Wines of Southwest France (in French Sud-Ouest) won the 2017 Wine Region of the Year by the Wine Enthusiast Magazine. South West France with its vast territory and diverse soil types grows approximately 300 grape varieties, of which 120 are native, making the region one of great biodiversity. This is a great Vino con Vista destination. You can visit a wide range of UNESCO sites near this region of France:

• Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (1997)
• Canal du Midi (1996)
• Episcopal City of Albi (2010)

.The Southwest can be divided into three distinct regions:

1. Wines of the East (including Fronton, Gaillac and Marcillac): The wines are generally more fruity and spicy than others in the Southwest.
2. Wines from the central zone (including Bergerac, Duras, Cotes de Gascogne, Montbazillac, Montravel): These wines are grown on clay and limestone soils, with grape varieties heavily influenced by Bordeaux.
3. Wines of the West (including Madiran, Jurançon and Irouléguy, as well as Béarn, Tursan and St. Mont): These appellations see the Pyrénées and are influenced by its mountain climate.

APPELLATIONS Of Southwest France:

The Romans brought viticulture to this area around the 1st century AD and they exported wine all over their empire. Earthenware, like wine vessels called amphora from the region have been found as far away as Scotland. By the first century BC, the Romans were distributing wine, as well as other commodities, throughout the Mediterranean in amphorae.  During the Middle Ages, this region, also known as Gascogne or Gascony. It was part of Aquitania and ruled by the English for over 300 years.

In pre-Roman times, inhabitants of Gascony were  Aquitanians (Latin: Aquitani), who spoke a non-Indo-European language related to modern Basque. In the 50s BC, Aquitania was conquered by lieutenants of Julius Caesar and became part of The Roman Empire. The main rivers that flow through Gascony are the Dordogne, Garonde and the Tarn and were used to ship the wines from the South West to the larger port of Bordeaux where the barrels would be sent on to England, Holland, Germany and Russia. Still in the shadow of their northern neighbor Bordeaux, the region is working hard to reestablish their global reputation.

Now its part of “Occitanie” – a historical reference to the part of France where until the nineteenth century most people spoke varieties of Occitanian French, not the standard French of northern France.

“They have received global praise over the last few years for its wines of superior value and finesse, yet highly affordable and easy to pair. With its exceptional array of 120 native grape varieties and inspiring bouquet of aromas, Southwest France is fast becoming an interesting region for both sommeliers and consumers who are looking for high-quality wines that won’t break the bank.”

This outstanding distinction is given each year as part of the Wine Star Awards to the “region that has made an exemplary contribution to the wine industry by adopting an innovative vision and committing to sustainable excellence.”

There are plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Tourist Attractions in Southwestern France to explore in the Southwest region of France as you Tour and Taste your way through the vineyards. Here they are:

The southwestern portion of France, a lush and hilly region with a temperate oceanic climate. The lush rolling hills of this exceptional area stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to Toulouse and from the Pyrenees to the vast mountains of the Massif Central. In general, the region is in the southwest corner of France, although it excludes their high-profile neighbors, Bordeaux and Cognac.

The region is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains on the south. The Southwest is France’s fourth largest region in production volume; with 47,000 hectares of land and 42 geographical designations. It has an exceptional array of 120 native grape varieties with an inspiring bouquet of aromas.

Understanding The Southwest Wine Region of France

Southwest France is composed of 29 different Appellation d’origine Protégées (AOP) and 13 Indication Géographique Protégées (PGI), each with rules regarding allowed grape varieties and farming practices.

The South West is divided into four ‘sub-regions’, each with its own distinctive character, climate, and grapes:

• Bergerac & Dordogne River: Located just south of Bordeaux
• Garonne & Tarn: Named after two major rivers, this region reaches a little further east, towards France’s fourth largest city, Toulouse. The climate is somewhat varied; the western portion is more influenced by the Atlantic while the Mediterranean climate holds more sway in the eastern environs with less rain and slightly higher temperatures. Tarn-et-Garonne is a department Southwestern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name.
• Lot River: The Lot River Region is influenced by both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean climates and grows the same grape varieties as the Garonne & Tarn. “Cahors” is the most famous of the sub-regions and home to this popular Malbec.
• Pyrénées: Named after the rugged mountain range that divides France and Spain, the wines from the Pyrénées sub-region are rustic and artisanal, crafted from the indigenous Tannat grape variety.

The Southwest Region can generally be thought of in two groups: the wines of the Dordogne, which are often produced from the same grapes and in the same styles of Bordeaux, and the wines of the remainder of the South West regions that make wines vastly different from Bordeaux wines.

The Dordogne is at the heart of some of the finest vineyards in the world: Bordeaux, St Emilion, Monbazillac, Bergerac, and Cahors.

The Bergerac and the Dordogne River produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Bordeaux blends. Located just south of Bordeaux, the vineyards of the 80 communes of this region lie along the Dordogne River; the same river that flows through world famous Bordeaux.  They share the same Atlantic climatic influence, although temperatures are slightly warmer here. They also use similar grape varieties to make dry reds, whites and rosés, as well as sweet dessert styles.

Dordogne/Bergerac, subregions:

• Bergerac AOC
• Côtes de Duras AOC
• Côtes de Montravel AOC
• Haut-Montravel AOC
• Monbazillac AOC
• Montravel AOC
• Pécharmant AOC
• Rosette AOC
• Saussignac AOC

Look for regional names on the label like Bergerac, Montravel (dry white blends), Pécharment (big, reds), and sweet wines from Saussignac, Rosette and Monbazillac.

In Dordogne, the chatming town of Sarlat-la-Canéda is the perfect base for exploring the grandiose hilltop châteaux that look down on the Dordogne river and the UNESCO-listed prehistoric sites along the Vézère valley.

https://www.northofthedordogne.com/dordogne-attractions.php

Its narrow streets are brimming with lavish sandstone mansions, perfectly preserved since the middle ages and Renaissance.

Visit the town of Sarlat

Vue Du Ciel

The elevator was built in the bell tower and has walls made of glass and offers visitors a 360 degree view of the city of Sarlat.

Don’t miss taking a ride up the 14th-century bell tower, where renowned architect Jean Nouvel has designed a panoramic glass elevator offering 360-degree views (Vue Du Ciel). One of France’s top architects, Jean Nouvel, was born in Sarlat. The Pritzker Architecture Prize winner in 2008 recently restored the church of Sainte-Marie in the center of Sarlat. Mixing contemporary elements with the 14th century architecture of the church, the interior has now been converted into an elegant covered market.

This church dates back to the 14th–century and was turned into a post office in 1905. Finally when it was abandoned, the municipality got  architect Jean Nouvel to renovate the building. 

Bergerac is at the heart of affordable and welcoming wine country. It’s easy to follow a Route des Vins around the rolling vine-clad hills, discovering little-known reds such as Pécharmant and the luscious Monbazillac dessert wine.

Inside each of these are an array of communal and village appellations or AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée). These appellations must adhere to strict regulations regarding the growing of grapes and wine production.

There are also some larger areas with less restrictive vineyard and wine-making regulations referred to as IGPs (Indications Géographique Protégé or Protected Geographical Indication).

The Lot River Region is influenced by both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean climates and grows the same grape varieties as the Garonne & Tarn. “Cahors” is the most famous of the sub-regions. Wine from the Cahors appellation must be made from at least 70% Malbec grapes, with a maximum of 30% Merlot or Tannat grape varieties.

Cahors uses the marketing slogan: “the French Malbec”. Malbec has become the emblematic grape from Mendoza in Argentina but its origin is actually Cahors in south-western France.

REPRESENTATIVE PRODUCERS SELLING IN THE U.S.

• Château Barréjat / SARL Denis Capmartin – Château Barréjat is situated in the district of Maumusson, in the heart of the appellation Madiran. City: 32400 Maumusson–Laguian, Southwest France (1¼ hour by car from Bordeaux, ½ hour from the Pau airport)
• Château de Millet – Eauze, France
• Château du Cèdre – SARL Le Cèdre Diffusion – Bru, France
• Domaine Chiroulet – Condom, Gers, France
• Domaine d’Espérance – Mauvezin d ‘Armagnac, France (in the rolling hills of Gascony, 90 minutes south of Bordeaux)
• Domaine de Laballe – Famille Laudet – Parleboscq, France (vineyard); Capbreton, France (tasting rooms)
• Domaine de l’Herré – Manciet, France
• Domaine de Ménard – SARL de Ménard – Gondrin, France
• Domaine du Tariquet – Eauze, France
• Domaine San de Guilhem – Ramouzens, France
• Domaine Uby – Cazaubon, France
• Georges Vigouroux – Cahors, France
• Vignobles Estrade et Fils – Domaine de Laxe – Fources, France
• Plaimont Producteurs – Saint Mont, France
• Domaine d’Arton – Lectoure, France (1 from Toulouse, 1.5 hours from Bordeaux)
• Domaine de Mirail – Lectoure, France
• Domaine de Pellehaut – SCV Beraut – Montréal-du-Gers, Ténarèze region, France
• Domaine de Joÿ – Panjas, France (Gers Department)
• Domaine de Laguille – Eauze, France
• Villa Dria – Eauze, France
• Domaine Saint-Lannes – Lagraulet-du-Gers, France
• Domaine du Rey – Gonrin, France

TOURISM in South West France

Several churches and basilicas in Lourdes located close to the French/Spanish border in Lourdes near the village of Tarbes, are associated with Marian apparitions and receives over 5 million pilgrims a year. The Sanctuary and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is the second most visited Christian pilgrimage site in Europe after Rome.

In 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared to a local girl named Bernadette Soubrious. Eventually, she left Lourdes and joined the Sisters of Charity at the Saint Gildard Convent in Nevers, 600 kilometres to the north of Lourdes. She lived in relative seclusion until her death from tuberculosis at the age of 35.

Bernadette achieved sainthood in 1933 and was enshrined at the Saint Bernadette Chapel on the grounds of Saint Gildard.

Her body is still on display in the Chapel of St. Bernadette in Nevers, France

The statue of the Immaculate Conception that currently stands in the niche within the grotto of Massabielle was created by the Lyonnais sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch in 1864.

The Song of Bernadette

“The popularity of Saint Bernadette was likely due to Franz Werfel’s 1941 book, The Song of Bernadette. Werfel, a German Jew, and his wife, Alma, former widow of famed composer Gustav Mahler, were sequestered in Lourdes for five days during their escape to America after France fell to the Nazis. They were hidden by local families who shared the story of the Saint’s visions and subsequent miracles. Werfel vowed that if they reached America, he would write the story, which was subsequently made into the film starring Jennifer Jones.”

I never miss an opportunity to visit a Christian Pilgrimage Site or UNESCO World Heritage Site in Europe; it’s an integral part of my Wine Tourism experiences.

The closest wineries to Lourdes are in the Jurançon appellation; a wine region in Southwest France in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where you can take The Jurançon Wine Route. The region produces a dry white wine and a more sought after sweet white wine. If Madiran is the king of red wines in the Pyrénées, then Jurançon is the king of whites.

In the Pyrénées appellations, Jurançon has the most rare and unique grapes, seldom seen elsewhere. Petit Manseng makes up 40% of the plantings and is a grape capable of developing high sugar levels without losing its crisp, refreshing acidity.  Petit Manseng can either be picked earlier for dry wines or later for sweet wines. Gros Manseng makes up 55% of the region’s plantings; its leaves are larger than those of Petit Manseng,

The grape varieties used are Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Courbu.

Clusters of small manseng grapes above.

The Jurançon vine was introduced over 2000 years ago by the Romans.

In the 15th century, the largest estates were in the hands of the nobles and the Viscounts of Béarn settled in Pau in 1460.

The major dates of Jurançon

988: 1st listed transaction of Jurançon wines at Saint-Vincent abbey in Lucq-de-Béarn
1538: arrival of the terms “Mansenc” and purchase of a vineyard in Jurançon by Henri d’Albret (Henri II de Navarre)
1553: baptism of Henri IV with garlic and Jurancon 1555/1557: expansion of Jurançon on the hillsides of Gan, Jurançon and Saint-Faust
End of the 19th century: disappearance of part of the vineyard affected by vine diseases (phylloxera in particular). Loss of wine quality in the
20th century: renaissance of Jurançon and return to tradition
1936: Jurançon becomes one of the 1st Designations of Origin

Lourdes is in Gascony near Tarbes on this map. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in south-western France. To the south of Tarbes, along with the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, is the border with Spain. The Pyrenees mountains, lying along the border between France and Spain, can be seen from here.

Irouléguy Vineyards

The French side of the Basque country has one wine appellation, Irouléguy, tucked within the valley that runs between St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and St-Étienne de Baïgorry, about 50 kilometers from the ocean. The bulk of production in Irouléguy is red. This area is famous for its dried Bayonne ham, brebis sheep’s milk cheese and piment d’espelette, a spicy powder made from ground small red peppers.

Gascony subregions of Wine

• Madiran AOC
• Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC
• Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec AOC
• Saint-Mont VDQS
• Tursan VDQS

The Côtes de Gascogne wine-making zone is found in the Gers Department of France sometimes called The French Tuscany.

The Côtes de Gascogne This wine appellation is just west of Toulouse and northeast of Juracon. It shares some of the same area of production as Armagnac, France’s oldest brandy.

Main white grape varieties: Sauvignon, Colombard, Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay

Main red grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tannat

Béarn, most have heard of Sauce Béarnais, which originates in the region. Made with clarified butter, egg yolks, white wine vinegar, shallots, chervil, peppercorns and tarragon, it’s a classic accompaniment to steak frites.

The historic name for this region is Gascony, and it has been home to viticulture since Roman times. Gascony is the land of d’Artagnan, who inspired Alexandre Dumas‘s character d’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, as well as the land of Cyrano de Bergerac, who inspired the play of the same name by Edmond Rostand. It is also home to Henry III of Navarre, who later became king of France as Henry IV.

I love the rolling countryside dotted with maritime pine and cypresses and stunning vineyards and medieval towns, the area is one of the least-known French treasures.

The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II of England would have a dramatic influence on the development of the prominent French wine region of Bordeaux. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: A photograph of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s wedding gift to her first husband, Louis VII of France. It is a rock crystal vase with an inscription on the bottom that reads, “As a bride, Eleanor gave the vase to King Louis – Mitadolus to her grandfather, the King to me, and Suger to the Saints.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Les gisants d’Aliénor d’Aquitaine et Henri II à Fontevraud (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Wedding – Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen consort of Henry II of England. Français : Aliénor (ou Eleanor) d’Aquitaine, reine consort de Henry II Plantagenêt, roi d’Angleterre. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As soon as I unpacked my bag, I ventured out into the streets of Bordeaux. I was staying near the Cathedral so I headed over to explore the sacred contents. There was an outdoor market in the square in front of the church on the day that I visited.

The magnificent St. Andre Cathedral is a 17th-century church that took 400 years to build. It has hosted many dignitaries including Francois I, and Emperor Charles V. Louis XIII and Anne of Austria were married here. In 1137, the 13-year-old Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII, a few months before she became Queen.

Cathédrale St-André is the most majestic of Bordeaux’s churches. The church boasts a magnificent 13th century Royal Door decorated with polychrome statues and, inside, a fine Renaissance organ.

I loved the stained glass windows and the paintings by Jose Ribera, a Spanish artist. There are also some interesting Italian primitives from the 14th and 15th centuries. I love the 16th century alabaster statue of Our Lady of the Nave.

The Bordeaux Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop. It was consecrated in 1096 by Pope Urban II.

Bordeaux Cathedral

Bordeaux is UNESCO World Heritage Site

Bordeaux, Port of the Moon

“The Port of the Moon, port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Lands. Urban plans and architectural ensembles of the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture.” UNESCO

Cailhau portalea –

Gargoyles of Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux, France.

Vineyards in Saint-Émilion. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: The Place de la Bourse, in Bordeaux, France, as seen from the Garonne. 

Tombeau de Jean Lefebvre de Cheverus (Mayenne 1768-Bordeaux 1836), cardinal-archevêque de Bordeaux, cathédrale Saint-André, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Galerie des évêques et des rois, portail royal, cathédrale Saint-André, place Pey-Berland, Bordeaux, Gironde; Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

The French wine region of Saint Émilion on the right bank in Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Basilique Saint-Michel (XIVe-XVIe), Bordeaux, Guyenne, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Bordeaux has over 2500 years of history. Urban development in the city of Burdigala witnessed the Golden Age of Pax Romana. Visit the Roman Gallien Palace, formerly a 15000 seat amphitheater built in the 2nd century to witness the remains of Burdigala; “Little Rome.”

Palais Gallien in Bordeaux

Ruines du Palais Gallien, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Aquitane‘s regional capital enjoyed a strategic location along the banks of the Garonne River between southwestern France and Catalonia in Spain. In Bordeaux, the river meets the Gironde estuary that flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Bay of Biscay. Bordeaux’s maritime prosperity from commerce and trade is readily apparent in the town’s magnificent architectural heritage.

Bordeaux wine

Situated in the leading fine-wine growing area in France with 65 appellations, Bordeaux is the worldwide capital! In June 2016, La Cité du Vin opened; a unique place for wine-related discoveries and experiences.

Historically, the wine industry has been a tremendous source of wealth for Bordeaux. The city is surrounded by vineyards.

