Heritage sites, Archaeological discoveries, History of Archaeology

Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion

Location

Region of Aquitaine

Country

France

Year of Research

1999

Culture

Viticulture was introduced to this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans, and used in the Middle Ages.

The Saint-Emilion area gained from its location on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and many churches, monasteries and hospices were constructed there from the 11th century onwards.

During the period of English rule in the 12th century,it was granted the special status of a 'jurisdiction'.

It is an exceptional landscape devoted fully to wine-growing, with many fine historic monuments in its towns and villages.The Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion is best example of an historic vineyard landscape that has survived intact and in activity to the present day.

The intensive cultivation of grapes for wine production in a precisely defined region and the resulting landscape is defined in an exceptional way by the historic Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion.