Saint Emilion Private Guided Walking Tour
Highlights
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Perfect for those who love enchanting villages
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Tour the famous Underground Monolithic Church
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Certified Guides Only. English-Speaking, Local Experts
Summary
Discover the medieval village of Saint Emilion with a certified guide. This beautiful hilltop village will enchant those of you that are fond of old stones and heritage. The highlight of your tour will be a visit of the underground monuments that include the Monolithic Church (entrance fee not included) that was completely carved out from the limestone cliff between the 8th and 12th centuries.
Tour info
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
15
Pricing (From)
Adult:
(14-99 years)
€230.00
Commentary
Spanish, German, Portuguese, English, Italian, French
Meeting Point
Saint-Émilion, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Dropoff location
Why take this tour?
Uncover the Magic of Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion is all the more charming because it is so different from all the other French medieval villages. Emilian, a Benedictine monk, was born in Brittany in the 8th century, to a modest family. The count who ruled the province chose him to be his financial steward, which turned out to be an unfortunate distinction in his life: Jealous rivals accused him of thievery to discredit him in the eyes of his master and confidant. After some turmoil, his path eventually led him to a forest where, captivated by the serenity of the area, he dug out a cave and dedicated his life to God. The hermit had performed so many miracles and done so much good around him that his name was given to the place where he had lived (after his death in 767) which became known as Saint Emilion.
Visit the Underground Monolithic Church
Saint Emilion is all the more charming because it is so different from all the other French medieval villages. Emilian, a Benedictine monk, was born in Brittany in the 8th century, to a modest family. The count who ruled the province chose him to be his financial steward, which turned out to be an unfortunate distinction in his life: Jealous rivals accused him of thievery to discredit him in the eyes of his master and confidant. After some turmoil, his path eventually led him to a forest where, captivated by the serenity of the area, he dug out a cave and dedicated his life to God. The hermit had performed so many miracles and done so much good around him that his name was given to the place where he had lived (after his death in 767) which became known as Saint Emilion.
Visit the Underground Monolithic Church
As you follow your guide on this private walking tour, you will also discover a very unusual place not to be missed: the underground monolithic Cathedral. 125 ft long, 66 ft wide and 36 ft high, all you can see from the exterior are a few windows on the one facade and the steeple, topped with a Gothic arrow 174 ft high. Benedictine monks were the inspiration for this church carved out of solid rock which is Europe’s largest monolithic cathedral! As you enter, following a long gallery, one comes across an altar oriented towards the west, rather than the east as is the Christian tradition. The sobriety of the ornamentation stands in stark contrast with the wealth of lessons to be learned from them.
And of Course, learn about the local wines
And of Course, learn about the local wines
Your 2 hour walking tour will also include some information about the world renowned wines of Saint Emilion through the history of the Jurade. When John ‘Lackland’ succeeded his brother, Richard Lionheart, to the throne of England in 1199, he signed the ‘Falaise Charter’ which accorded Saint Emilion the statute of a free and independent commune, with the right to be administered by a mayor, twelve members of the Jurade (the town council) and twelve advisers elected by the town’s notables. These councilmen had vast power that included rendering justice. Wine growing was such an important part of the local economy that they also regulated the manufacturing process and the sale of wine, and even publicly announced the start and the end of the grape harvests.
What’s included?
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Guided walking tour of St Emilion -
Services of a licensed/accredited guide -
Visit of underground monuments (optional) -
Entrance fees to monuments, museums and attractions
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Personal insurance and expenses
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Meals and drinks
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Gratuities for the guide
Things to know
Before you book
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Minimum number of 2 participants applies.
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Price is per group, not per person.
Before you go
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Please be ready 10 minutes before departure time
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Tour involves some walking, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Cancellation Policy
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Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund
Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
About operator:
Ophorus Tours is both a licensed Tour Operator, member of Atout France and ETOA, and a Transportation company with headquarters in Bordeaux. We operate since 2005 and conduct Walking Tours, Day Trips, Private Tours, Shore Excursions and multi-regional Tours throughout France.
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world.
Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...
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