Every other year, Bordeaux celebrates their spectacular wine heritage with a wine tourism fair called Bordeaux Fete le Vin.  There are four days of festivities on the quays (River Banks). The local wine school offers an introduction to wine tasting class and there are plenty of wine tours to the magnificent chateaux. There are concerts, fireworks and special deals in the restaurants.

For more information visit:

www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com

When I was in Bordeaux, I had an opportunity to attend L’Union des grands crus de Bordeaux Wine Weekend in Bordeaux.

There was a grand tasting session on Saturday with many of the estate owners from over 120 estates pouring their wine overlooking the river.

For details and dates for next year, visit www.ugcb.net

Bordeaux exports wine around the world to wine enthusiasts. Check out Max Bordeaux, a wine store by the Grand Theater.

 At Max Bordeaux, load your card with some euros and start tasting. See you if you the Grand Crus from Latour and Lafite better that the other brands. The store has up to 50 of the best wines that are dispensed through the Enomatic vending machines.

Some of the most famous Bordeaux wines are from the Medoc sub-region including:

1. Château Lafite-Rothschild

2. Château Latour

3. Château Mouton-Rothschild

4. Château Margaux

Haut-Brion is not in Medoc

5. Château Haut-Brion

Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone in Saint-Émilion; and Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin in Pomerol are also very famous. Some of the world’s most famous sweet wines originate in the Sauternes appellation, such as Château d’Yquem.

After the merger of the dynasties of the Duchy of Aquitane and the Crown of England, wealth continued to soar. In 1137, Eleanor, the young Duchess of Aquitane married the future King Louis VII of France. Fifteen years later, they divorced and she married Henry II of England. This turned Aquitane into an English territory with plenty of business opportunities between the two countries. The English were wine enthusiasts and the Chartron neighborhood of Bordeaux is packed with former wine warehouses that have been refurbished and converted into hip venues on Quai de Chartrons.

Le Grand-Théâtre, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Bordeaux 01 (Photo credit: Pathien)

Esplanade des quinconces à Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Château Cheval-Blanc – Bordeaux – St. Emilion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bordeaux Style Diapo’ (Photo credit: Alizée VAUQUELIN)

Château Mouton Rothschild – Bordeaux – Paulliac (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

French wine from the Bordeaux producer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chateau Pichon Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Monolithic church of Saint-Émilion and its bell tower (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vineyards in the French wine region of Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Label of the French wine Cheval blanc from the Bordeaux wine region of St Emilion. Made predominately of Cabernet franc (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deutsch: Logo UNESCO-Welterbe (Deutsche Version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: “Chateau Cormeil-Figeac”: a french Saint-Emilion bordeaux wine. Français : Chateau Cormeil-Figeac: un Saint-Emilion de 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bildbeschreibung: Karte Weinbaugebiet Bordeaux Quelle: selbst erstellt Zeichner: Domenico-de-ga Datum: 24. Mai 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Château Monbousquet, Saint-Émilion. French wine made in Saint Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bridge of Pierre over Garonne river in Bordeaux, France. Deutsch: Der Pont de Pierre, zentrale Flussquerung aus napoleonischer Zeit Français : Le pont de Pierre sur la Garonne à Bordeaux, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~~ Bordeaux ~~ (Photo credit: Jerry ツ)

French wine from the Saint Emilion region on the right bank of Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Edouard Manet: Harbour at Bordeaux, 1871 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wine label from the French Bordeaux producer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bordeaux is the world’s premier wine capital! The Bordeaux region of France produces some of the world’s most famous expensive wines including: Margaux and Pauillac on the left bank of the Garonne River and St. Emilion on the right bank.

The wine regions of Bordeaux encompass a large number of wine growing areas of the Gironde department of Aquitaine.

The Bordeaux region is naturally divided by the Gironde Estuary into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank area includes the Médoc and Graves. The Right Bank area includes Libournais with St. Emilion, and Pomerol, Bourg and Blaye.

“The Médoc is  divided into Haut-Médoc (the upstream or southern portion) and Bas-Médoc (the downstream or northern portion, often referred to simply as “Médoc”).”

There are various sub-regions within the Haut-Médoc, including St-Estèphe, Pauillac, St.-Julien and Margaux. Graves includes the sub-regions of Pessac-Léognan and Sauternes. Sauternes includes the sub-region of Barsac.

My Wine Weekend in Bordeaux at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux

In addition to the Libournais  sub-regions of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, there is also the wine region of Entre-Deux-Mers. This region is lies between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, which combine to form the Gironde.

Bordeaux Wine

All of these regions (except the Libournais) have their own appellation. They are “governed by Appellation d’origine contrôlée laws which dictate the permissible grape varieties, alcohol level, methods of pruning and picking, density of planting and appropriate yields as well as various winemaking techniques.”

Bordeaux wine labels will usually include the region on the front of the label. The permissible grape varieties in red Bordeaux blends are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. A general rule of thumb is that the Left Bank is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon based with the Right Bank including St. Emilion, being more Merlot based.

Château Cheval Blanc (“White Horse Castle”) is in St. Emilion. It is one of only four Chateaux to receive the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) status. The others are: Château Angélus, Château Ausone, and Château Pavie. Cheval Blanc’s second wine is Le Petit Cheval.

The Graves area produces both red wine and white wine from the Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes.

Here’s a Bordeaux picture gallery from UNESCO; http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1256/gallery/

Bordeaux France

Bordeaux France

Bordeaux Map

Bordeaux (Photo credit: Chambres Noires)

Most of the downtown area of Bordeaux is easy to explore by foot because it is pedestrian only. Rue Sainte-Catherine is the busiest street in town; over and half a mile long. It is loaded with shops and restaurants.

Rue St. Catherine in Bordeaux France

Here are some of the interesting sites in Le Vieux Bordeaux to visit:

Top Attractions in Bordeaux France

1. The magnificent Opera National de Bordeaux (the Grand Theater) is considered the cultural heart of the city. Opened on April 7, 1780, it has 12 Corinthian columns in front that support the entablature on the peristyle. It has 12 statues by Berruer and Van Den Drix on top that represent the nine muses and Juno, Venus and Minerva.

The Grand Theater in Bordeaux France

Français : Grand Théâtre, vue de nuit, Bordeaux, Gironde, FRANCE (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Muses et déesses, Grand-Théâtre, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Grand Theatre (Photo credit: Damian Synnott)

2. Parlement Square (Place du Parlement) was built around 1754. It has plenty of outdoor cafes surrounding the central fountain.

Bordeaux France Sites and Statuary

Like most of the limestone structures in Bordeaux, you can admire the interesting

Place du Parlement, Bordeaux (33) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

masks or mascaron that decorate the buildings.

Français : Bordeaux place du parlement, la fontaine de la place (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Français : Bordeaux place du parlement (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. St. Andre Cathedral, a 17th-century church took 400 years to build and has hosted many dignitaries including Francois I, and Emperor Charles V. Lousi XIII and Anne of Austria were married here. In 1137, the 13-year-old Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII, a few months before she became Queen. You can even visit the market and pick some interesting leather items.

There are paintings by Jose Ribera, and Italian primitives from the 14th and 15th centuries. I love the 16th century alabaster statue of Our Lady of the Nave. The Pey-Berland bell tower is free-standing next to the Cathedral. It is named after the archbishop who commissioned it in 1440. It is crowned with a gilded copper statue of Our Lady of Aquitaine. Climb to the top of the tower for a breathtaking 360 degree panaorama of Bordeaux.

Notre Dame D’Aquitaine (HDR) – Tour Pey Berland – Bordeaux (Photo credit: Jonathan d[-_-]b)

Pey-Berland tower near Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The north-façade of the cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Place de la Bourse (Place Royale) was designed by the Gabriels, junior and senior, between 1730 and 1755. Originally, it provided a spectacular backdrop for a monumental statue of King Louis XV. The statue was melted down in 1792 and replaced in 1869 by the fountain of the Three Graces. This naked royal nymphs on top of the fountain represent Empress Eugenia, Queen Victoria and Queen Isabella of Spain.

The Three Graces in Bordeaux

Everyone love the  Water Mirror (Mirror d’eau) in Bordeaux.

English: Golden statue on the Pey-Berland tower, near towers of Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux (southwest of France) Français : Tour Pey-Berland, couronnée d’une grande statue dorée, près des flèches des tours gothiques de la cathédrale St André à Bordeaux (France) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bordeaux water mirror (Photo credit: iSivand)

You can visit the Musee National Des Douanes in this square.

Make dinner reservations at Le Gabriel for an outstanding Michelin-starred gastronomic extravaganza.

Michelin-starred Le Gabriel in Bordeaux

Bordeaux France

Bordeaux also has some interesting sites with architectural significance including:

1. One of Europe’s largest squares, the Quinconces Square (Esplanade de Quinconces) is located on the banks of the Garone River. Take some photos with the massive statues of Montaigne and Montesquieu. The statues were sculpted by Maggesi in 1858.

I love the monument and fountain dedicated to the Girondins. The base has beautiful bronze horses and warriors. The column is crowned with Liberty.

Bordeaux Memorial

The Girondins’ Column is a magnificent 140 foot column that was erected in 1902. At the base, the sea-horses are spouting water.  During WWII, the Germans removed the horses with plans of dismantling the monumentand using the bronze for military purposes. In 1945, the horses were found and eventually remounted on the fountain.

Quincones Square Fountain in Bordeaux

2. The elaborate Cailhau Gate was built in 1495 to commemorate the conquest of Naples and the victory at Fornova.

Calihou Gate in Bordeaux France

Porte Cailhau, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. (Photo credit: byb64)

Cailhau portalea – aurrealdea (Photo credit: kixmi71)

3. The Great Bell (la Grosse Clock) was the Town Hall belfry as far back as the 15th century. The bell was cast in 1775. Above the lantern Tower is a leopard weathervane.

Bordeaux – Oh la Grosse Cloche ! (Photo credit: Sam Nimitz)

Bordeaux Clock Tower

Bordeaux Clock Tower

Take time to visit St. Eloi Church, next to the clock tower.

Another interesting church to visit is the Gothic Basilique Saint-Michel, built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Take a photo of the gorgeous  altarpiece depicting the triumph of Michael over the dragon. This is a stop on the Santiago de Compostello pilgrimage. Climb to the top of the bell tower from June through September for a fabulous Vino con Vista opportunity.

The way of Saint James in Bordeaux

Go to the Church of Saint Bruno, a former 17th century Carthusian monastery. On each side of the altar, you will see Bernini statues. The high altar as a beautiful “Assumption” painting by Phillippe de Champaigne from 1673.

The 17th century Jesuit Notre Dame Church is also worth visiting. It has a single barrel-vaulted nave.

The basilica church of St. Seurin, the patron saint of Bordeaux,  is the cradle if Christianity in Bordeaux. It was built next to a former 3rd century church used by Bordeaux’s first Christians. There is an archaeology museum in the church with relics and stone coffins that have been exhumed from the vast cemetery where pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela come to pray.

Here are some of the other interesting churches to visit in Bordeaux:

Churches in Bordeaux

Churches in Bordeaux France

Grand théâtre de Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Get tickets for the Neo-Classical Grand Theater. It has a resident ballet and opera company.

Go to the Aquitane Museum for Roman and Greek artifacts. You can learn about the complete history of Bordeaux here.

The Cimetiere de la Chartruese (cemetery) in the center of Bordeaux has lovely 19th century monuments to photograph. Goya’s memorial is here but his body is in Spain.

Cemetery in Bordeaux France

Outstanding Universal Value

Bordeaux, Port of the Moon, is an outstanding example of the exchange of human values over more than two thousand years, due to its role as capital city of a world-famous wine production region and the importance of its port in commerce at regional and international levels. The urban form and architecture of the city are the result of continuous extensions and renovations since Roman times up to the 20th century. Urban plans and architectural ensembles stemming from the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of classical and neo-classical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence.

Criterion (ii): Bordeaux, Port of the Moon, constitutes an exceptional testimony to the exchange of human values over more than two thousand years. These exchanges have provided this cosmopolitan town, in the age of Enlightenment, an unparalleled prosperity that provided for an exceptional urban and architectural transformation that continued through 19th century up to present time. The different stages of construction and development of the harbour town are legible in its urban plan, especially the big transformations carried out from the early 18th century onwards.

Criterion (iv): Bordeaux, Port of the Moon, represents an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values have continued up to the first half of the 20th century. Bordeaux is exceptional in the unity of its urban and architectural classical and neo-classical expression, which has not undergone any stylistic rupture over more than two centuries. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture.

Due to its port, the city of Bordeaux has retained its original functions since its creation, as a city of exchange and commerce. Its history is easily legible in its urban plans from the Roman castrum to the 20th century. The city has retained its authenticity in the historic buildings and spaces created in the 18th and 19th centuries.”

A tanker is unloading in the Pauillac haven, which is a subsidiary of Bordeaux port, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The City of Bordeaux has 347 listed buildings, referred to the law of 31 December 1913. The historic town is protected by the “Plan de sauvegarde et de mise en valeur” (PSMV), approved in 1988 and revised in 1998 and 2002. A buffer zone has been established. Management structures for the protection and conservation of the nominated property include the shared responsibilities of national, regional and local governments. Interventions on buildings declared Monuments historiques (classés) must have the support of the Ministry for Culture. Several plans ensure the management and conservation of the property and take into account the following aspects: preserving the historic and heritage character, allowing the controlled evolution of the historic centre, unifying the various planning rules and contributing to the international significance of metropolitan Bordeaux.” UNESCO

Bordeaux wine village of St. Emilion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a video from UNESCO; http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/932/video

Vineyards in the French wine region of St Emilion in right bank of Bordeaux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

Wine-growing areas of the left bank of Bordeaux; Médoc, Graves and Sauternes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Growing in the wine region of St-Estephe in the Medoc, Bordeaux France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• A Week in Bordeaux
• Saint Emilion is a Vino con Vista Wine Destination And UNESCO World Heritage Site in France
• Bordeaux and St. Emilion are Outstanding Historic Vino con Vista UNESCO Sites in France
• Vino con Vista Vezelay France on the UNESCO Route: The Way of Saint James is the Camino de Santiago to Spain
• 5 must-see World Heritage Sites
• Exploring The City of Bordeaux, France

The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy, Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, the Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion and the Bordeaux, Port of the Moon region of Aquitaine are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and also the most famous French wine-producing regions.

A champagne vineyard in Villenauxe-la-Grande, near Epernay

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars are UNESCO Sites just an hour away from of Paris. Located in north-eastern France, the unique chalk cellars and the “historic vineyards of Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saind-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay all represent the Champagne agro-industrial landscape.”  There are three UNESCO components: the supply basin formed by the historic hillsides, the production sites with their underground cellars, and the Champagne Houses, which are sales and distribution centers.

Combining a wine tourism trip with a UNESCO World Heritage trip is usually my favorite way to travel in Europe. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims are all UNESCO sites in the Champagne Region of France.

Paris, Banks of the Seine is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near Paris, there are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit including:

Chartres Cathedral

Palace and Park of Versailles

Palace and Park of Fontainebleau

Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

The vineyards of Bordeaux are the only vineyards with immediate access to the sea; a competitive advantage that enabled them to be France’s major wine exporting region for many centuries. The best estates in these areas have the right to sell wines designated as grand cru. At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris, Emperor Napoleon III asked each wine region to establish a classification. The 1855 Classification has been a factor in the continued success of the Châteaux at the top of the classification — namely the first and second growth Châteaux.

Châteaux of Bordeaux

Grand Cru Classé is tied to a specific chateau or estate, rather than a contiguous vineyard. Created in 1855, it comprises only left bank chateaus in Médoc, Graves and Sauternes, ranked from first to fifth growths, based on their value at that time.

The first growths are called premier crus, while second through fifth growth crus are called crus classés.

The five first-growth owners: Prince Robert de Luxembourg of Haut-Brion, Florence Rogers-Pinault of Latour, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Mouton-Rothschild, Corinne Mentzelopoulos of Margaux and Baron Eric de Rothschild of Lafite Rothschild.

“Bordeaux is defined by its historic wine-producing châteaux, which were classified in 1855 into five quality levels, or “growths,” that still influence the Bordeaux market today. The five first-growth estates (also called premier crus) command the highest prices, with their wine often sold as futures before the vintage is even released. All 61 classified châteaux are in the Médoc region on the left bank of the Gironde River. The right bank appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, although not included in the 1855 classification, are home to a handful of equally famed producers.”

Viticulture and Wine Tourism promote the regions of the world that are a treasure trove of beautiful landscapes, generally accompanied by local delicacies. The best wine regions have exceptional culinary artistry and sumptuous Michelin-starred gourmet chefs. I love to explore the terroir of the appellations, discover the vineyards, meet the talented winemakers, tour the production facilities and cellars and taste the  unique character of the wines; “The Elixir of the gods.”.

The Great Wine Capitals is a network of ten major global cities in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which share a key economic and cultural asset: their internationally renowned wine regions. These prestigious wine regions include:  Adelaide | South Australia, Bilbao | Rioja, Bordeaux, Lausanne |Switzerland, Mainz | Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco | Napa Valley, Valparaìso | Casablanca Valley and Verona. The Best Of Wine Tourism awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the ten greatest wine regions in the world. Bordeaux has won numerous awards!

