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ST-ÉMILION |
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ST-ÉMILION
, 35km east of Bordeaux and a short trip by train from Bordeaux, is well worth a visit in its own right. The old grey houses of this fortified medieval town straggle down the south-hanging slope of a low hill, with the green froth of the summer's vines crawling over its walls. Many of the growers still keep up the old tradition of planting roses at the ends of the rows, which in pre-pesticide days served as an early-warning system against infection, the idea being that the commonest bug,
oidium
, went for the roses first, giving three days' notice of its intentions.
The Town
The town's
belfry
belongs to the rock-hewn subterranean
Église Monolithe
beneath it, which can be visited only on a
guided tour
from the tourist office (daily 10-11.30am & 2-5pm; 33F/¬5.03). The tour starts in a...
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