Saint Emilion Visit
The monolithic church
The monolithic church is an underground religious building hewn out in the early 12th century on an impressive scale (38 metres long by 12 metres high).
The purpose of its construction was undoubtedly linked to the town’s development around a pilgrimage site at the tomb of its patron saint, Saint Émilion. In memory of the Breton hermit who is said to have settled in a nearby cave in the 8th century, and with the aim of edifying the faithful, the ambition arose to build a reliquary church large enough to accommodate hundreds of pilgrims.
Please note: Access to the Monolithic Church is strictly by guided tour only. Self-guided visits are not permitted.
source: Saint-Émilion Tourist Office
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Collegiate church
On arriving in Saint-Emilion, the most imposing church standing out in the upper town is the Collegiate Church. This is by no means a mere coincidence.
The religious community that resided within these walls between the 12th and 18th centuries was a college of canons following the Rule of Saint Augustine and representing the official religious institution. The etymology of the word ‘canon’ helps us to understand their mission: the term derives from the Greek ‘kanôn’, meaning ‘the rule’. As delegates of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, they ensured that religious life in Saint-Emilion ran smoothly. The scale of the site therefore reflects the importance of this community and its desire to assert its pre-eminence.
Source: Saint-Emilion Tourist Office