I truly believe that the easiest way to learn about wine, is to visit the region and immerse yourself in the culture while you experiment with the local food and wine on your trip. When visiting California, Oregon, Washington, Italy, Spain or France, the same rules always apply; explore the local food and wine. That’s why my blog is called “Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Wino.” I have posted many of my adventures on Instagram with short videos for you to enjoy.

There are nine primary wine-producing regions in France:

Bordeaux is the world’s premier wine capital; the largest region in terms of quality wine production, where many of the world’s most expensive wines are made. Most of the top quality clarets grown in the overall area benefit from specific and distinctive  appellations: Médoc , Graves or Saint Emilion, Pauillac, Graves and Saint-Estèphe.

The Médoc, an area south of the Gironde estuary to the north west of Bordeaux, is the home of many of the most prestigious French wines: Saint Estèphe, Margaux, Saint Julien and Pauillac. “It was in 1855 that the wine producers of the Medoc region classified their 61 best wines according to a league table of “grands crus”; ranking them from “Premier Cru” to “Cinquième Cru”. These grands crus are generally reputed to be the greatest of all French wines, and naturally their prices generally reflect this status.”

It was voted Europe’s Best Destination in 2015 and is listed in the top 10 favorite places to live in France. This UNESCO World Heritage site allows you to visit wine cellars with avant-garde architecture designed by world renowned architects.

In 1152, when queen Eleanor of Aquitaine married the English King Henry II, the Aquitaine region became economically integrated into the Anglo-Norman world. The Bordeaux region became the main supplier of wine for England.

The wine regions of Bordeaux encompass a large number of wine growing areas of the Gironde department of Aquitaine.The Bordeaux region of France produces some of the world’s most famous wines including: St. Emilion, Margaux and Pauillac.

UNESCO/France Aquitaine World Heritage Sites

https://www.winetourinfrance.com/en/blog/wine-tours/la-cite-du-vin-in-bordeaux.html

In June of 2016, La Cité du Vin  (pictured above) “opened the doors to a world of wine, culture and recreation where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensory approach. The imaginative and enchanting design of the museum is an architectural marvel with sweeping curves and an ethereal tower. La Cité du Vin spans the globe to present the most comprehensive view of wine, cultures and civilizations through temporary and permanent exhibitions. With boutiques, restaurants, a reading room, and on site wine bars, it’s truly a must-see experience during any stay in Bordeaux.”

The Burgundy Wine Region

UNESCO France/BURGUNDY World Heritage Sites

The Burgundy (Bourgogne) region also makes some of the most desirable wines if you love Pinot Noir. The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or.

The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best Pinot Noir vineyards are planted.

Burgundian Pinot Noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.

Beaujolais, the region known for Beaujolais Nouveau and the Beaujolais Crus, is technically part of Burgundy. This region grows the Gamay grape.

Dijon is the historical capital of Burgundy and Beaune is the wine capital of the region. The primary wine auction in France takes place in the town of Beaune in the ancient “hospices”. Les Hospices de Beaune – the medieval hospice at Beaune, one of the most unusual ancient monuments  in France, a medieval hospital that remained in use until the 20th century.

Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu, Beaune, Burgundy, 21200

Review and book your attractions in Burgundy thru this link:

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

A hospital building of the Middle Ages, the Hospices de Beaune are part of French history. Classified as a historic monument since 1862, this exceptional monument is now a museum of history and of medicine. While you are visiting Burgundy, the Hospices of Beaune should be key destination. Also known as Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune to locals, the Hospices de Beaune used to be an almshouse in the 15th century and was used as a hospital for the poor people of the region recovering from the Hundred Years’ War. It was actually used as a fully functioning hospital until the late 1970s; it now houses a museum and a major charity wine auction every November. The Hospices, a hospital created in the 15th century for the poor, is also the owner of a prestigious wine estate whose wines are sold at a major auction in November.

The building itself is now regarded as one of the finest architectural gems in France; it was designed by the Flemish architect Jacques Wiscrère, which explains the striking resemblances to architecture typically found in the Flanders region of Belgium. The hospices’ façade is an exceptional example of Northern Renaissance architecture and features an abundance of panel painting, long half-timber galleries and, of course, the signature gabled roof and its multi-colored and geometric tiles. There are also plenty of iron works, carvings, and tapestries inside the hospices’ walls.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/practical/getting-here-around/10-reasons-visit-beaune-region/visit-the-hospices-de-beaune

Today the hospice is a museum and art gallery, and contains one of the most famous works of medieval Flemish art, the alter piece by Roger van der Weyden, painted for the hospice, and still in situ.

The Beaune Altarpiece (or The Last Judgement)  1445–1450, artist Rogier van der Weyden. The altarpiece was commissioned in 1443 for the Hospices de Beaune in eastern France, by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who is buried in front of the altarpiece’s original location.

Burgundian architecture is famous throughout the world. In 1457, a first gift of vines was made to the Hospices de Beaune. Since then, the hospices have received numerous other gifts. Today, the vineyard is made up of 60 hectares, of which 90% is dedicated to the production of Pinot Noir, while the rest produces Chardonnay. Eighty-five percent of the production of this vineyard is premier crus and grand crus.

Each year, an auction is organized in the same buildings as the hospices. Individuals can then acquire one or more bottles of this fabulous concoction. The funds received finance the operation of the hospices, the preservation of the building of the Hôtel Dieu, improvements to the hospital buildings of Beaune, as well as financing medical research and charity work.  The values of the founder of these hospices are part of this process: to come to the aid of the most destitute.

The prices of the wines presented during the sale, among the premier crus and the grand crus can become staggering. Even ordinary visitors can buy the wines from among the premier crus and grand crus from the domain “Hospice de Beaune”. The hospices have a small store where these bottle are sold.

Buy at the auction from 1 bottle

If you want to buy wine, you can buy them remotely and have them delivered within three days, anywhere in France.

At dusk, light images are projected onto the facades of seven of Beaune’s iconic sites, bringing out their history and symbolism (Collegiate Church of Our Lady, Hôtel Dieu, Wine Museum, St-Etienne Chapel, Belfry, Porte Marie de Bourgogne and Rempart des Dames). https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/leisure-activities/lumieres-a-beaune-visite-guidee-privee-1430407#lg=1&slide=3

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

Visit the Abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard in 1118. It is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Europe. The Romanesque architecture offers a remarkable unity to all buildings remained intact since the Middle Ages. The Abbey was transformed into a paper mill after the French Revolution by the family Montgolfier and was bought back in 1906 by Edouard Aynard, the ancestor of the present owners who continue on safeguarding this masterpiece of Romanesque art. The old Abbey of Fontenay (12th century) was one of the first monuments to be inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. This classification has distinguished the exceptional value of Fontenay and its environment.

The goal of the Cistercians was to adhere strictly to the 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict. This Rule pronounced that a monk should divide his day equally between prayer, study and manual labor, as well as live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Most Cistercian abbeys were built to reflect this dedication to the Rule of Saint Benedict, with manual labor being an integral component. Fontenay, a fairly early addition to the order, and built directly under Bernard of Clairvaux, is no exception. Fontenay was the second “daughter house” of Clairvaux, and one of the four founding houses of the order. Saint Bernard held strong beliefs as to how abbeys should be built and, as Fontenay was built under his auspices, it conforms to Saint Bernard’s dictates to a nicety.

Like so many abbeys, Fontenay was seized during the French revolution, at which point it ceased to function as a religious center. The property was auctioned off and it became a paper mill in 1791. Later it was be adapted for other industrial purposes until purchased by Edouard Anyard, who restored its structures to their original purity. It remains in the Anyard family to this day, and is open to the public for all to see. It stands as a sober, yet stunning, reminder of the reductive beauty of Cistercian architecture.

Another place that I love in Burgundy is Abbaye de Vézelay (UNESCO World Heritage Site), is also called The Abbaye Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay. It is one of the main starting points of one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella.

Mary Magdalene’s relics

The site has been an important place of pilgrimage since relics of St. Mary Magdalene were brought here in the 10th century.

Mary Magdalene is the prototype of the penitent, and Vézelay has remained an important place of pilgrimage for the Catholic faithful, though the actual claimed relics were torched by Huguenots in the 16th century.

The central portal

Vezeley is one of the great masterpieces of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture

Sacked by the Huguenots in 1569, the building suffered neglect in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church and hill at Vézelay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

“Shortly after its foundation in the 9th century, the Benedictine abbey of Vézelay acquired the relics of St Mary Magdalene and since then it has been an important place of pilgrimage. St Bernard preached the Second Crusade there in 1146 and Richard the Lion-Hearted and Philip II Augustus met there to leave for the Third Crusade in 1190. With its sculpted capitals and portal, the Madeleine of Vézelay – a 12th-century monastic church – is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.”

I love traveling around the world exploring wine regions and enjoying the vineyard Vino con Vista. I have visited most of the wine regions of France. Even though there are 18 regions in France, there are only 9 wine regions; unlike Italy with 20 regions cloaked with vineyards. The Major Wine Regions in Vino con Vista France are Packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. France is home to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 39 cultural sites, 5 natural sites and 1 mixed site. France shares 4 of those sites with other countries; these are considered cross-border sites. My trips to Europe are generally dictated by the local UNESCO sites. My goal has been to visit all the sites in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Prior to COVID, I almost achieved this goal. I only have a few places left on this bucket list!

The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy, Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, the Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion and the Bordeaux, Port of the Moon region of Aquitaine are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and also the most famous French wine-producing regions.

A champagne vineyard in Villenauxe-la-Grande, near Epernay

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars are UNESCO Sites just an hour away from of Paris. Located in north-eastern France, the unique chalk cellars and the “historic vineyards of Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saind-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay all represent the Champagne agro-industrial landscape.”  There are three UNESCO components: the supply basin formed by the historic hillsides, the production sites with their underground cellars, and the Champagne Houses, which are sales and distribution centers.

Combining a wine tourism trip with a UNESCO World Heritage trip is usually my favorite way to travel in Europe. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims are all UNESCO sites in the Champagne Region of France.

Paris, Banks of the Seine is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near Paris, there are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit including:

Chartres Cathedral

Palace and Park of Versailles

Palace and Park of Fontainebleau

Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

The vineyards of Bordeaux are the only vineyards with immediate access to the sea; a competitive advantage that enabled them to be France’s major wine exporting region for many centuries. The best estates in these areas have the right to sell wines designated as grand cru. At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris, Emperor Napoleon III asked each wine region to establish a classification. The 1855 Classification has been a factor in the continued success of the Châteaux at the top of the classification — namely the first and second growth Châteaux.

Châteaux of Bordeaux

Grand Cru Classé is tied to a specific chateau or estate, rather than a contiguous vineyard. Created in 1855, it comprises only left bank chateaus in Médoc, Graves and Sauternes, ranked from first to fifth growths, based on their value at that time.

The first growths are called premier crus, while second through fifth growth crus are called crus classés.

The five first-growth owners: Prince Robert de Luxembourg of Haut-Brion, Florence Rogers-Pinault of Latour, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Mouton-Rothschild, Corinne Mentzelopoulos of Margaux and Baron Eric de Rothschild of Lafite Rothschild.

“Bordeaux is defined by its historic wine-producing châteaux, which were classified in 1855 into five quality levels, or “growths,” that still influence the Bordeaux market today. The five first-growth estates (also called premier crus) command the highest prices, with their wine often sold as futures before the vintage is even released. All 61 classified châteaux are in the Médoc region on the left bank of the Gironde River. The right bank appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, although not included in the 1855 classification, are home to a handful of equally famed producers.”

Viticulture and Wine Tourism promote the regions of the world that are a treasure trove of beautiful landscapes, generally accompanied by local delicacies. The best wine regions have exceptional culinary artistry and sumptuous Michelin-starred gourmet chefs. I love to explore the terroir of the appellations, discover the vineyards, meet the talented winemakers, tour the production facilities and cellars and taste the  unique character of the wines; “The Elixir of the gods.”.

The Great Wine Capitals is a network of ten major global cities in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which share a key economic and cultural asset: their internationally renowned wine regions. These prestigious wine regions include:  Adelaide | South Australia, Bilbao | Rioja, Bordeaux, Lausanne |Switzerland, Mainz | Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco | Napa Valley, Valparaìso | Casablanca Valley and Verona. The Best Of Wine Tourism awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the ten greatest wine regions in the world. Bordeaux has won numerous awards!

I truly believe that the easiest way to learn about wine, is to visit the region and immerse yourself in the culture while you experiment with the local food and wine on your trip. When visiting California, Oregon, Washington, Italy, Spain or France, the same rules always apply; explore the local food and wine. That’s why my blog is called “Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Wino.” I have posted many of my adventures on Instagram with short videos for you to enjoy.

There are nine primary wine-producing regions in France:

Bordeaux is the world’s premier wine capital; the largest region in terms of quality wine production, where many of the world’s most expensive wines are made. Most of the top quality clarets grown in the overall area benefit from specific and distinctive  appellations: Médoc , Graves or Saint Emilion, Pauillac, Graves and Saint-Estèphe.

The Médoc, an area south of the Gironde estuary to the north west of Bordeaux, is the home of many of the most prestigious French wines: Saint Estèphe, Margaux, Saint Julien and Pauillac. “It was in 1855 that the wine producers of the Medoc region classified their 61 best wines according to a league table of “grands crus”; ranking them from “Premier Cru” to “Cinquième Cru”. These grands crus are generally reputed to be the greatest of all French wines, and naturally their prices generally reflect this status.”

It was voted Europe’s Best Destination in 2015 and is listed in the top 10 favorite places to live in France. This UNESCO World Heritage site allows you to visit wine cellars with avant-garde architecture designed by world renowned architects.

In 1152, when queen Eleanor of Aquitaine married the English King Henry II, the Aquitaine region became economically integrated into the Anglo-Norman world. The Bordeaux region became the main supplier of wine for England.

The wine regions of Bordeaux encompass a large number of wine growing areas of the Gironde department of Aquitaine.The Bordeaux region of France produces some of the world’s most famous wines including: St. Emilion, Margaux and Pauillac.

UNESCO/France Aquitaine World Heritage Sites

https://www.winetourinfrance.com/en/blog/wine-tours/la-cite-du-vin-in-bordeaux.html

In June of 2016, La Cité du Vin  (pictured above) “opened the doors to a world of wine, culture and recreation where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensory approach. The imaginative and enchanting design of the museum is an architectural marvel with sweeping curves and an ethereal tower. La Cité du Vin spans the globe to present the most comprehensive view of wine, cultures and civilizations through temporary and permanent exhibitions. With boutiques, restaurants, a reading room, and on site wine bars, it’s truly a must-see experience during any stay in Bordeaux.”

The Burgundy Wine Region

UNESCO France/BURGUNDY World Heritage Sites

The Burgundy (Bourgogne) region also makes some of the most desirable wines if you love Pinot Noir. The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or.

The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best Pinot Noir vineyards are planted.

Burgundian Pinot Noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.

Beaujolais, the region known for Beaujolais Nouveau and the Beaujolais Crus, is technically part of Burgundy. This region grows the Gamay grape.

Dijon is the historical capital of Burgundy and Beaune is the wine capital of the region. The primary wine auction in France takes place in the town of Beaune in the ancient “hospices”. Les Hospices de Beaune – the medieval hospice at Beaune, one of the most unusual ancient monuments  in France, a medieval hospital that remained in use until the 20th century.

Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu, Beaune, Burgundy, 21200

Review and book your attractions in Burgundy thru this link:

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

A hospital building of the Middle Ages, the Hospices de Beaune are part of French history. Classified as a historic monument since 1862, this exceptional monument is now a museum of history and of medicine. While you are visiting Burgundy, the Hospices of Beaune should be key destination. Also known as Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune to locals, the Hospices de Beaune used to be an almshouse in the 15th century and was used as a hospital for the poor people of the region recovering from the Hundred Years’ War. It was actually used as a fully functioning hospital until the late 1970s; it now houses a museum and a major charity wine auction every November. The Hospices, a hospital created in the 15th century for the poor, is also the owner of a prestigious wine estate whose wines are sold at a major auction in November.

The building itself is now regarded as one of the finest architectural gems in France; it was designed by the Flemish architect Jacques Wiscrère, which explains the striking resemblances to architecture typically found in the Flanders region of Belgium. The hospices’ façade is an exceptional example of Northern Renaissance architecture and features an abundance of panel painting, long half-timber galleries and, of course, the signature gabled roof and its multi-colored and geometric tiles. There are also plenty of ironworks, carvings, and tapestries inside the hospices’ walls.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/practical/getting-here-around/10-reasons-visit-beaune-region/visit-the-hospices-de-beaune

Today the hospice is a museum and art gallery, and contains one of the most famous works of medieval Flemish art, the alterpiece by Roger van der Weyden, painted for the hospice, and still in situ.

The Beaune Altarpiece (or The Last Judgement)  1445–1450, artist Rogier van der Weyden. The altarpiece was commissioned in 1443 for the Hospices de Beaune in eastern France, by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who is buried in front of the altarpiece’s original location.

Burgundian architecture is famous throughout the world. In 1457, a first gift of vines was made to the Hospices de Beaune. Since then, the hospices have received numerous other gifts. Today, the vineyard is made up of 60 hectares, of which 90% is dedicated to the production of Pinot Noir, while the rest produces Chardonnay. Eighty-five percent of the production of this vineyard is premier crus and grand crus.

