2021 Press folder WELCOME ! What’s in the 2021 press folder? Saint-Émilion, stage town of the Tour de France 4 Some key information 7 More than 13 Centuries of History 9 The must-see monuments 10 Unesco town 12 A renowned vineyard 14 The gourmet Saint-Emilion 16 Family activities 18 Slow tourism in the spotlight 20 An unusual stay 22 "My Saint-Émilion" Magazine 24 Jazz Festival : the return 25 The main events of 2021 26 How to contact the press office ? Emmeline AZRA & Adélaïde JAN Phone: 05 57 55 28 26 / 24 Email : [email protected] [email protected] 2 Where to download the press folder and photos ? 1. On the press area of our website: www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/uk/espace-presse.html 2. Create your press account. 3. Download all the documents you need! 3 SAINT-ÉMILION, STAGE TOWN OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 Notice to all fans of the Big Loop! On Saturday July 17th, the riders will set off from Libourne for this individual time trial which will link the Libourne bastide to the village of Saint-Émilion, passing through our prestigious vineyard. On the eve of the finish on the Champs-Elysées, all eyes will be focused on this potentially decisive time trial in the quest for the Yellow Jersey. Come and take part in this great popular event and cheer on the riders along the winding vineyard roads! 4 SAINT-ÉMILION, STAGE TOWN OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 The - almost - official route 5 NOUVELLE AQUITAINE Ideally located, Saint-Emilion is the perfect destination to make unforgettable memories in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. BORDEAUX 45 minutes, 40km BASSIN D'ARCACHON 1h15 107km LASCAUX 1h30 149km 6 SOME KEY INFORMATION Saint-Emilion is known worldwide thanks to its wines but also to the inscription of its Jurisdiction on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO for its cultural landscapes in 1999! The Community of the Grand Saint-Emilionnais is a total of 22 villages combining wine and architectural heritage in the immediate proximity of the Dordogne river, a natural resource also recognised by UNESCO. Where are we ? S A I N T - É M I L I O N G R A N D S A I N T - É M I L I O N N A I S 2,000 inhabitants in the St.Emilion 6,000 inhabitants commune of which approximately 200 7,846 hectares of vineyards live in the medieval centre of the 820 Châteaux with 82 being part of village the Grands Crus Classés 200km of underground tunnels 5,500 beds in hotels, B&B, campsites More than 1,000,000 visitors to the and holiday lettings village each year with around 400,000 A 3,230 seating capacity including visiting the Tourism Office 1,480 on terraces divided into 87,000 people visit the monolithic gastronomic restaurants, traditional church : 43,000 people visit the church restaurants, brasseries and wine bars. spire / 5,000 children are introduced to the local heritage 100 different nationalities visit St.Emilion: 60% French/ 40% Other 2018 data nationalities (on average) 7 THE LIMESTONE a luminous gift of nature For nearly a thousand years, between the 9th and the 19th centuries, the number of stone quarries in the St.Emilion limestone plateau increased. Quarriers worked non-stop to extract millions of stone blocks for major construction sites in St.Emilion and Bordeaux. This quarrying has left an immense 80- hectare network of underground galleries that form a gigantic maze of nearly 200km long. The stone, asteriated limestone, contains a great number of fossils. It dates from the Lower Oligocene period (32 million years ago) and gave birth to many monuments that can still be seen in St.Emilion. 8 MORE THAN 13 CENTURIES OF HISTORY The site of St.Emilion is an authentic open-air museum, dating back to the legend of a humble hermit... A village full of history, perched on a rocky headland. St.Emilion and its vineyards draw their originality from the limestone that offers an exceptional soil to grow vines. Man adapted himself to this beautiful hilly landscape that gave its harmony to local architecture and colours: illuminated by the ochre light, the stones tell their tale, absorbing us into the past... Emilion, the founding monk of the world-famous city In the VIIIth Century, the Breton monk from Vannes called Émilion, chose to take his retirement in a natural cave close to the village of Ascumbas (the old name for the town now known as St-.Emilion). This compassionate man left his native Brittany to take himself away from society and to devote his life to prayer. Through his miracles and his generosity his name became well-known far beyond the valleys of the Dordogne and numerous