Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion
Viticulture was introduced to this fertile region
of Aquitaine by the Romans, and intensified in the Middle Ages. The
Saint-Emilion area benefited from its location on the pilgrimage route
to Santiago de Compostela and many churches, monasteries and hospices
were built there from the 11th century onwards. It was granted the
special status of a 'jurisdiction' during the period of English rule in
the 12th century. It is an exceptional landscape devoted entirely to
wine-growing, with many fine historic monuments in its towns and
villages.