Each year, an auction is organized in the same buildings as the hospices. Individuals can then acquire one or more bottles of this fabulous concoction. The funds received finance the operation of the hospices, the preservation of the building of the Hôtel Dieu, improvements to the hospital buildings of Beaune, as well as financing medical research and charity work.  The values of the founder of these hospices are part of this process: to come to the aid of the most destitute.

The prices of the wines presented during the sale, among the premier crus and the grand crus can become staggering. Even ordinary visitors can buy the wines from among the premier crus and grand crus from the domain “Hospice de Beaune”. The hospices have a small store where these bottle are sold.

Buy at the auction from 1 bottle

If you want to buy wine, you can buy them remotely and have them delivered within three days, anywhere in France.

At dusk, light images are projected onto the facades of seven of Beaune’s iconic sites, bringing out their history and symbolism (Collegiate Church of Our Lady, Hôtel Dieu, Wine Museum, St-Etienne Chapel, Belfry, Porte Marie de Bourgogne and Rempart des Dames). https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/leisure-activities/lumieres-a-beaune-visite-guidee-privee-1430407#lg=1&slide=3

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

Visit the Abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard in 1118. It is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Europe. The Romanesque architecture offers a remarkable unity to all buildings remained intact since the Middle Ages. The Abbey was transformed into a paper mill after the French Revolution by the family Montgolfier and was bought back in 1906 by Edouard Aynard, the ancestor of the present owners who continue on safeguarding this masterpiece of Romanesque art. The old Abbey of Fontenay (12th century) was one of the first monuments to be inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. This classification has distinguished the exceptional value of Fontenay and its environment.

The goal of the Cistercians was to adhere strictly to the 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict. This Rule pronounced that a monk should divide his day equally between prayer, study and manual labor, as well as live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Most Cistercian abbeys were built to reflect this dedication to the Rule of Saint Benedict, with manual labor being an integral component. Fontenay, a fairly early addition to the order, and built directly under Bernard of Clairvaux, is no exception. Fontenay was the second “daughter house” of Clairvaux, and one of the four founding houses of the order. Saint Bernard held strong beliefs as to how abbeys should be built and, as Fontenay was built under his auspices, it conforms to Saint Bernard’s dictates to a nicety.

Like so many abbeys, Fontenay was seized during the French revolution, at which point it ceased to function as a religious center. The property was auctioned off and it became a paper mill in 1791. Later it was be adapted for other industrial purposes until purchased by Edouard Anyard, who restored its structures to their original purity. It remains in the Anyard family to this day, and is open to the public for all to see. It stands as a sober, yet stunning, reminder of the reductive beauty of Cistercian architecture.

Another place that I love in Burgundy is Abbaye de Vézelay (UNESCO World Heritage Site), is also called The Abbaye Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay. It is one of the main starting points of one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella.

Mary Magdalene’s relics

The site has been an important place of pilgrimage since relics of St. Mary Magdalene were brought here in the 10th century.

Mary Magdalene is the prototype of the penitent, and Vézelay has remained an important place of pilgrimage for the Catholic faithful, though the actual claimed relics were torched by Huguenots in the 16th century.

The central portal

Vezeley is one of the great masterpieces of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture

Sacked by the Huguenots in 1569, the building suffered neglect in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church and hill at Vézelay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. “Shortly after its foundation in the 9th century, the Benedictine abbey of Vézelay acquired the relics of St Mary Magdalene and since then it has been an important place of pilgrimage. St Bernard preached the Second Crusade there in 1146 and Richard the Lion-Hearted and Philip II Augustus met there to leave for the Third Crusade in 1190. With its sculpted capitals and portal, the Madeleine of Vézelay – a 12th-century monastic church – is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.” http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/84

The central portion of the Vézelay tympanum shows a benevolent Christ conveying his message to the Apostles, who flank him on either side. This Christ is distinct in Romanesque architecture. The Vézelay Christ, (shown below) is pictured contraposto with arms wide open as a kind and welcoming gesture.

“The Vézelay Christ is sending the Crusaders out—he is not judging them. Indeed, the Crusaders were guaranteed remission of all sins if they participated in the Crusades. ” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9zelay_Abbey

“In 1146, St Bernard preached the Second Crusade there before King Louis VII, Queen Eleanor and a throng of nobles, prelates and people gathered on the hill. In 1190, Richard the Lion-Hearted and Philip Augustus met there to leave for the Third Crusade. In 1217, Francis of Assisi chose the hill of Vézelay to found the first Franciscan establishment on French soil.” http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/84

Since 1920 it has carried the title basilica.

Detail of the Vézelay tympanum

Visit the Wine Museum in Burgundy.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions/musee-du-vin-de-bourgogne-675138

The Champagne Region of France in Marne

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars/UNESCO

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims/UNESCO

Take the Wine Road

The Champagne Region makes sparkling wines that are pricey because of the amount of labor that goes into their production.

“Champagne is produced via méthode traditionelle, also known as méthode champenoise. This process is both rigorous and time consuming; first, the wine must undergo its primary fermentation prior to bottling, then undergo a secondary fermentation in bottle. The second fermentation occurs when the tirage, a mixture of yeast and sugar, is added to the bottle. Post- secondary fermentation, the dead yeasts (known as lees) must be removed via remuage, or riddling, a lengthy process by which the upside down bottles are turned little by little to gradually shake the lees to the bottom of the neck. When the lees have all reached the top of the neck, the bottlenecks are cooled to freeze the collection of lees, the temporary cap is removed, and pressure shoots the frozen block of lees out through a process called disgorgement. The small, leftover space where the frozen lees were is filled with liqueur d’expedition, which will determine the sweetness level of the wine. This process is called dosage. Don’t be mistaken, though; these processes take years to complete. Champagnes must age for at least 15 months on the lees and, for vintage Champagne, 36 months.”

The Sublime effervescence associated with champagne is achieved by turning the bottles on a regular basis. The Champagne bottle is placed upside down in a holder at a 75 degree angle. Each day the riddler (above) comes through the cellar and turns the bottle 1/8th of a turn while keeping it upside down. This procedure forces the dead yeast cells into the neck of the bottle where they are subsequently removed.

Visit REIMS and EPERNAY

Reims is  home to some of the major Champagne producers, such as Taittinger. Cellar tours are available where you can travel underground to the tunnels to see how the sparkling Champagne is blended, bottled and aged. You can also visit the smaller town of Epernay, fifteen miles south of Reims. Epernay is home to many of the most famous Champagne producers, including Moët & Chandon or Perrier-Jouët. then travel to Chalons en Champagne.

Visit “The crayères at Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin; tunnels carved from the white limestone, known as crayères. n 1909, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin acquired the underground white limestone quarries,  located under Saint-Nicaise Hill on the outskirts of the city center of Reims. Travel along this labyrinth, situated 20 m below the ground, and immerse yourself in the famous brand’s atmospheric underground tunnels and the heritage of the Champagne region. The temperature of the tunnels and their constant humidity, as well as the calm which reigns there, make the tunnels an ideal location for the production of champagne.”

Champagne is not a generic term for sparkling wine from France; there are plenty more good sparkling wines from France that are not sold as champagne.  Some other excellent sparkling wines are produced in Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne), the Jura (Crémant du Jura) and the Loire valley (Vouvray and others) using the same techniques (formerly called “méthode champenoise”).

On my friends’ birthdays, I always five them a bottle of Veuve. They are always very appreciative!

Known as the capital of Champagne, Epernay’s underground preserve more than 200 million of bottles of Champagne. In 1729, the first Champagne house set up in Epernay was founded by Nicolas Ruinart, followed by Moët & Chandon in 1743.

Visit the 13th-Century UNESCO World Heritage Reims Cathedral; named as the Kings’ city, an important number of Carolingian and Capetian kings were crowned on the Notre-Dame Cathedral place during more than ten centuries. Twenty-nine Kings of France were crowned between 1027 and 1825 including: Philippe Auguste, Louis IX, François I, Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XVI.

This picture depicts the Coronation of Charles VII in Reims in the presence of Joan of Arc, E. Lenepveu; Reims played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France.

The famous Smiling Angel of Reims was decapitated by a bomb in 1914; meticulously restored after World War 1 it became a symbol of the city’s resistance to the Germans.

Joan of Arc at Reims

In 498-499, the Baptism of Clovis by St. Remi was the founding act of the Royal Anointing in Reims Cathedral. However, the first king to be crowned was Pepin the Short at Soissons in 751, then again at St. Denis in 754 by Pope Stephen II.

The Tau Palace and the old Saint-Remi Abbey are registered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Basilique St. Rémi, an 11th century Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage Site contains many interesting artifacts including: Saint Remi’s tomb, a collection of 12th century stain-glass windows and a Cattiaux grand organ. Look for the Statue of St. Remi baptizing Clovis.

Tour the famous Champagne houses, where you can taste Champagne and admire the picturesque landscape of the region’s vineyards after you visit the historical monuments.

Spend at least 48 hours in Reims as your base for exploring the region.

Facade of Reims (above) and La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), triumphal arch of the Gallo-Roman town (below).

La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), (Durocortorum); 3rd century; Reims, France.

Porte de Mars is a well preserved third century AD ancient Roman triumphal arch in Reims; comprised of three wide arches and still adorned with many friezes portraying ancient legends, including that of Romulus and Remus. Porte de Mars was dedicated to the Roman god of war.

At the time of its construction, Porte de Mars would have been one of four arches which would have led to the Gallo-Roman settlement of Durocortorum, as Reims was then known.Local folklore claims that the inhabitants of Reims built the arch in gratitude to the Romans for bringing major roads through their city. It served as a part of castle of Archeveque and a city gate until 1544. In 1817, the buildings around it were removed, bringing the arch into full view.

Visit Chalons-en-Champagne is another perfect Vino con Vista destination; less than an hour from Paris discover more history, culture and Champagne.

Collegial Notre-Dame-en-Vaux is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site; with 56 bells, it is one of the largest carillon in Europe.

Walk through the Sainte-Croix Gate built in 1769, and dedicated to Marie-Antoinette when she arrived in France. It was dedicated to Marie Antoinette when she arrived in France and took the name of Porte Dauphine. The exterior was decorated with military trophies.

Visit the Gothic Saint-Etienne Cathedral from the 13th century.

Then stop at the Halles covered Market.

Visit the Languedoc-Roussillon Region

The Languedoc-Roussillon area in southeast France is the largest wine region, with Vin de Pays d’Oc and sparkling Crémant de Limoux among its best-known varieties produced in Limoux, near Carcassonne.

“Blanquette de Limoux is reputedly the oldest sparkling wine in France; and according to the story, it was a Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon, who introduced the Limoux method of producing good sparkling wine, to the monks in Champagne who were looking for ways to improve the quality of their rather nondescript dry white wines. Regarding Dom Pérignon, the myth is almost certainly untrue; but it is well documented that Limoux was already producing sparkling wines in the 1540s,  half a century before the technique took hold in Champagne.”

Head over to The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes/UNESCO

The centrally-located Loire Valley (Val de Loire) region produces most of France’s white wine. The Loire region is defined by the Loire River, which flows from the center of the country to the Atlantic Ocean. This large region grows dozens of grape varieties on many types of soil.

Tour the Château de Chenonceau and the majestic Château de Chambord.

Perhaps the most famous of the Loire appellations is Sancerre. Visit the amazing Chateaux in the Loire Valley while your engaging in your wine adventure. Walk in the footsteps of the French Monarchs.

There are four sub-regions (from east to west) along the river valley: the Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur, and the Pays Nantais. The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. The Loire valley is France’s second largest producer of sparkling wines, after Champagne. Two of the more prestigious varieties are Vouvray and Saumur.

The premier chateaux of the Loire Valley are normally listed in most guidebooks as Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau and Chateau d’Usse.

The Rhone Valley is located from Lyon to the Camargue.

Historic Site of Lyon/UNESCO

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments/UNESCO

Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the “Triumphal Arch” of Orange/UNESCO

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)/UNESCO

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge/UNESCO

The Rhône Valley Vineyards are divided into two large wine-growing areas: in the north, the Septentrional vineyard clings to the  hillsides in the steep mountain ranges; in the south, the Meridional vineyard enjoys the plains and gentle slopes.

There are 14 wine routes through historic villages in varying landscapes where various wines are produced: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Beaumes-de-Venise. The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It encompaces two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

• The Southern Rhône has a warmer Mediterranean climate and more varied terrain. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Southern Rhône’s most famous appellation, made from up to thirteen different grape varieties.
• 
• Basic red Côtes du Rhône wine is based on grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, with cinsault and carignan sometimes blended in too.
• White grapes like grenache blanc, roussanne, clairette, and picpoul are used in the white wine.

In the southern region, discover the Palace of the Popes of Avignon and Pont du Gard; UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône) is known for red wines, from syrah in the north to grenache in the south. Southern Rhone is known for the Chateauneuf du Pape blend.

The Northern Rhône is smaller, with a cooler continental climate and granite soils. It is known for syrah-based reds from the famous appellations Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, and St-Joseph.

The Alsace Wine Region

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance in Nancy/UNESCO

• The Alsace wine region has, formerly part of Germany. 
• Alsace is located east of Champagne between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River on Germany’s border. I like their Crémant d’ Alsace, rosé sparkling wine.

• 

  90% of Alsatian wines are white varietal wines: Riesling,  Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurztraminer.

The Savoie and Jura Wine Regions

Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault tectonic arena/UNESCO

From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt/UNESCO

Fortifications of Vauban/UNESCO

• Smaller regions like Savoie and the Jura have alpine Swiss influence. The Jura region is situated between Switzerland and Burgundy, on the French side of the mountain massif. The Savoie countryside stretches from Lake Geneva and Lac d’Annecy to the glaciated peaks of Mont Blanc. Annexed by France in 1860, Savoie is located in the Rhone-Alpes region, in the foothills of the French Alps south of Jura
• 
• There are six AOC designations for the more than 200 winegrowers in the Jura. The broad Cotes de Jura AOC is the regional appellation applied to still wines from any of the regions approved (5) grapes.
• Cre’mant du Jura AOC is designated to any traditional method sparkling wine produced within the region from any of the Jura’s grapes.
• Marcvin (vin de liqueur) du Jura AOC is the fortified wine produced from, again, any of the regions approved grapes.
• In the center of the region, L’Etoile earned its white wine AOC in 1937, and today produces still wines and the other specialties from Chardonnay plus the same regional grapes.
• Go north and historic Arbois AOC, the home of Louis Pasteur,  produces some of the regions best wines, including Vin Jaune. Vin Jaune, an expensive apéritif wine not unlike Amontillado sherry, is made exclusively from the Savagnin grape variety.
• The sweet vin de Paille, a rare, highly regulated blended product of regional grapes which are air dried to meet a minimum alcohol level of 14.5!
• The most prestigious appellation for Vin Jaune in Jura is Château Chalon. This wine is made from late harvested grapes, and then left to mature in casks for at least six years.
• 

Wines of Southwest France

• Southwest France’s  wines overlap with neighboring Spain.  Inland and southwards from the Bordeaux and the Saint Emilion regions, there are a number of  less well-known wine growing areas, many of them producing quite good wines at very reasonable prices.
• These include: Bergerac, Cahors, Gaillac and Marcillac (all Appellation Contrôlée wines) , Côtes du Tarn or Vin de Pays du Lot. While Marcillac is a small area, the vineyards of Cahors, Gaillac and Bergerac are quite extensive, and best known for their reds. The Cahors area produces some of the richest and darkest red wines in France, principally using the Malbec grape variety.  However the Bergerac wine producing area is also known for its white wines, including some strong sweet aperitif wines such as Montbazillac.
• Towards the Pyrenees, there are some  good white wines from the vineyards of Jurançon and Béarn, notably from the Gascony vineyards of Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh, reputed for its distinctive aperitif wines.
• .
• Wines from Corsica
• 
• The island of Corsica combines the best of French and Italian traditions. In 1968, Patrimonio was established as Corsica’s first Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). Today, Corsica has nine AOC regions including the island-wide designation Vin de Corse AOC. The three leading grape varieties of the region are: Nielluccio (Sangiovese), known as the spice wine of France, Sciacarello and Vermentino

Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, and the Rhone Valley comprise the dominant French wine regions. These regions are known for particular grape varietals as dictated by the district’s indigenous terroir. There are over 200 indigenous wine varieties in France.

People often ask me what my favorite red wine is so here’s my list of my favorite 4 regions in France: Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Champagne.

Bordeaux

I love Pinot noir associated with the Burgundy region of France. Burgundy, located between the gastronomic hubs of Dijon and Lyon in eastern France, is dominated by pinot noir and chardonnay. Unlike in Bordeaux, the best vineyard sites may be split up among many small winemakers. Winemaking estates here are called domains.

• The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or. The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best pinot noir vineyards are planted. Burgundian pinot noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.
• South of the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune is known for the best chardonnay sites, where the wines are rich and full-bodied, yet mineral.
• Further south, the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise sub-regions produce more value-driven chardonnay wines.
• Chablis, a region to the northwest of the Côte d’Or, makes chalky, high-acid chardonnay wines.
• The Rhone Region of France

The Southern Rhone Valley produces Chateau Neuf du Pape which is another one of may favorites. I love the embossed Papal Hat and Saint Peter’s Keys on the wine bottle.

The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It has two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

Who doesn’t love Champagne? France’s northernmost wine region is located just east of Paris along the Marne River. At this northern latitude, grapes struggle to ripen, so the dominant wine style is sparkling; acidity is a virtue.

