Continuing our journey through France, roughly along the Atlantic coasts to the south, we include another pretty village in our route: Saint-Émilion. An old wine-growing town in the department of Gironde. Already the first impression is breathtaking. The village nestles easily into a small indentation in a low slope. All around the landscape is very flat, which ensures a beautiful view from the village.

From the top, near the bell tower of Saint-Émilion, the view over the old, tiled roofs is the best. But we don’t just leave it at an overview from above but walk through some of the old alleys to experience the ancient flair firsthand. On our round trip through the old village, we come back in a circle to the medieval rock church and the bell tower of Saint-Émilion.

Clocher de Saint-Émilion

By mistake we get to climb the bell tower and enjoy the view. How does something like that happen by mistake? We see other tourists entering the bell tower through the entrance and the door remains half open. So, we think nothing more of it and go in after them. The steps are quickly climbed and the view is even better than from the foot of the tower. Already from down there the view is very good – it is the terrace above the rock church and thus offers enough far view. When we climb down the steps to the door again, the door has fallen into the lock in the meantime. This is inconvenient – and far and wide we see no suitable key. Fortunately, a few minutes after us other tourists come down from the tower and voilà – they have a key. Only now we count one and one together and there must be a tour – bookable through the tourist office – which gives one a plan and with a key access to many of the sights. Well, many other sights, which would be integrated on this tour, we do not have on our list. So, we enjoy the small gift of Saint-Émilion.

In Saint-Émilion we just let ourselves drift a bit through the alleys, an ideal place to slow down. In the narrow streets there are small stores with handicrafts to admire and cafes and restaurants like sand by the sea.
If you want, you can of course take a guided tour of the city, during our visit there were various Spanish groups listening intently to a local guide. For us it is the ideal place to just be.