disciples would come and join him. Émilion first evangelised the population, creating a large monasterial city which his followers would later name after him. It is presumed that Émilion died on the 6th January in the year 767, after having spent the last 17 years of his life in his hermitage, around which the town of St.Emilion and its exceptional troglodytic structures were built. The Dordogne river, a source of economic development In the past, the Dordogne river was the only way to send foods and goods towards inner lands as well as to Bordeaux port and the Atlantic coast. When sailing up the Dordogne, the gabare sailors used the tides up to St.Sulpice-de- Faleyrens. Then they had to call on ox-herders or haulers, men who pulled the boat along the towpaths that can still be seen today on the banks of the Dordogne river. Gabares and coureaux were both flat- bottomed little boats used on the Middle and Lower Dordogne river. Since the Middle Ages, such boats were mainly used for the transportation of wine. River transport on the Dordogne was progressively abandoned with the opening of the railway line between Bordeaux and Bergerac in 1872 and the development of road trade. Nowadays, the Lower Dordogne is also known for the formation of the mascaret. This seawater wave runs up the Dordogne to the town of St.Sulpice-de-Faleyrens and then ends in the villages of Vignonet and St.Terre. This rare phenomenon in France is due to a sudden rise in the water level caused by the rising tide, particularly during the spring tides. 9 THE MUST-SEE MONUMENTS Famous for its charm and character, the medieval village welcomes almost one million tourists each year coming from all four corners of the world. Its 17 historic monuments, of which 11 are listed buildings, represent the diverse heritage made up of religious, defensive and civil architecture. Among these, the underground church is internationally renowned. The tertres and escalettes (steep streets), the narrow medieval paved streets and steep slopes are authentic and unique to the village. They come together to provide visitors with the chance to discover the hidden charms of the picturesque village and have a unique experience. The Monolithic church and its bell tower Built between the 12th and 15th centuries and strengthened 2 centuries later, the bell tower is St.Emilion’s highest point and soars over the city. Climbing its 196 steps may be a challenge but the exquisite view from the top is definitely worthwhile. It’s accessible all year round (except special events). Adult: 2€ - Free for children under 6 Hidden under the tower, the dazzling monolithic church was entirely carved out from one and only stone at the beginning of the 12th century. Its huge proportions make it Europe’s widest monolithic church. Tourist office guided tours only. Adult: 9€ - Reduced: 7€ The Collegiate church and its cloister Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Collegiate church is one of the most imposing in Gironde. Its monastery hosted Augustine canons until the French Revolution. Romanesque and Gothic styles are coexisting in the church, as well as in the cloister, both a symbol of the Garden of Eden and the heart of community life, many times redesigned. The meditation galleries around it lead to the refectory, the dormitory, the chapter room and the church. 10 The King's Keep This massive square tower from the 13th century, 118 step high, still remains full of mystery. No one knows who ordered it and its role is somewhat unclear: was it built for military purposes or as a symbol of power? Nowadays climbing the King’s Keep is one of the best ways to overlook the village and its vineyard. Opening hours can vary, please contact us for further information. Adult: 2€ - Free for children under 6 11 UNESCO TOWN The Jurisdiction of St.Emilion was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, for its “cultural landscape”. A world first for a vineyard! “The Jurisdiction of St.Emilion is an outstanding example of a historic vineyard landscape that has survived intact and in activity to the present day”. Saint-Émilion The remarkable UNESCO landscapes The Jurisdiction of St.Emilion was recognized as World Heritage in 1999. It was then the first vineyard to be listed in the «cultural Saint-Étienne- landscape» category by UNESCO. It is an de-Lisse exceptional human adventure of 800 years which is highlighted by this registration, that of the medieval city of St.Emilion and of the villages that surround it. The vineyard spreads over St.Christophe-des-Bardes, St.Laurent- des-Combes, St.Hippolyte, St.Pey d’Armens, St.Sulpice-de-Faleyrens and Vignonet.