• Champagne is made using the méthode Champenoise, in which the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle. This traps carbon dioxide in the wine, creating strong yet fine bubbles. The wine also gains complex brioche-like, nutty notes from extended contact with the lees (spent yeast) in the bottle.
• The main grapes of Champagne are chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, the latter two of which are used to make blanc de noirs, white wine from black grapes. The five subregions are: the Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. Champagne can be made from just one of the varieties or a blend of two or more varieties.
• Champagne’s taste is not as dependent on the vintage as other wines in France. Most Champagne is a blend of wines from different vintages, which allows for a more consistent flavor profile. Champagne is available with sugar levels ranging from bone dry, to extra-brut and brut.

I found this comprehensive list of Wine Spectator wine maps that represent my Vino con Vista travels through France including: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc, Loire Valley, Provence and the Rhône Valley.

Here are some interactive Wine Spectator Maps for your review:

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Francemap.pdf

Deutsch: Weinberg in der Côte de Nuits, Burgund, Frankreich English: Vineyard in Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Burgundy / Red Wine A look at key red-wine producing villages in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Redburgmap.pdf

French wine region of the Cote de Nuits in Burgundy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vintages in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Photo of a vineyard in the Loire Valley, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loire Valley A detailed look at the appellations along the Loire River, from Muscadet to Chinon and Vouvray to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Loiremap.pdf

Côtes-du-rhône villages red 2007 Français Rhône Valley / Northern A detailed look at the appellations along the northern Rhône River, including Côte-Rôte, Condrieu, Château Grillet, St.-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonenorthmap.pdf

Rhône Valley / Southern A detailed look at appellations including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, as well as the Côtes du Rhône and named Côtes du Rhône-Villages

French wine from the Cote de Nuits region of Burgundy.

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonesouthmap.pdf

Here’s a map of wine regions in Southwest France:

Lourdes, is a pilgrimage town, Hautes-Pyrénées département, Occitanie région, southwestern France, southwest of Toulouse. Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees and now on both banks of a torrent, the Gave de Pau, the town and its fortress formed a strategic stronghold in medieval times. I never miss an opportunity to visit a Pilgrimage Area or Church in Europe.

You may want to visit the Sanctuary and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and bring home some holy water and rosaries for your friends; especially if they have seen “The Song of Bernadette Movie” with Jennifer Jones; one of my childhood favorites. This drama focuses on Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones), a young French woman who experiences vivid visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The first sanctuary to be built was the Crypt, which is below the Basilica of the Immaculate conception. Construction started in September 13,1863 and was consecrated in May 1866, by the Bishop of Tarbes.

Thanks Wine Spectator–we love wine regions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites at www.vino-con-vista.com

Provence (Photo credit: bkcasteel)

Related articles

• A Beginner’s Guide to French Wine
• The Guide to Côtes-du-Rhône Wine w/ Maps
• Travel to Tuscany’s Wine Regions in Italy
• Wine Review: Reds from the Rhône

I love traveling around the world exploring wine regions and enjoying the vineyard Vino con Vista. I have visited most of the wine regions of France. Even though there are 18 regions in France, there are only 9 wine regions; unlike Italy with 20 regions cloaked with vineyards. The Major Wine Regions in Vino con Vista France are Packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. France is home to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 39 cultural sites, 5 natural sites and 1 mixed site. France shares 4 of those sites with other countries; these are considered cross-border sites. My trips to Europe are generally dictated by the local UNESCO sites. My goal has been to visit all the sites in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Prior to COVID, I almost achieved this goal. I only have a few places left on this bucket list!

The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy, Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, the Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion and the Bordeaux, Port of the Moon region of Aquitaine are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and also the most famous French wine-producing regions.

A champagne vineyard in Villenauxe-la-Grande, near Epernay

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars are UNESCO Sites just an hour away from of Paris. Located in north-eastern France, the unique chalk cellars and the “historic vineyards of Hautvillers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saind-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay all represent the Champagne agro-industrial landscape.”  There are three UNESCO components: the supply basin formed by the historic hillsides, the production sites with their underground cellars, and the Champagne Houses, which are sales and distribution centers.

Combining a wine tourism trip with a UNESCO World Heritage trip is usually my favorite way to travel in Europe. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims are all UNESCO sites in the Champagne Region of France.

Paris, Banks of the Seine is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near Paris, there are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit including:

Chartres Cathedral

Palace and Park of Versailles

Palace and Park of Fontainebleau

Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

The vineyards of Bordeaux are the only vineyards with immediate access to the sea; a competitive advantage that enabled them to be France’s major wine exporting region for many centuries. The best estates in these areas have the right to sell wines designated as grand cru. At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris, Emperor Napoleon III asked each wine region to establish a classification. The 1855 Classification has been a factor in the continued success of the Châteaux at the top of the classification — namely the first and second growth Châteaux.

Châteaux of Bordeaux

Grand Cru Classé is tied to a specific chateau or estate, rather than a contiguous vineyard. Created in 1855, it comprises only left bank chateaus in Médoc, Graves and Sauternes, ranked from first to fifth growths, based on their value at that time.

The first growths are called premier crus, while second through fifth growth crus are called crus classés.

The five first-growth owners: Prince Robert de Luxembourg of Haut-Brion, Florence Rogers-Pinault of Latour, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Mouton-Rothschild, Corinne Mentzelopoulos of Margaux and Baron Eric de Rothschild of Lafite Rothschild.

“Bordeaux is defined by its historic wine-producing châteaux, which were classified in 1855 into five quality levels, or “growths,” that still influence the Bordeaux market today. The five first-growth estates (also called premier crus) command the highest prices, with their wine often sold as futures before the vintage is even released. All 61 classified châteaux are in the Médoc region on the left bank of the Gironde River. The right bank appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, although not included in the 1855 classification, are home to a handful of equally famed producers.”

Viticulture and Wine Tourism promote the regions of the world that are a treasure trove of beautiful landscapes, generally accompanied by local delicacies. The best wine regions have exceptional culinary artistry and sumptuous Michelin-starred gourmet chefs. I love to explore the terroir of the appellations, discover the vineyards, meet the talented winemakers, tour the production facilities and cellars and taste the  unique character of the wines; “The Elixir of the gods.”.

The Great Wine Capitals is a network of ten major global cities in both the northern and southern hemispheres, which share a key economic and cultural asset: their internationally renowned wine regions. These prestigious wine regions include:  Adelaide | South Australia, Bilbao | Rioja, Bordeaux, Lausanne |Switzerland, Mainz | Rheinhessen, Mendoza, Porto, San Francisco | Napa Valley, Valparaìso | Casablanca Valley and Verona. The Best Of Wine Tourism awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the ten greatest wine regions in the world. Bordeaux has won numerous awards!

I truly believe that the easiest way to learn about wine, is to visit the region and immerse yourself in the culture while you experiment with the local food and wine on your trip. When visiting California, Oregon, Washington, Italy, Spain or France, the same rules always apply; explore the local food and wine. That’s why my blog is called “Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Wino.” I have posted many of my adventures on Instagram with short videos for you to enjoy.

There are nine primary wine-producing regions in France:

Bordeaux is the world’s premier wine capital; the largest region in terms of quality wine production, where many of the world’s most expensive wines are made. Most of the top quality clarets grown in the overall area benefit from specific and distinctive  appellations: Médoc , Graves or Saint Emilion, Pauillac, Graves and Saint-Estèphe.

The Médoc, an area south of the Gironde estuary to the north west of Bordeaux, is the home of many of the most prestigious French wines: Saint Estèphe, Margaux, Saint Julien and Pauillac. “It was in 1855 that the wine producers of the Medoc region classified their 61 best wines according to a league table of “grands crus”; ranking them from “Premier Cru” to “Cinquième Cru”. These grands crus are generally reputed to be the greatest of all French wines, and naturally their prices generally reflect this status.”

It was voted Europe’s Best Destination in 2015 and is listed in the top 10 favorite places to live in France. This UNESCO World Heritage site allows you to visit wine cellars with avant-garde architecture designed by world renowned architects.

In 1152, when queen Eleanor of Aquitaine married the English King Henry II, the Aquitaine region became economically integrated into the Anglo-Norman world. The Bordeaux region became the main supplier of wine for England.

The wine regions of Bordeaux encompass a large number of wine growing areas of the Gironde department of Aquitaine.The Bordeaux region of France produces some of the world’s most famous wines including: St. Emilion, Margaux and Pauillac.

UNESCO/France Aquitaine World Heritage Sites

https://www.winetourinfrance.com/en/blog/wine-tours/la-cite-du-vin-in-bordeaux.html

In June of 2016, La Cité du Vin  (pictured above) “opened the doors to a world of wine, culture and recreation where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensory approach. The imaginative and enchanting design of the museum is an architectural marvel with sweeping curves and an ethereal tower. La Cité du Vin spans the globe to present the most comprehensive view of wine, cultures and civilizations through temporary and permanent exhibitions. With boutiques, restaurants, a reading room, and on site wine bars, it’s truly a must-see experience during any stay in Bordeaux.”

The Burgundy Wine Region

UNESCO France/BURGUNDY World Heritage Sites

The Burgundy (Bourgogne) region also makes some of the most desirable wines if you love Pinot Noir. The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or.

The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best Pinot Noir vineyards are planted.

Burgundian Pinot Noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.

Beaujolais, the region known for Beaujolais Nouveau and the Beaujolais Crus, is technically part of Burgundy. This region grows the Gamay grape.

Dijon is the historical capital of Burgundy and Beaune is the wine capital of the region. The primary wine auction in France takes place in the town of Beaune in the ancient “hospices”. Les Hospices de Beaune – the medieval hospice at Beaune, one of the most unusual ancient monuments  in France, a medieval hospital that remained in use until the 20th century.

Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu, Beaune, Burgundy, 21200

Review and book your attractions in Burgundy thru this link:

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

A hospital building of the Middle Ages, the Hospices de Beaune are part of French history. Classified as a historic monument since 1862, this exceptional monument is now a museum of history and of medicine. While you are visiting Burgundy, the Hospices of Beaune should be key destination. Also known as Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune to locals, the Hospices de Beaune used to be an almshouse in the 15th century and was used as a hospital for the poor people of the region recovering from the Hundred Years’ War. It was actually used as a fully functioning hospital until the late 1970s; it now houses a museum and a major charity wine auction every November. The Hospices, a hospital created in the 15th century for the poor, is also the owner of a prestigious wine estate whose wines are sold at a major auction in November.

The building itself is now regarded as one of the finest architectural gems in France; it was designed by the Flemish architect Jacques Wiscrère, which explains the striking resemblances to architecture typically found in the Flanders region of Belgium. The hospices’ façade is an exceptional example of Northern Renaissance architecture and features an abundance of panel painting, long half-timber galleries and, of course, the signature gabled roof and its multi-colored and geometric tiles. There are also plenty of ironworks, carvings, and tapestries inside the hospices’ walls.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/practical/getting-here-around/10-reasons-visit-beaune-region/visit-the-hospices-de-beaune

Today the hospice is a museum and art gallery, and contains one of the most famous works of medieval Flemish art, the alterpiece by Roger van der Weyden, painted for the hospice, and still in situ.

The Beaune Altarpiece (or The Last Judgement)  1445–1450, artist Rogier van der Weyden. The altarpiece was commissioned in 1443 for the Hospices de Beaune in eastern France, by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who is buried in front of the altarpiece’s original location.

Burgundian architecture is famous throughout the world. In 1457, a first gift of vines was made to the Hospices de Beaune. Since then, the hospices have received numerous other gifts. Today, the vineyard is made up of 60 hectares, of which 90% is dedicated to the production of Pinot Noir, while the rest produces Chardonnay. Eighty-five percent of the production of this vineyard is premier crus and grand crus.

Each year, an auction is organized in the same buildings as the hospices. Individuals can then acquire one or more bottles of this fabulous concoction. The funds received finance the operation of the hospices, the preservation of the building of the Hôtel Dieu, improvements to the hospital buildings of Beaune, as well as financing medical research and charity work.  The values of the founder of these hospices are part of this process: to come to the aid of the most destitute.

The prices of the wines presented during the sale, among the premier crus and the grand crus can become staggering. Even ordinary visitors can buy the wines from among the premier crus and grand crus from the domain “Hospice de Beaune”. The hospices have a small store where these bottle are sold.

Buy at the auction from 1 bottle

If you want to buy wine, you can buy them remotely and have them delivered within three days, anywhere in France.

At dusk, light images are projected onto the facades of seven of Beaune’s iconic sites, bringing out their history and symbolism (Collegiate Church of Our Lady, Hôtel Dieu, Wine Museum, St-Etienne Chapel, Belfry, Porte Marie de Bourgogne and Rempart des Dames). https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/leisure-activities/lumieres-a-beaune-visite-guidee-privee-1430407#lg=1&slide=3

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions#!/musee-de-lhotel-dieu-de-beaune-674517

Visit the Abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard in 1118. It is one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Europe. The Romanesque architecture offers a remarkable unity to all buildings remained intact since the Middle Ages. The Abbey was transformed into a paper mill after the French Revolution by the family Montgolfier and was bought back in 1906 by Edouard Aynard, the ancestor of the present owners who continue on safeguarding this masterpiece of Romanesque art. The old Abbey of Fontenay (12th century) was one of the first monuments to be inscribed on the Unesco world heritage list. This classification has distinguished the exceptional value of Fontenay and its environment.

The goal of the Cistercians was to adhere strictly to the 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict. This Rule pronounced that a monk should divide his day equally between prayer, study and manual labor, as well as live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. Most Cistercian abbeys were built to reflect this dedication to the Rule of Saint Benedict, with manual labor being an integral component. Fontenay, a fairly early addition to the order, and built directly under Bernard of Clairvaux, is no exception. Fontenay was the second “daughter house” of Clairvaux, and one of the four founding houses of the order. Saint Bernard held strong beliefs as to how abbeys should be built and, as Fontenay was built under his auspices, it conforms to Saint Bernard’s dictates to a nicety.

Like so many abbeys, Fontenay was seized during the French revolution, at which point it ceased to function as a religious center. The property was auctioned off and it became a paper mill in 1791. Later it was be adapted for other industrial purposes until purchased by Edouard Anyard, who restored its structures to their original purity. It remains in the Anyard family to this day, and is open to the public for all to see. It stands as a sober, yet stunning, reminder of the reductive beauty of Cistercian architecture.

Another place that I love in Burgundy is Abbaye de Vézelay (UNESCO World Heritage Site), is also called The Abbaye Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay. It is one of the main starting points of one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella.

Mary Magdalene’s relics

The site has been an important place of pilgrimage since relics of St. Mary Magdalene were brought here in the 10th century.

Mary Magdalene is the prototype of the penitent, and Vézelay has remained an important place of pilgrimage for the Catholic faithful, though the actual claimed relics were torched by Huguenots in the 16th century.

The central portal

Vezeley is one of the great masterpieces of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture

Sacked by the Huguenots in 1569, the building suffered neglect in the 17th and the 18th centuries. The church and hill at Vézelay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. “Shortly after its foundation in the 9th century, the Benedictine abbey of Vézelay acquired the relics of St Mary Magdalene and since then it has been an important place of pilgrimage. St Bernard preached the Second Crusade there in 1146 and Richard the Lion-Hearted and Philip II Augustus met there to leave for the Third Crusade in 1190. With its sculpted capitals and portal, the Madeleine of Vézelay – a 12th-century monastic church – is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.”

The central portion of the Vézelay tympanum shows a benevolent Christ conveying his message to the Apostles, who flank him on either side. This Christ is distinct in Romanesque architecture. The Vézelay Christ, (shown below) is pictured contraposto with arms wide open as a kind and welcoming gesture.

“The Vézelay Christ is sending the Crusaders out—he is not judging them. Indeed, the Crusaders were guaranteed remission of all sins if they participated in the Crusades. ” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9zelay_Abbey

Since 1920 it has carried the title basilica.

Detail of the Vézelay tympanum

Visit the Wine Museum in Burgundy.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions/musee-du-vin-de-bourgogne-675138

The Champagne Region of France in Marne

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars/UNESCO

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims/UNESCO

Take the Wine Road

The Champagne Region makes sparkling wines that are pricey because of the amount of labor that goes into their production.

“Champagne is produced via méthode traditionelle, also known as méthode champenoise. This process is both rigorous and time consuming; first, the wine must undergo its primary fermentation prior to bottling, then undergo a secondary fermentation in bottle. The second fermentation occurs when the tirage, a mixture of yeast and sugar, is added to the bottle. Post- secondary fermentation, the dead yeasts (known as lees) must be removed via remuage, or riddling, a lengthy process by which the upside down bottles are turned little by little to gradually shake the lees to the bottom of the neck. When the lees have all reached the top of the neck, the bottlenecks are cooled to freeze the collection of lees, the temporary cap is removed, and pressure shoots the frozen block of lees out through a process called disgorgement. The small, leftover space where the frozen lees were is filled with liqueur d’expedition, which will determine the sweetness level of the wine. This process is called dosage. Don’t be mistaken, though; these processes take years to complete. Champagnes must age for at least 15 months on the lees and, for vintage Champagne, 36 months.”

The Sublime effervescence associated with champagne is achieved by turning the bottles on a regular basis. The Champagne bottle is placed upside down in a holder at a 75 degree angle. Each day the riddler (above) comes through the cellar and turns the bottle 1/8th of a turn while keeping it upside down. This procedure forces the dead yeast cells into the neck of the bottle where they are subsequently removed.

