour in advance.

Where to stay

Staying in the village is a lovely experience, because in the evening it empties and becomes peaceful, although choice is limited and usually expensive. Around it, many châteaux and winegrowers’ houses have rooms among the vineyards, ideal if you are driving. Libourne, a few kilometres away, has more hotels and a station, and Bordeaux works as a base for a day trip.