Perched above its magnificent amphitheatre of vines, Saint-Emilion is one of the most visited villages in France. All year round, Saint-Emilion is a lively place, with seasonal events, wine shops and craft shops, good restaurants and lots of cellars to visit.

THE MAISON DU VIN

Open to the general public and, of course, to people in the wine business, the Maison du Vin is the place to go to find out all about Saint-Emilion wines, their history and geography, the people who make them, the economic side and how to enjoy them.

All year round, at the Maison du Vin you will find:

L'Espace Saint-Emilion - A permanent exhibition, "Vines and Wine through the Seasons", will introduce you to the world of the winegrower. 36 photo panels take you through the year, explaining all the stage of winemaking, from the vine to the bottle. (Entrance free).

La Boutique - A showcase for Saint-Emilions, with almost 250 wines at estate prices. It also boasts a large selection of books about Saint-Emilion and a whole range of wine-related goods. The friendly, knowledgeable staff are on hand to advise visitors in their choice of wine.

L'Ecole du Vin - The Wine School's œnologist runs introductory and advanced courses in wine tasting for individuals and groups. The perfect way to enhance your enjoyment of Saint-Emilion wines.
Courses:
- From mid-July to mid-September: introduction to wine tasting – discovering the wines of Saint-Emilion (1_ hours), open to individual students daily at 11 a.m.
- All year round for groups (minimum 10 persons): 1-hour, 2-hour, half-day or full-day courses. The sessions all have different themes: introduction to wine tasting, commented tasting, comparative tastings, smell and taste tests, advanced presentations of wines and terroirs, and wine with food at tasting lunches.

L'OFFICE DU TOURISME

Il assure tout au long de l'année de nombreuses prestations pour les particuliers et les groupes :

Visits of the underground monuments: the monolithic church, Emilion's cave, the catacombs and the Trinity Chapel. Daily, all year round.

Vineyard tours from May to September. Every afternoon, visits to wine estates with tasting sessions. By coach. Tour in English and French.

Saint-Emilion by night: a tour of the town and the main monuments at 10:00 pm every Wednesday (in French) and Thursday (in English) in July and August.

Bicycle rentals, full or half-day. A guide can also be arranged.

Ticket sales and reservations at the Tourist Office for the Pottery Museum, the Winegrowers Museum and also for the major concerts and events scheduled in the "Grandes Heures de Saint-Emilion" festival.

Coach tours of the vineyards, a scenic ride around Combes, Saint-Emilion and the Jurisdiction, Romanesque churches, cellar visits and wine tastings.

Reservations and guides for cellar visits and wine tastings.

Go it alone or go with a guide from the Tourist Office to see the treasures of the mediaeval town:

• La Tour du Roy (King's Tower – 17 th c.)
• The Monolithic Church (9 th and 12 th c.)
• Le Clocher (Belltower – 12 th to 15 th c.)
• Le Cloître des Cordeliers (Cloisters – 14 th and 15 th c.)
• The Collegiate Church (12 th to 15 th c.)
• The Collegiate Church Cloister (12 th to 15 th c.)
• La Porte Brunet (Town Gate – 12 th c.)
• The ruins of the Tour du Guetteur (Watchtower – 12 th c.), the Palais Cardinal (Palace – 14 th c.) and the Town Walls (13 th c.).
• The narrow streets, steep slopes and staircases
• The Moat (12 th c.) and the Logis de Malet (mediaeval house – 15 th c.)