Visit REIMS and EPERNAY

Reims is  home to some of the major Champagne producers, such as Taittinger. Cellar tours are available where you can travel underground to the tunnels to see how the sparkling Champagne is blended, bottled and aged. You can also visit the smaller town of Epernay, fifteen miles south of Reims. Epernay is home to many of the most famous Champagne producers, including Moët & Chandon or Perrier-Jouët. then travel to Chalons en Champagne.

Visit “The crayères at Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin; tunnels carved from the white limestone, known as crayères. n 1909, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin acquired the underground white limestone quarries,  located under Saint-Nicaise Hill on the outskirts of the city center of Reims. Travel along this labyrinth, situated 20 m below the ground, and immerse yourself in the famous brand’s atmospheric underground tunnels and the heritage of the Champagne region. The temperature of the tunnels and their constant humidity, as well as the calm which reigns there, make the tunnels an ideal location for the production of champagne.”

Champagne is not a generic term for sparkling wine from France; there are plenty more good sparkling wines from France that are not sold as champagne.  Some other excellent sparkling wines are produced in Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne), the Jura (Crémant du Jura) and the Loire valley (Vouvray and others) using the same techniques (formerly called “méthode champenoise”).

On my friends’ birthdays, I always five them a bottle of Veuve. They are always very appreciative!

Known as the capital of Champagne, Epernay’s underground preserve more than 200 million of bottles of Champagne. In 1729, the first Champagne house set up in Epernay was founded by Nicolas Ruinart, followed by Moët & Chandon in 1743.

Visit the 13th-Century UNESCO World Heritage Reims Cathedral; named as the Kings’ city, an important number of Carolingian and Capetian kings were crowned on the Notre-Dame Cathedral place during more than ten centuries. Twenty-nine Kings of France were crowned between 1027 and 1825 including: Philippe Auguste, Louis IX, François I, Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XVI.

This picture depicts the Coronation of Charles VII in Reims in the presence of Joan of Arc, E. Lenepveu; Reims played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France.

The famous Smiling Angel of Reims was decapitated by a bomb in 1914; meticulously restored after World War 1 it became a symbol of the city’s resistance to the Germans.

Joan of Arc at Reims

In 498-499, the Baptism of Clovis by St. Remi was the founding act of the Royal Anointing in Reims Cathedral. However, the first king to be crowned was Pepin the Short at Soissons in 751, then again at St. Denis in 754 by Pope Stephen II.

The Tau Palace and the old Saint-Remi Abbey are registered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Basilique St. Rémi, an 11th century Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage Site contains many interesting artifacts including: Saint Remi’s tomb, a collection of 12th century stain-glass windows and a Cattiaux grand organ. Look for the Statue of St. Remi baptizing Clovis.

Tour the famous Champagne houses, where you can taste Champagne and admire the picturesque landscape of the region’s vineyards after you visit the historical monuments.

Spend at least 48 hours in Reims as your base for exploring the region.

Facade of Reims (above) and La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), triumphal arch of the Gallo-Roman town (below).

La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), (Durocortorum); 3rd century; Reims, France.

Porte de Mars is a well preserved third century AD ancient Roman triumphal arch in Reims; comprised of three wide arches and still adorned with many friezes portraying ancient legends, including that of Romulus and Remus. Porte de Mars was dedicated to the Roman god of war.

At the time of its construction, Porte de Mars would have been one of four arches which would have led to the Gallo-Roman settlement of Durocortorum, as Reims was then known.Local folklore claims that the inhabitants of Reims built the arch in gratitude to the Romans for bringing major roads through their city. It served as a part of castle of Archeveque and a city gate until 1544. In 1817, the buildings around it were removed, bringing the arch into full view.

Visit Chalons-en-Champagne is another perfect Vino con Vista destination; less than an hour from Paris discover more history, culture and Champagne.

Collegial Notre-Dame-en-Vaux is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site; with 56 bells, it is one of the largest carillon in Europe.

Walk through the Sainte-Croix Gate built in 1769, and dedicated to Marie-Antoinette when she arrived in France. It was dedicated to Marie Antoinette when she arrived in France and took the name of Porte Dauphine. The exterior was decorated with military trophies.

Visit the Gothic Saint-Etienne Cathedral from the 13th century.

Then stop at the Halles covered Market.

Visit the Languedoc-Roussillon Region

The Languedoc-Roussillon area in southeast France is the largest wine region, with Vin de Pays d’Oc and sparkling Crémant de Limoux among its best-known varieties produced in Limoux, near Carcassonne.

“Blanquette de Limoux is reputedly the oldest sparkling wine in France; and according to the story, it was a Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon, who introduced the Limoux method of producing good sparkling wine, to the monks in Champagne who were looking for ways to improve the quality of their rather nondescript dry white wines. Regarding Dom Pérignon, the myth is almost certainly untrue; but it is well documented that Limoux was already producing sparkling wines in the 1540s,  half a century before the technique took hold in Champagne.”

Head over to The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes/UNESCO

The centrally-located Loire Valley (Val de Loire) region produces most of France’s white wine. The Loire region is defined by the Loire River, which flows from the center of the country to the Atlantic Ocean. This large region grows dozens of grape varieties on many types of soil.

Tour the Château de Chenonceau and the majestic Château de Chambord.

Perhaps the most famous of the Loire appellations is Sancerre. Visit the amazing Chateaux in the Loire Valley while your engaging in your wine adventure. Walk in the footsteps of the French Monarchs.

There are four sub-regions (from east to west) along the river valley: the Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur, and the Pays Nantais. The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. The Loire valley is France’s second largest producer of sparkling wines, after Champagne. Two of the more prestigious varieties are Vouvray and Saumur.

The premier chateaux of the Loire Valley are normally listed in most guidebooks as Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau and Chateau d’Usse.

The Rhone Valley is located from Lyon to the Camargue.

Historic Site of Lyon/UNESCO

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments/UNESCO

Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the “Triumphal Arch” of Orange/UNESCO

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)/UNESCO

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge/UNESCO

The Rhône Valley Vineyards are divided into two large wine-growing areas: in the north, the Septentrional vineyard clings to the  hillsides in the steep mountain ranges; in the south, the Meridional vineyard enjoys the plains and gentle slopes.

There are 14 wine routes through historic villages in varying landscapes where various wines are produced: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Beaumes-de-Venise. The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It encompaces two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

• The Southern Rhône has a warmer Mediterranean climate and more varied terrain. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Southern Rhône’s most famous appellation, made from up to thirteen different grape varieties.
• 
• Basic red Côtes du Rhône wine is based on grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, with cinsault and carignan sometimes blended in too.
• White grapes like grenache blanc, roussanne, clairette, and picpoul are used in the white wine.

In the southern region, discover the Palace of the Popes of Avignon and Pont du Gard; UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône) is known for red wines, from syrah in the north to grenache in the south. Southern Rhone is known for the Chateauneuf du Pape blend.

The Northern Rhône is smaller, with a cooler continental climate and granite soils. It is known for syrah-based reds from the famous appellations Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, and St-Joseph.

The Alsace Wine Region

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance in Nancy/UNESCO

• The Alsace wine region has, formerly part of Germany. 
• Alsace is located east of Champagne between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River on Germany’s border. I like their Crémant d’ Alsace, rosé sparkling wine.

• 

  90% of Alsatian wines are white varietal wines: Riesling,  Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurztraminer.

The Savoie and Jura Wine Regions

Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault tectonic arena/UNESCO

From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt/UNESCO

Fortifications of Vauban/UNESCO

• Smaller regions like Savoie and the Jura have alpine Swiss influence. The Jura region is situated between Switzerland and Burgundy, on the French side of the mountain massif. The Savoie countryside stretches from Lake Geneva and Lac d’Annecy to the glaciated peaks of Mont Blanc. Annexed by France in 1860, Savoie is located in the Rhone-Alpes region, in the foothills of the French Alps south of Jura
• 
• There are six AOC designations for the more than 200 winegrowers in the Jura. The broad Cotes de Jura AOC is the regional appellation applied to still wines from any of the regions approved (5) grapes.
• Cre’mant du Jura AOC is designated to any traditional method sparkling wine produced within the region from any of the Jura’s grapes.
• Marcvin (vin de liqueur) du Jura AOC is the fortified wine produced from, again, any of the regions approved grapes.
• In the center of the region, L’Etoile earned its white wine AOC in 1937, and today produces still wines and the other specialties from Chardonnay plus the same regional grapes.
• Go north and historic Arbois AOC, the home of Louis Pasteur,  produces some of the regions best wines, including Vin Jaune. Vin Jaune, an expensive apéritif wine not unlike Amontillado sherry, is made exclusively from the Savagnin grape variety.
• The sweet vin de Paille, a rare, highly regulated blended product of regional grapes which are air dried to meet a minimum alcohol level of 14.5!
• The most prestigious appellation for Vin Jaune in Jura is Château Chalon. This wine is made from late harvested grapes, and then left to mature in casks for at least six years.
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Wines of Southwest France

• Southwest France’s  wines overlap with neighboring Spain.  Inland and southwards from the Bordeaux and the Saint Emilion regions, there are a number of  less well-known wine growing areas, many of them producing quite good wines at very reasonable prices.
• These include: Bergerac, Cahors, Gaillac and Marcillac (all Appellation Contrôlée wines) , Côtes du Tarn or Vin de Pays du Lot. While Marcillac is a small area, the vineyards of Cahors, Gaillac and Bergerac are quite extensive, and best known for their reds. The Cahors area produces some of the richest and darkest red wines in France, principally using the Malbec grape variety.  However the Bergerac wine producing area is also known for its white wines, including some strong sweet aperitif wines such as Montbazillac.
• Towards the Pyrenees, there are some  good white wines from the vineyards of Jurançon and Béarn, notably from the Gascony vineyards of Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh, reputed for its distinctive aperitif wines.
• .
• Wines from Corsica
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• The island of Corsica combines the best of French and Italian traditions. In 1968, Patrimonio was established as Corsica’s first Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). Today, Corsica has nine AOC regions including the island-wide designation Vin de Corse AOC. The three leading grape varieties of the region are: Nielluccio (Sangiovese), known as the spice wine of France, Sciacarello and Vermentino

Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, and the Rhone Valley comprise the dominant French wine regions. These regions are known for particular grape varietals as dictated by the district’s indigenous terroir. There are over 200 indigenous wine varieties in France.

People often ask me what my favorite red wine is so here’s my list of my favorite 4 regions in France: Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Champagne.

Bordeaux

I love Pinot noir associated with the Burgundy region of France. Burgundy, located between the gastronomic hubs of Dijon and Lyon in eastern France, is dominated by pinot noir and chardonnay. Unlike in Bordeaux, the best vineyard sites may be split up among many small winemakers. Winemaking estates here are called domains.

• The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or. The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best pinot noir vineyards are planted. Burgundian pinot noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.
• South of the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune is known for the best chardonnay sites, where the wines are rich and full-bodied, yet mineral.
• Further south, the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise sub-regions produce more value-driven chardonnay wines.
• Chablis, a region to the northwest of the Côte d’Or, makes chalky, high-acid chardonnay wines.
• The Rhone Region of France

The Southern Rhone Valley produces Chateau Neuf du Pape which is another one of may favorites. I love the embossed Papal Hat and Saint Peter’s Keys on the wine bottle.

The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It has two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

Who doesn’t love Champagne? France’s northernmost wine region is located just east of Paris along the Marne River. At this northern latitude, grapes struggle to ripen, so the dominant wine style is sparkling; acidity is a virtue.

• Champagne is made using the méthode Champenoise, in which the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle. This traps carbon dioxide in the wine, creating strong yet fine bubbles. The wine also gains complex brioche-like, nutty notes from extended contact with the lees (spent yeast) in the bottle.
• The main grapes of Champagne are chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, the latter two of which are used to make blanc de noirs, white wine from black grapes. The five subregions are: the Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. Champagne can be made from just one of the varieties or a blend of two or more varieties.
• Champagne’s taste is not as dependent on the vintage as other wines in France. Most Champagne is a blend of wines from different vintages, which allows for a more consistent flavor profile. Champagne is available with sugar levels ranging from bone dry, to extra-brut and brut.

I found this comprehensive list of Wine Spectator wine maps that represent my Vino con Vista travels through France including: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc, Loire Valley, Provence and the Rhône Valley.

Here are some interactive Wine Spectator Maps for your review:

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Francemap.pdf

Deutsch: Weinberg in der Côte de Nuits, Burgund, Frankreich English: Vineyard in Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Burgundy / Red Wine A look at key red-wine producing villages in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Redburgmap.pdf

French wine region of the Cote de Nuits in Burgundy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vintages in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Photo of a vineyard in the Loire Valley, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loire Valley A detailed look at the appellations along the Loire River, from Muscadet to Chinon and Vouvray to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Loiremap.pdf

Côtes-du-rhône villages red 2007 Français Rhône Valley / Northern A detailed look at the appellations along the northern Rhône River, including Côte-Rôte, Condrieu, Château Grillet, St.-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonenorthmap.pdf

Rhône Valley / Southern A detailed look at appellations including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, as well as the Côtes du Rhône and named Côtes du Rhône-Villages

French wine from the Cote de Nuits region of Burgundy.

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonesouthmap.pdf

Here’s a map of wine regions in Southwest France:

Lourdes, is a pilgrimage town, Hautes-Pyrénées département, Occitanie région, southwestern France, southwest of Toulouse. Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees and now on both banks of a torrent, the Gave de Pau, the town and its fortress formed a strategic stronghold in medieval times. I never miss an opportunity to visit a Pilgrimage Area or Church in Europe.

You may want to visit the Sanctuary and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and bring home some holy water and rosaries for your friends; especially if they have seen “The Song of Bernadette Movie” with Jennifer Jones; one of my childhood favorites. This drama focuses on Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones), a young French woman who experiences vivid visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The first sanctuary to be built was the Crypt, which is below the Basilica of the Immaculate conception. Construction started in September 13,1863 and was consecrated in May 1866, by the Bishop of Tarbes.

Thanks Wine Spectator–we love wine regions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites at www.vino-con-vista.com

Provence (Photo credit: bkcasteel)

Related articles

• A Beginner’s Guide to French Wine
• The Guide to Côtes-du-Rhône Wine w/ Maps
• Travel to Tuscany’s Wine Regions in Italy
• Wine Review: Reds from the Rhône

The central portion of the Vézelay tympanum shows a benevolent Christ conveying his message to the Apostles, who flank him on either side. This Christ is distinct in Romanesque architecture. The Vézelay Christ, (shown below) is pictured contraposto with arms wide open as a kind and welcoming gesture.

“The Vézelay Christ is sending the Crusaders out—he is not judging them. Indeed, the Crusaders were guaranteed remission of all sins if they participated in the Crusades. ” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9zelay_Abbey

Since 1920 it has carried the title basilica.

Detail of the Vézelay tympanum

Visit the Wine Museum in Burgundy.

https://www.beaune-tourism.com/things-to-do/attractions/musee-du-vin-de-bourgogne-675138

The Champagne Region of France in Marne

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars/UNESCO

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims/UNESCO

Take the Wine Road

The Champagne Region makes sparkling wines that are pricey because of the amount of labor that goes into their production.

“Champagne is produced via méthode traditionelle, also known as méthode champenoise. This process is both rigorous and time consuming; first, the wine must undergo its primary fermentation prior to bottling, then undergo a secondary fermentation in bottle. The second fermentation occurs when the tirage, a mixture of yeast and sugar, is added to the bottle. Post- secondary fermentation, the dead yeasts (known as lees) must be removed via remuage, or riddling, a lengthy process by which the upside down bottles are turned little by little to gradually shake the lees to the bottom of the neck. When the lees have all reached the top of the neck, the bottlenecks are cooled to freeze the collection of lees, the temporary cap is removed, and pressure shoots the frozen block of lees out through a process called disgorgement. The small, leftover space where the frozen lees were is filled with liqueur d’expedition, which will determine the sweetness level of the wine. This process is called dosage. Don’t be mistaken, though; these processes take years to complete. Champagnes must age for at least 15 months on the lees and, for vintage Champagne, 36 months.”

The Sublime effervescence associated with champagne is achieved by turning the bottles on a regular basis. The Champagne bottle is placed upside down in a holder at a 75 degree angle. Each day the riddler (above) comes through the cellar and turns the bottle 1/8th of a turn while keeping it upside down. This procedure forces the dead yeast cells into the neck of the bottle where they are subsequently removed.

Visit REIMS and EPERNAY

Reims is  home to some of the major Champagne producers, such as Taittinger. Cellar tours are available where you can travel underground to the tunnels to see how the sparkling Champagne is blended, bottled and aged. You can also visit the smaller town of Epernay, fifteen miles south of Reims. Epernay is home to many of the most famous Champagne producers, including Moët & Chandon or Perrier-Jouët. then travel to Chalons en Champagne.

Visit “The crayères at Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin; tunnels carved from the white limestone, known as crayères. n 1909, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin acquired the underground white limestone quarries,  located under Saint-Nicaise Hill on the outskirts of the city center of Reims. Travel along this labyrinth, situated 20 m below the ground, and immerse yourself in the famous brand’s atmospheric underground tunnels and the heritage of the Champagne region. The temperature of the tunnels and their constant humidity, as well as the calm which reigns there, make the tunnels an ideal location for the production of champagne.”

