Saint-Émilion
Saint-Émilion (pronounced [sɛ̃t‿e.mil.jɔ̃]; Gascon: Sent Milion) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Southwestern France. In 2016, it had a population of 1,938.
Saint-Émilion | |
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An aerial view of Saint-Émilion | |
Coat of arms | |
Location of Saint-Émilion | |
Saint-Émilion Saint-Émilion | |
Coordinates: 44°53′37″N 0°09′17″W | |
Country | France |
Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
Department | Gironde |
Arrondissement | Libourne |
Canton | Les Coteaux de Dordogne |
Intercommunality | Saint-Émilion |
Government | |
• Mayor (2014–2020) | Bernard Lauret |
Area 1 | 27.02 km2 (10.43 sq mi) |
Population (2017-01-01)[1] | 1,874 |
• Density | 69/km2 (180/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
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. |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Monolithic church of Saint-Émilion and its bell tower | |
Criteria | Cultural: iii, iv |
Reference | 932 |
Inscription | 1999 (23rd session) |
Area | 7,847 ha |
Buffer zone | 5,101 ha |
In the heart of the country of Libournais (the area around Libourne), in a region of wine hills, Saint-Emilion is a medieval city located at the crossroads of Bordeaux, Saintonge and Périgord.
History
Saint-Émilion's history goes back to prehistoric times. The town 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.
Saint-Émilion, previously called Ascumbas,[2] was renamed after the monk Émilion (d.767[3]), a travelling confessor, who settled in a hermitage carved into the rock there in the 8th century. The monks who followed him 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
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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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
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.
Saint-Émilion Jazz Festival
Since 2012, Saint-Émilion hosts a jazz festival at the end of July.[4]
Personalities
See also
References
- "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- "The Monk Émilion". saint-emilion tourisme. Retrieved Sep 30, 2018.
- "Bordeaux". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved Sep 30, 2018.
- "Saint-Emilion Jazz Festival - Site Officiel | Éditions passées". www.saint-emilion-jazz-festival.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-08-02.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Émilion. |
- 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