St-Émilion

Suddenly the sun-fired flatlands of Pomerol break into hills and send you tumbling into St-Émilion. This jewel of a town has old buildings of golden stone, ruined town walls, well-kept ramparts offering magical views, and a church hewn into a cliff. Sloping vineyards invade from all sides, and thousands of tourists invade down the middle, many thirsting for the red wine and macaroons that bear the town's name. The medieval streets, delightfully cobblestoned (though often very steep), are filled with wine stores (St-Émilion reaches maturity earlier than other Bordeaux reds and often offers better value for the money than Médoc or Graves), crafts shops, bakeries, cafés, and restaurants.