Champagne is not a generic term for sparkling wine from France; there are plenty more good sparkling wines from France that are not sold as champagne.  Some other excellent sparkling wines are produced in Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne), the Jura (Crémant du Jura) and the Loire valley (Vouvray and others) using the same techniques (formerly called “méthode champenoise”).

On my friends’ birthdays, I always five them a bottle of Veuve. They are always very appreciative!

Known as the capital of Champagne, Epernay’s underground preserve more than 200 million of bottles of Champagne. In 1729, the first Champagne house set up in Epernay was founded by Nicolas Ruinart, followed by Moët & Chandon in 1743.

Visit the 13th-Century UNESCO World Heritage Reims Cathedral; named as the Kings’ city, an important number of Carolingian and Capetian kings were crowned on the Notre-Dame Cathedral place during more than ten centuries. Twenty-nine Kings of France were crowned between 1027 and 1825 including: Philippe Auguste, Louis IX, François I, Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XVI.

This picture depicts the Coronation of Charles VII in Reims in the presence of Joan of Arc, E. Lenepveu; Reims played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France.

The famous Smiling Angel of Reims was decapitated by a bomb in 1914; meticulously restored after World War 1 it became a symbol of the city’s resistance to the Germans.

Joan of Arc at Reims

In 498-499, the Baptism of Clovis by St. Remi was the founding act of the Royal Anointing in Reims Cathedral. However, the first king to be crowned was Pepin the Short at Soissons in 751, then again at St. Denis in 754 by Pope Stephen II.

The Tau Palace and the old Saint-Remi Abbey are registered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Basilique St. Rémi, an 11th century Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage Site contains many interesting artifacts including: Saint Remi’s tomb, a collection of 12th century stain-glass windows and a Cattiaux grand organ. Look for the Statue of St. Remi baptizing Clovis.

Tour the famous Champagne houses, where you can taste Champagne and admire the picturesque landscape of the region’s vineyards after you visit the historical monuments.

Spend at least 48 hours in Reims as your base for exploring the region.

Facade of Reims (above) and La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), triumphal arch of the Gallo-Roman town (below).

La Porte Mars (the Mars Gate), (Durocortorum); 3rd century; Reims, France.

Porte de Mars is a well preserved third century AD ancient Roman triumphal arch in Reims; comprised of three wide arches and still adorned with many friezes portraying ancient legends, including that of Romulus and Remus. Porte de Mars was dedicated to the Roman god of war.

At the time of its construction, Porte de Mars would have been one of four arches which would have led to the Gallo-Roman settlement of Durocortorum, as Reims was then known.Local folklore claims that the inhabitants of Reims built the arch in gratitude to the Romans for bringing major roads through their city. It served as a part of castle of Archeveque and a city gate until 1544. In 1817, the buildings around it were removed, bringing the arch into full view.

Visit Chalons-en-Champagne is another perfect Vino con Vista destination; less than an hour from Paris discover more history, culture and Champagne.

Collegial Notre-Dame-en-Vaux is a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site; with 56 bells, it is one of the largest carillon in Europe.

Walk through the Sainte-Croix Gate built in 1769, and dedicated to Marie-Antoinette when she arrived in France. It was dedicated to Marie Antoinette when she arrived in France and took the name of Porte Dauphine. The exterior was decorated with military trophies.

Visit the Gothic Saint-Etienne Cathedral from the 13th century.

Then stop at the Halles covered Market.

Visit the Languedoc-Roussillon Region

The Languedoc-Roussillon area in southeast France is the largest wine region, with Vin de Pays d’Oc and sparkling Crémant de Limoux among its best-known varieties produced in Limoux, near Carcassonne.

“Blanquette de Limoux is reputedly the oldest sparkling wine in France; and according to the story, it was a Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon, who introduced the Limoux method of producing good sparkling wine, to the monks in Champagne who were looking for ways to improve the quality of their rather nondescript dry white wines. Regarding Dom Pérignon, the myth is almost certainly untrue; but it is well documented that Limoux was already producing sparkling wines in the 1540s,  half a century before the technique took hold in Champagne.”

Head over to The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes/UNESCO

The centrally-located Loire Valley (Val de Loire) region produces most of France’s white wine. The Loire region is defined by the Loire River, which flows from the center of the country to the Atlantic Ocean. This large region grows dozens of grape varieties on many types of soil.

Tour the Château de Chenonceau and the majestic Château de Chambord.

Perhaps the most famous of the Loire appellations is Sancerre. Visit the amazing Chateaux in the Loire Valley while your engaging in your wine adventure. Walk in the footsteps of the French Monarchs.

There are four sub-regions (from east to west) along the river valley: the Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur, and the Pays Nantais. The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. The Loire valley is France’s second largest producer of sparkling wines, after Champagne. Two of the more prestigious varieties are Vouvray and Saumur.

The premier chateaux of the Loire Valley are normally listed in most guidebooks as Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau and Chateau d’Usse.

The Rhone Valley is located from Lyon to the Camargue.

Historic Site of Lyon/UNESCO

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments/UNESCO

Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the “Triumphal Arch” of Orange/UNESCO

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)/UNESCO

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge/UNESCO

The Rhône Valley Vineyards are divided into two large wine-growing areas: in the north, the Septentrional vineyard clings to the  hillsides in the steep mountain ranges; in the south, the Meridional vineyard enjoys the plains and gentle slopes.

There are 14 wine routes through historic villages in varying landscapes where various wines are produced: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Beaumes-de-Venise. The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It encompaces two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

• The Southern Rhône has a warmer Mediterranean climate and more varied terrain. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Southern Rhône’s most famous appellation, made from up to thirteen different grape varieties.
• 
• Basic red Côtes du Rhône wine is based on grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, with cinsault and carignan sometimes blended in too.
• White grapes like grenache blanc, roussanne, clairette, and picpoul are used in the white wine.

In the southern region, discover the Palace of the Popes of Avignon and Pont du Gard; UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône) is known for red wines, from syrah in the north to grenache in the south. Southern Rhone is known for the Chateauneuf du Pape blend.

The Northern Rhône is smaller, with a cooler continental climate and granite soils. It is known for syrah-based reds from the famous appellations Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, and St-Joseph.

The Alsace Wine Region

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance in Nancy/UNESCO

• The Alsace wine region has, formerly part of Germany. 
• Alsace is located east of Champagne between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River on Germany’s border. I like their Crémant d’ Alsace, rosé sparkling wine.

• 

  90% of Alsatian wines are white varietal wines: Riesling,  Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurztraminer.

The Savoie and Jura Wine Regions

Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault tectonic arena/UNESCO

From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt/UNESCO

Fortifications of Vauban/UNESCO

• Smaller regions like Savoie and the Jura have alpine Swiss influence. The Jura region is situated between Switzerland and Burgundy, on the French side of the mountain massif. The Savoie countryside stretches from Lake Geneva and Lac d’Annecy to the glaciated peaks of Mont Blanc. Annexed by France in 1860, Savoie is located in the Rhone-Alpes region, in the foothills of the French Alps south of Jura
• 
• There are six AOC designations for the more than 200 winegrowers in the Jura. The broad Cotes de Jura AOC is the regional appellation applied to still wines from any of the regions approved (5) grapes.
• Cre’mant du Jura AOC is designated to any traditional method sparkling wine produced within the region from any of the Jura’s grapes.
• Marcvin (vin de liqueur) du Jura AOC is the fortified wine produced from, again, any of the regions approved grapes.
• In the center of the region, L’Etoile earned its white wine AOC in 1937, and today produces still wines and the other specialties from Chardonnay plus the same regional grapes.
• Go north and historic Arbois AOC, the home of Louis Pasteur,  produces some of the regions best wines, including Vin Jaune. Vin Jaune, an expensive apéritif wine not unlike Amontillado sherry, is made exclusively from the Savagnin grape variety.
• The sweet vin de Paille, a rare, highly regulated blended product of regional grapes which are air dried to meet a minimum alcohol level of 14.5!
• The most prestigious appellation for Vin Jaune in Jura is Château Chalon. This wine is made from late harvested grapes, and then left to mature in casks for at least six years.
• 

Wines of Southwest France

• Southwest France’s  wines overlap with neighboring Spain.  Inland and southwards from the Bordeaux and the Saint Emilion regions, there are a number of  less well-known wine growing areas, many of them producing quite good wines at very reasonable prices.
• These include: Bergerac, Cahors, Gaillac and Marcillac (all Appellation Contrôlée wines) , Côtes du Tarn or Vin de Pays du Lot. While Marcillac is a small area, the vineyards of Cahors, Gaillac and Bergerac are quite extensive, and best known for their reds. The Cahors area produces some of the richest and darkest red wines in France, principally using the Malbec grape variety.  However the Bergerac wine producing area is also known for its white wines, including some strong sweet aperitif wines such as Montbazillac.
• Towards the Pyrenees, there are some  good white wines from the vineyards of Jurançon and Béarn, notably from the Gascony vineyards of Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh, reputed for its distinctive aperitif wines.
• .
• Wines from Corsica
• 
• The island of Corsica combines the best of French and Italian traditions. In 1968, Patrimonio was established as Corsica’s first Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). Today, Corsica has nine AOC regions including the island-wide designation Vin de Corse AOC. The three leading grape varieties of the region are: Nielluccio (Sangiovese), known as the spice wine of France, Sciacarello and Vermentino

Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence, and the Rhone Valley comprise the dominant French wine regions. These regions are known for particular grape varietals as dictated by the district’s indigenous terroir. There are over 200 indigenous wine varieties in France.

People often ask me what my favorite red wine is so here’s my list of my favorite 4 regions in France: Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Champagne.

Bordeaux

I love Pinot noir associated with the Burgundy region of France. Burgundy, located between the gastronomic hubs of Dijon and Lyon in eastern France, is dominated by pinot noir and chardonnay. Unlike in Bordeaux, the best vineyard sites may be split up among many small winemakers. Winemaking estates here are called domains.

• The grand cru vineyards are clustered in the north of the region, along the Côte d’Or. The upper part of the “gold coast” is called the Côte de Nuits, where the region’s best pinot noir vineyards are planted. Burgundian pinot noir is earthy and elegant, with soft tannins and spicy cherry fruit flavors.
• South of the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune is known for the best chardonnay sites, where the wines are rich and full-bodied, yet mineral.
• Further south, the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise sub-regions produce more value-driven chardonnay wines.
• Chablis, a region to the northwest of the Côte d’Or, makes chalky, high-acid chardonnay wines.
• The Rhone Region of France

The Southern Rhone Valley produces Chateau Neuf du Pape which is another one of may favorites. I love the embossed Papal Hat and Saint Peter’s Keys on the wine bottle.

The Rhône valley runs from north to south along the Rhône River in southeastern France. It has two fairly distinct regions, each with different climates and grapes.

Who doesn’t love Champagne? France’s northernmost wine region is located just east of Paris along the Marne River. At this northern latitude, grapes struggle to ripen, so the dominant wine style is sparkling; acidity is a virtue.

• Champagne is made using the méthode Champenoise, in which the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle. This traps carbon dioxide in the wine, creating strong yet fine bubbles. The wine also gains complex brioche-like, nutty notes from extended contact with the lees (spent yeast) in the bottle.
• The main grapes of Champagne are chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, the latter two of which are used to make blanc de noirs, white wine from black grapes. The five subregions are: the Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. Champagne can be made from just one of the varieties or a blend of two or more varieties.
• Champagne’s taste is not as dependent on the vintage as other wines in France. Most Champagne is a blend of wines from different vintages, which allows for a more consistent flavor profile. Champagne is available with sugar levels ranging from bone dry, to extra-brut and brut.

I found this comprehensive list of Wine Spectator wine maps that represent my Vino con Vista travels through France including: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc, Loire Valley, Provence and the Rhône Valley.

Here are some interactive Wine Spectator Maps for your review:

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Francemap.pdf

Deutsch: Weinberg in der Côte de Nuits, Burgund, Frankreich English: Vineyard in Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Burgundy / Red Wine A look at key red-wine producing villages in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Redburgmap.pdf

French wine region of the Cote de Nuits in Burgundy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vintages in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Photo of a vineyard in the Loire Valley, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Loire Valley A detailed look at the appellations along the Loire River, from Muscadet to Chinon and Vouvray to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Loiremap.pdf

Côtes-du-rhône villages red 2007 Français Rhône Valley / Northern A detailed look at the appellations along the northern Rhône River, including Côte-Rôte, Condrieu, Château Grillet, St.-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonenorthmap.pdf

Rhône Valley / Southern A detailed look at appellations including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, as well as the Côtes du Rhône and named Côtes du Rhône-Villages

French wine from the Cote de Nuits region of Burgundy.

http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/Maps/Rhonesouthmap.pdf

Here’s a map of wine regions in Southwest France:

Lourdes, is a pilgrimage town, Hautes-Pyrénées département, Occitanie région, southwestern France, southwest of Toulouse. Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees and now on both banks of a torrent, the Gave de Pau, the town and its fortress formed a strategic stronghold in medieval times. I never miss an opportunity to visit a Pilgrimage Area or Church in Europe.

You may want to visit the Sanctuary and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and bring home some holy water and rosaries for your friends; especially if they have seen “The Song of Bernadette Movie” with Jennifer Jones; one of my childhood favorites. This drama focuses on Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones), a young French woman who experiences vivid visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The first sanctuary to be built was the Crypt, which is below the Basilica of the Immaculate conception. Construction started in September 13,1863 and was consecrated in May 1866, by the Bishop of Tarbes.

Thanks Wine Spectator–we love wine regions and UNESCO World Heritage Sites at www.vino-con-vista.com

Provence (Photo credit: bkcasteel)

Related articles

• A Beginner’s Guide to French Wine
• The Guide to Côtes-du-Rhône Wine w/ Maps
• Travel to Tuscany’s Wine Regions in Italy
• Wine Review: Reds from the Rhône

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Castle and vineyard, Southern Rhône region, southeastern France (above) and (below)

Avignon became the residence of the Popes in 1309 during the Avignon Papacy. Nine popes lived in Avignon; only seven were officially recognized by Rome and the others were considered anti-popes.

Avignon is one of the oldest cities in France and dates back to at least the 6^th century BCE. While the earliest evidence for the permanent settlements in Avignon dates to the 6^th century BCE, several artifacts dating to Neolithic times, around 4000 BCE, have been discovered just outside of the city. So no one knows for sure when Avignon was originlly permanently settled.

Like many of France’s oldest cities, Avignon was strategically located along trading routes used by the Greeks and Romans. Under Roman rule, Avignon became a fortified city and for a time during the Middle Ages, Avignon became an Arab stronghold. Eventually, Christianity came to Avignon and the city remained a papal possession until the French Revolution of the 18^th century.

The Avignon Papacy, also known as the Babylonian Captivity, was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon rather than in Rome:

Among the popes who resided in Avignon, subsequent Catholic historiography grants legitimacy to these:

• Pope Clement V: 1305–1314 (curia moved to Avignon March 9, 1309)
• Pope John XXII: 1316–1334
• Pope Benedict XII: 1334–1342
• Pope Clement VI: 1342–1352
• Pope Innocent VI: 1352–1362
• Pope Urban V: 1362–1370 (in Rome 1367-1370; returned to Avignon 1370)
• Pope Gregory XI: 1370–1378 (left Avignon to return to Rome on September 13, 1376)

The papacy spent vast amounts of money on the facade and the luxurious frescoes in the interior. They were lavishly decorated by Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti. There are fabulous paintings and tapestries just like the Vatican in Rome.

The Palace was sacked during the French Revolution and the original luxurious contents is gone. Originally, the sumptuous fortress was the home of seven popes. It was eventually taken over by Napoleon and used for the military purposes. It became a museum in 1906.

SAINT MARTIAL CHAPEL

Commissioned by Pope Clement VI, the frescoes tell the story of Saint Martial who was sent by Saint Peter to spread the word of the Gospel in the Limousin area of France – the Pope’s native region.

SAINT JOHN CHAPEL

The walls and vault are decorated with frescoes which tell the story of the lives of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist. This cycle of frescoes was painted between 1346 and 1348 by a team of artists under the direction of Matteo Giovannetti.

Avignon lies on the Rhone river. It is surrounded by stone ramparts that were built in 1355.

The Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region  is located in the Vaucluse departement halfway between Avignon and Orange in the valley of the Rhone.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape literally translates to “The Pope’s new castle” and, indeed, the history of this appellation is firmly entwined with papal history. The wine produced in this region is considered “Southern Rhone”.

As is typical of the southern Rhône, almost all Châteauneufs are blended wines, with 13 grape varieties permitted. Most are blends of four grapes, with grenache playing the dominant role, abetted by mourvèdre, syrah and cinsault.

“The first thing to realize about the Southern Rhône is that virtually all the wines made there are blends. Grenache is the most widely planted grape, followed by Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. While single-varietal wines can be found, the vast majority follow the GSM (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre) template. It’s a natural pairing, since Grenache is vigorous and flavorful, but also thin-skinned and lacking pigment. Hence, the darker, more powerful Mourvèdre and the fruitier Syrah are blended together to achieve a more complex, enjoyable wine.” Note that the bottles are embossed with the keys of St Peter and papal hat; unique to Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings.

