The Saint-Émilion monolithic church in Saint-Émilion is a church dug into the limestone in the early 12th century, and it still forms a single block. It is 38 meters long and 12 meters high, and you can enter it only with a guide from the tourist office.
The Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion, eight villages and about 5,000 hectares of vines, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since December 2, 1999. Its heritage includes the monolithic church and the underground quarries.
This page covers the underground tour, the bell tower, the trip from Paris and Bordeaux, when the monuments open, how château visits work and what it all costs.
The underground tour
The monuments' doors open only with a tourist office guide. The tourist office's underground tour is Saint-Émilion Souterrain, and its English-language version is Underground Saint-Émilion.
The tour lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. It starts on Place de l'Église Monolithe, in front of the church, at the time printed on your ticket. Ticket sales at the tourist office end 5 minutes before departure.
What you see underground
The tour covers four monuments:
- the hermitage of Émilion, the cave of the monk who founded the village
- the Trinity Chapel, with its medieval paintings
- the catacombs
- the monolithic church
Émilion was a Breton hermit who lived in a cave near the church in the 8th century. The church was probably dug to serve pilgrimage to his tomb, and the guide tells the story of the monk and of the digging of the church.
The church's name comes from Greek roots meaning single and stone. It was carved in the 12th century, painted in the 14th and devastated in the 16th. It was damaged during the Revolution in the 18th century and restored in the 20th.
The church is still consecrated. It hosts religious ceremonies, sometimes concerts, and the induction ceremonies of the Jurade.
Languages
The standard Saint-Émilion Souterrain tour is given in French, for groups of 1 to 35 people. A written translation is available at the tourist office reception before the visit, on request, in German, English, Chinese, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian.
The tourist office's online shop also sells a separate English-language tour, Underground Saint-Émilion.
Other official tours that include the church
The tourist office's guided village tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and includes the monolithic church. Its underground part covers the same four sites: the cave of Émilion, the Chapel of the Trinity, the catacombs and the church. It starts at the tourist office, Le Doyenné, on Place des Créneaux.
A night tour starts around 9 p.m. in April, May, September and October and around 10 p.m. in June, July and August.
The tourist office also runs a private underground tour, booked in advance only, for up to 50 people. A bilingual private tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.
The Saint-Émilion, cité Unesco walking tour is different. It follows the city walls and the remains of the monasteries in a group of 30 people at most, and it does not include the monolithic church.
The bell tower
The bell tower above the monolithic church was built between the 12th and 15th centuries. It is 68 meters high, with 196 steps to the top.
The underground tour does not include the bell tower. Pay €2 ($2) per person at the tourist office reception. Access is limited to groups of at least 2 people.
Getting there
The fastest route from Paris is the direct TGV INOUI from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean, which takes 124 minutes (2 hours 4 minutes). From Bordeaux Saint-Jean, the TER on line 33 (Bordeaux–Sarlat) reaches Saint-Émilion station in 29 minutes at the fastest.
About 16 trains a day run between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, and TER tickets start at €9.50 ($10). See Paris to Bordeaux by train and Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion for timetables.
The TGV on the Bordeaux–Paris line also stops at Libourne, with tickets from €25 ($27). Libourne station is 7 km from Saint-Émilion, and you continue by taxi or TER.
| Option | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV INOUI then TER line 33 | Paris Montparnasse | 124 min to Bordeaux, then 29 min | TER from €9.50 ($10) |
| TGV to Libourne | Paris | — | From €25 ($27), then 7 km by taxi or TER |
| Car | Bordeaux | About 35 min | Parking €2 ($2) an hour or free lots |
| Bordeaux tourist office half-day tour | 12 Cours du 30 Juillet, Bordeaux | 5h in all | €55 ($59) |
From the station to the church
Saint-Émilion station is about 1.5 km from the village. The walk takes about 20 minutes, uphill, with sidewalks only in parts.
The Tuk-Tuk des Cordeliers runs transfers from the station between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., at €5 ($5) per person. Taxis must be booked in advance.
By car
Allow around 35 minutes from Bordeaux, depending on traffic. Paid parking near the collegiate church and on Place Bouqueyre costs €2 ($2) an hour from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., for 5 hours at most.
The Gendarmerie parking lot, Espace Guadet and the station parking lot are free.
Half-day tour from Bordeaux
The Bordeaux tourist office runs a half-day Saint-Émilion coach tour that includes entry to the underground church. It leaves the tourist office at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet at 1:30 p.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m.; arrive 15 minutes early.
The price includes a professional guide and a visit with tasting at one winery. Guides speak French and English, and the tour is not open to children under 5.
When to go
The underground church is visited on a daily guided tour. The tourist office's village tour and private underground tours run all year except December 25 and January 1.
The tourist office itself is open all year, with hours that change by season. It closes on certain winter days and on December 25. The bell tower is open daily all year, except during special events, within the tourist office's opening hours.
Other sites close for part of the year:
- The Cordeliers Cloister's cellars, dug into the limestone 17 meters deep, are visited only on tours from April to late October.
- The Tour du Roy is closed from January 2 to February 6, 2026, and open weekends only from February 7 to April 3. It opens daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. from April 4 to July 10, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. from July 11 to August 23, and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. from August 24 to 30.
- From August 30 to November 1, the Tour du Roy opens on weekends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and it closes from November 2.
The tourist office suggests at least half a day for the village, and ideally a full day for the main sights and a wine visit.
Visiting the estates
The tourist office lists 155 estate visits. Its château-of-the-day list shows 2 to 4 estates open for a tasting each day, and reservations with each estate are mandatory.
Château Villemaurine, a Grand Cru Classé, has its own underground quarries. Its Visite Patrimoine lasts 1 hour and covers the château's history, its modern architecture, the quarries and the village, and ends with a tasting of its Grand Cru Classé wine.
Villemaurine runs tours at 11:30 a.m. in French and 4:30 p.m. in English. Visits are by appointment only, booked online up to 1 hour before the session. Its Visite Privilège covers the estate and its underground cellars, with a tasting of 3 wines and a snack platter, and does not admit minors.
Other estates near the village:
- Château Troplong Mondot: book the 1 hour 30 minute Getaway visit, a vineyard walk with a tasting of 2 wines, on the estate's visits page. Visits are in English.
- Château Figeac: visits of 1 hour or 1 hour 30 minutes end with a guided tasting of two or three wines, in English and Spanish.
- Couvent des Jacobins: visits last 1 hour to 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Château Cadet Pontet: a 1-hour visit.
Spit if you are driving, or choose a designated driver. For lead times and booking rules, see Booking Bordeaux château visits.
What it costs
Children under 6 go free on the underground tour but still need a ticket. A reduced rate applies to ages 6 to 17, students, job seekers, members of religious orders and disabled visitors. The current individual prices are shown in the tourist office's online shop.
Private underground tours (2026/2027 rates) cost €11 ($12) per person for 1 to 9 people, €10 ($11) per person for groups from 10 and €6.50 ($7) for ages 3 to 18. Add a guide fee per group of €100 ($108) Monday to Saturday or €115 ($124) on Sundays and public holidays. A bilingual tour costs €41 ($44) more.
Other costs:
- Bell tower: €2 ($2) per person.
- Tour du Roy: €2 ($2) per person, free under 6.
- Bordeaux tourist office half-day tour: €55 ($59) per person.
Estate visits range from €7 ($8) to €80 ($86):
- Château Cadet Pontet: from €7 ($8)
- Château Villemaurine, Visite Patrimoine: €25 ($27), free under 12. The Visite Privilège costs €45 ($49).
- Couvent des Jacobins: from €28 ($30)
- Château Troplong Mondot, Getaway visit: €50 ($54)
- Château Figeac: €80 ($86)
Before you go
- Once the underground tour has begun and the gates are closed, latecomers cannot rejoin the guide and get no refund. Finding a parking spot can take a while, so arrive early.
- Book the tourist office's guided tours in advance, because places are limited. Groups of more than 10 book through its commercial department.
- The temperature underground is around 13°C, so bring a warm layer.
Photography is not allowed inside the underground monuments. Dogs on a leash may join the tour.
Not all streets and monuments in Saint-Émilion are wheelchair accessible. If you use a wheelchair, contact the tourist office before booking. The streets are cobbled, narrow and steep, and the tourist office suggests a baby carrier rather than a stroller.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Saint-Émilion monolithic church without a guide?
No. The monolithic church opens only on a guided tour led by a tourist office guide. The tour lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour and also covers the hermitage of Émilion, the Trinity Chapel and the catacombs.
Is the underground tour in English?
The standard Saint-Émilion Souterrain tour is in French, with written translations in English and several other languages at the tourist office reception. The tourist office's online shop also sells a separate English-language tour called Underground Saint-Émilion.
Is the bell tower included in the underground tour ticket?
No. The bell tower, 68 meters high with 196 steps, needs a separate ticket. Pay €2 ($2) per person at the tourist office reception. Access is limited to groups of at least 2 people.
Do children need a ticket for the underground tour?
Yes. Children under 6 go free but still need a ticket. Ages 6 to 17 pay the reduced rate, which also applies to students, job seekers, members of religious orders and disabled visitors.