In 1308, Pope Clement V, former Archbishop of Bordeaux, relocated the papacy to the town of Avignon. “Avignon Popes” were said to be great lovers of Burgundy wines and did much to promote them during the 70-year Avignon Papacy.

John XXII, who succeeded Clement V, regularly drank wine from the local vineyards to the north and did much to improve viticultural practices there. Under John XXII, the wines of this area came to be known as “Vin du Pape”, this term later becoming “Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” John XXII also built the famous castle which is the symbol of the appellation.

In Avignon, visit the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), set majestically on Dome Rock. This Provençal town served as the papal seat of the Roman Catholic Church from 1309 to 1377.

Avignon is a town of art and culture best known for its annual July arts festival and the famous Pont d’Avignon also known as  The Pont Saint-Bénézet , the medieval bridge spanning the Rhône River.

Facade of the Palais des Papes in Avignon, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Avignon (Photo credit: LucaXino)

Stag Chamber Fresco above

Visit the historic papal city of Avignon to see the Papal Palace, the Episcopal Ensemble and the Avignon Bridge.

Here’s the UNESCO description:

“The surrounding ramparts and the remains of a 12th-century bridge over the Rhone. Beneath this outstanding example of Gothic architecture, the Petit Palais and the Romanesque Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms complete an exceptional group of monuments that testify to the leading role played by Avignon in 14th-century Christian Europe.”

UNESCO

Avignon has many interesting historic treasures and interesting things to see and do: a famous performing arts festival in the summer called Festival d’Avignon, Europe’s largest Gothic palace, Côtes du Rhône wine, a partially finished rhyme bridge and a historic 14th century crenellated walled city.

Book a room at the luxurious Vino con Vista La Mirande, housed in a 15th century building. www.la-mirande.fr

You can even take a cooking class http://www.la-mirande.fr/#/en/programme/

Check out the Avignon Cathedral.

Avignon Cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Schedule a Vino con Vista adventure to the  Châteauneuf-du-Pape estates in the Rhone Valley.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a French wine appellation from the Southern Rhone region known for its bold Grenache-based red blends about 12 km from Avignon.  Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of thirteen varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin, Counoise, Vaccarese, Picpoul, Terret Black, Clairette, Bourboulenc Roussane Picardon. Composition is the secret of the winemaker.

List of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine estates

The imposing ruins of a 14th century castle overlook Chateauneuf-du-Pape was erected by Pope John XXII of Avignon who used it for a temporary residence. It was heavily damaged during the Religious Wars when the village was occupied by the Huguenots.

Here’s a link to events in Vaucluse:

http://www.provenceguide.co.uk/

Vaucluse has plenty of Michelin Stars. Find them here:

http://www.provenceguide.co.uk/home/vaucluse-in-provence/food-and-wine/restaurants/all-restaurants.aspx

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ http://www.vino-con-vista.com

Watch the UNESCO video:

http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/?pg=34&pattern=avignon&related=

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Monument to the Portuguese discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), Lisbon. Detail of the eastern side, showing St Francis Xavier (right) and Afonso de Albuquerque (left)

Vino con Vista and UNESCO love Portugal. Sintra and Fado music as well as the Douro Wine Region are all UNESCO World Heritage sites in Portugal that I have visited. What a gorgeous coastline Portugal has. There are so many interesting sites you need at least 4 weeks in Portugal to explore the wealth of the monarchy. Through the nearly 800 years in which Portugal was a monarchy, the kings held various other titles and pretensions. Two kings of Portugal, Ferdinand I and Afonso V, also claimed the crown of Castile. When the House of Habsburg came into power, the kings of Spain, Naples, and Sicily also became kings of Portugal. The House of Braganza brought numerous titles to the Portuguese Crown, including King of Brazil and then de jure Emperor of Brazil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_Portuguese_monarchs

https://www.almaria.pt/edificio-exlibris/en/important-dates-in-portuguese-history

The Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belém in Lisbon are UNESCO WORLD Heritage Sites in Portugal.

“This serial World Heritage property comprises the Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belém, both known as the complex of Belém, located on the shore of the Tagus River at the entrance to the port of Lisbon. The Monastery of the Hieronymites is a royal foundation that dates back to the late 15th century. It was commissioned by King D. Manuel I and donated to the monks of Saint Hieronymus so that they would pray for the King, and pay spiritual assistance to seafarers that left the shores of Lisbon in quest for the new world. The monastery was also built to perpetuate the memory of Prince Henry the Navigator. Its very rich ornamentation derives from the exuberance typical of Manueline art. Being symbolically linked to the Age of Discoveries, the monastery still preserves most of its magnificent structures, including its 16th-century Cloister, the friars’ former Refectory, and the Library.

Not far from the monastery, on the banks of the Tagus River, Francisco de Arruda constructed the famous Tower of Belém around 1514, also known as the Tower of St Vincent, patron of the city of Lisbon, which commemorated the expedition of Vasco da Gama and also served to defend the port of Lisbon. The cross of the Knights of Christ is repeated indefinitely on the parapets of this fortress, while the watch towers that flank it are capped with ribbed cupolas inspired by Islamic architecture.” UNESCO

Watch this video

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/263/video

Lisbon Portugal is an incredibly beautiful city on the Tagus River. Portugal is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with a massive 350 mile southwestern Atlantic Coastline. Portugal is surrounded by 4 mountain chains: Caramulo, Bucaco, Nave and Estrela that protects some of the vineyards from cold Atlantic winds and continental storms.

The cultural landscape of Sintra is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sintra is a resort town in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, near Lisbon. In 1840 Ferdinand II turned a ruined medieval monastery into a castle and royal sanctuary surrounded by a park and lush gardens. The interior contains painted and tiled decorations with features characteristic of the Mudéjar and late Gothic Manueline styles.

“Ferdinand II conversion of the monastery, which was abandoned after the 1755 earthquake reduced it to ruins, is eclectic in its use of Egyptian, Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance elements to produce an ensemble that is a pure expression of the Romantic Movement. Within the 19th century Palace are the church, cloister, and refectory of the 16th century monastery, richly decorated with azulejos.” UNESCO

Sign up for a guided tour through this link

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/guided-tours-of-the-parks-of-sintra/0d2e855c-1344-47de-9100-c74847a2923c

Watch this video about the history of the Moorish castle

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/an-illustrated-history-of-the-moorish-castle/f5a10224-c080-41e8-aafd-c1bb12315ed8

Click on this UNESCO link for the photo gallery

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/723/gallery/

“The Moorish and Manueline-style Sintra National Palace is distinguished by dramatic twin chimneys and elaborate tilework. The hilltop 19th-century Pena National Palace is known for a whimsical design and sweeping views.”

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/cultural-landscape-of-sintra-portugal/e697ad78-5fdf-47ee-be71-41c59fbd117f

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/723/gallery/

The Alto Douro Wine Region is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Portugal

“The river Douro and its principal tributaries, the Varosa, Corgo, Távora, Torto, and Pinhão, form the backbone of the mountain landscape, which is protected from the harsh Atlantic winds by the Marão and Montemuro mountains, has been transformed by steeply sloping terraced vineyards that cover some 24,600 ha.

Throughout the centuries, row upon row of terraces have been built according to different techniques. The earliest, employed during the pre-phylloxera era (pre-1860), was that of the socalcos, narrow and irregular terraces buttressed by walls of schistous stone, which require continuous maintenance on which only one or two rows of vines could be planted. The long lines of continuous, regularly shaped terraces date from the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20th century when the Douro vineyards were rebuilt, following the phylloxera attack. The new terraces altered the landscape, not only because of the monumental walls that were built but also owing to the fact that they were wider and slightly sloping to ensure that the vines would be better exposed to the sun.

Along the lower banks of the Douro or on the edges of watercourses on the hillsides are groves of orange trees, sometimes walled. The landscape is covered with brushwood and scrub and, here and there, a coppice of trees alternating with vineyards. Water used to be collected in catchments along stone channels. Characteristically white-walled villages and casais are usually located midway up the valley sides. Around an often imposing 18^th century parish church, rows of houses opening directly on to the street to form a web of narrow, twisty roads with some notable examples of vernacular architecture. The Douro quintas are major landmarks, easily identified by the groups of farm buildings and wineries that around the main house particularly in the Upper Corgo and the Upper Douro. The landscape is dotted with small chapels located high on the hills or next to manor houses.

Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro region for some 2,000 years. Since the 18th century, its main product, port wine, has been world famous for its quality. This long tradition of viticulture has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution.” UNESCO

Watch this video

There are over 250 indigenous grape varieties that produce wine with an impressive array of flavors! Portugal has the largest number of micro-climates per square kilometer in the world. There are a wealth of soil types: granite, schist, clay, limestone and sand.

Most Portuguese wine-makers are “Masters Blenders”; blending different grape varieties allows them to produce a desirable flavor profile. Wines from Portugal are influenced by the high precipitation, fog, moderate temperatures and high rainfall and cold and salty winds from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea with hot and dry summers and mild winters and Continental amplitudes with low to moderate rainfall on the eastern Spanish border. The 3 largest wine producing regions are: Douro (23%), Alentejo (20%) and Lisboa (14%). After joining the EU in 1986, there was a huge infusion capital for technology and quality improvements  in Portugal’s Wine Industry.

The Lisboa Card is a sightseeing pass that helps visitors see Lisbon’s attractions, saving them both time and money.

• Free entry in 26 monuments, museums and attractions
• Unlimited use of Lisbon’s public transport, including metro, bus, tram, funicular and commuter train to Sintra and Cascais
• 10 to 50% discount in several services, including hop-on hop-off buses, river cruises and fado performances

These are Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Cultural (16)

• Alto Douro Wine Region (2001)
• Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (1983)
• Convent of Christ in Tomar (1983)
• Cultural Landscape of Sintra (1995): the most popular day trip from Lisbon, Sintra’s UNESCO World Heritage status is well-deserved. While the most popular attraction is the Palácio de Pena, a former summer palace for the royal family. Commissioned by Ferdinand II in 1842, the brightly-painted buildings and mixture of architectural styles reflect the king’s love of the arts. Pena Park was created at the same time as Pena Palace. It houses over five hundred species of trees, ferns, and flowers from all over the world.
• 
• Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications (2012)
• Historic Centre of Évora (1986)
• Historic Centre of Guimarães (2001)
• Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar (1996)
• Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture (2004)
• Monastery of Alcobaça (1989)
• Monastery of Batalha (1983);

  The Batalha Monastery (“the monastery of the battle”) in central Portugal is a ornate, Late Gothic building.

  

  The monastery exists to commemorate a military victory. In 1385, despite being outnumbered and poorly equipped, the troops of King João I won the Battle of Aljubarrota against the Castilians. The most famous battle in Portuguese history, it ensured the country its independence and started a new royal dynasty.

  

  Before the battle, João prayed for help from the Virgin Mary, promising that if he won, he would build a great monument to the saint. The monastery took over 150 years to build.

  Originally, it was called the Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória (Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory), the building was somewhat damaged by the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, then ransacked and set on fire by conquering Napoleonic troops a little over fifty years later. After the dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal in 1834, the building was abandoned. King Ferdinand II started a restoration program to save Batalha Monastery. The rebuilt monastery was declared a national monument in 1907 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

  

  Small chapels were built to house the tombs of the first seven Portuguese kings; when the workers on the project were called away to build the famous Jerónimos Monastery in Belem, the roof and ceiling were never completed.

  

  Several prominent figures from Portuguese history are buried at Batalha Monastery, including King João I and his wife Philippa, along with their famous son, Henry the Navigator.

  

• Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (1983)
• Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (1998,2010)
• Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (2019)
• Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (2019)
• University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (2013)

There are also many UNESCO side trips that are available from Lisbon.

I love the Cristo-Rei (Christ the King) monument overlooking Lisbon. It was inspired by Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue, the Cristo Rei (about 360 feet high) was erected in 1959.

Cristo Rei is open daily. Opening times: 9.30 am–6 pm (21 Sep to 30 Jun),

9.30 am–6.45 pm (1-14 Jul and 1-20 Sep)

9.30 am–7.30 pm (15 Jul to 31 Aug)

On December 25th opens at 2.30 pm; on  January 1st opens at 10 am.

When you visit Lisbon, schedule enough time in Portugal to explore central Portugal’s magnificent coast and charming villages. Visit the quaint streets of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for the captivating Pena Palace.

Make time to visit the former fishing village of Cascais.

Then head to the coast where you can soak up the sun in the famous beach town of Cascais.

Take the wine road to the coastal Lisboa region north and northeast of  Lisbon. These are the westernmost vineyards in Europe. Choose from the Rota dos Vinhos de Bucelas or The Rota da Vinha e do Vinho de Lisboa which has 3 options: Quintas de Alenquer, Linhas de Torres and Obidos. Check out this site for more information:

www.vinhosdelisboa.pt

There are 2 Wines of Portugal Tasting Rooms that will allow you to taste wine from some of Portugal’s 14 wine regions and 31 Denomination of Origin areas. Taste some amazing blends from some of the 250 native grape varieties. Visit the Wines of Portugal Lisbon Tasting room in the Sala de Provas de Lisboa or the Porto Tasting Room in the Sala de Provas do Porto.

Schedule a day trip to Fátima, Nazaré and/or Óbidos from Lisbon.

In Lisbon, there are so many beautiful sites. Stroll through Lisbon’s historic cobblestone streets. Walk through the city’s oldest quarter, the Moorish Alfama neighborhood and head over to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte viewpoint, one of the best vantage points in the city. Visit Sé de Lisboa cathedral, Eden Theatre, and the famed Chiado neighborhood. See the scenic coast of Belém and a UNESCO-recognized monastery.

FADO (Photo credit: Jose Carlos Babo)

If you want to visit a gorgeous city, head to Lisbon Portugal. I love the Monument to the Discoveries; it commemorates the Portuguese explorers who participated in the Age of Discovery of the 15th and 16th centuries. You will find this monument on the estuary of the Tagus river in the Belém parish of Lisbon.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

View of Lisbon Castle in an illuminated manuscript (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On the left, their are the names of the navigators in the  Monument to the Portuguese discoveries:  Bartolomeu Dias, Diogo Cão and António Abreu raising a padrão (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Image via Wikipedia

The Castle of São Jorge occupies a commanding position overlooking the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and the Tagus River beyond. The fortified citadel, which dates from medieval times, is located atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city. The castle is one of the main historical and touristic sites of Lisbon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: The tomb of Vasco da Gama, in the Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon.

English: The Monastery of Jerónimos, Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lisbon has two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. They were recently awarded a cultural UNESCO designation for Fado.

English: The Tower of Belém, Lisbon, Portugal. View from Northeast. Français : La Tour de Belém, Lisbonne, Portugal, vue depuis le Nord est. Italiano: La Torre di Belém vista da nord-est, Lisbona, Portogallo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Image via Wikipedia

I love the Vasco de Gama Bridge and the monument to Christ the King. The Cristo Rei monument stands on the southern bank of the Tagus River, in Almada where Christ stands with open arms. This statue was inspired by the Corcovado Christ the Redeemer  monument in Rio de Janeiro.

I also love the Monument to the Discoveries representing the the maritime Portuguese Explorers during the 15th and 16th centuries. Expeditions started in 1419  along West Africa’s coast under Prince Henry the Navigator.  Bartolomeu Dias got to the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean in 1488. In 1588, Vasco da Gama led the first fleet around Africa to India. Methodical Portuguese expeditions started in 1419.

“Padrão dos Descobrimentos” (Monument to the Discoveries) is located on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary; where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. This magnificent sculpture was conceived in 1939 by Portuguese architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo, and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida.

The Tower of Belem was designed to protect the Tagus Estuary from pirates, but it isn’t the only castle in Lisbon.

When I was in Lisbon, I had an opportunity to attend a Fado concert at ST. GEORGE’S CASTLE. From the millennium-old walls of the castle of Sao Jorge, I had a panoramic Vino con Vista view of this historic city.

Image via Wikipedia

I basically won the Fado lottery on this Vino con Vista adventure because I was introduced to Fado by listening to Carlos do Carmo. He belted out some incredible tunes. Most of the members of his Portuguese audience in Lisbon were singing along. He is like the Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley of Fado.

Image via Wikipedia

The Castle of Sao Jorge was an outstanding concert venue. taking hilltop venue overlooking the city of Lisbon and the Tagus River.

Fado en las calles (Photo credit: machbel)

This was my first exposure to Fado. Many Fado lyrics are drawn from poetry. I liked the mournful music so much, that I bought a Carlos do Carmo CD at the concert. Watch this video to see him in concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V66wB4aomvI&feature=related

Image via Wikipedia

Historians concur that Fado is a “multicultural blending of melodies by Portuguese  sailors, African slave songs and ancient Moorish ballads.” Fado songs are usually performed by a solo singer, male or female. The solo singer is traditionally accompanied by a wire-strung acoustic guitar and the Portuguese guitarra (a pear-shaped lute with twelve wire strings).

Image via Wikipedia

Portugal has numerous Fado venues where you can hear the soulful music. There is a Fado Museum in Lisbon.

Fado is Lisbon’s traditional music genre.  This “distinctive melancholic form of traditional singing, accompanied by  classical and Portuguese guitars has themes associated with passion, fate and regret.”

On November 27, 2011, Fado was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. UNESCO is interested in protecting cultural traditions; Intangible Cultural Heritage includes “traditions and skills passed on within cultures.”

UNESCO describes Fado as the “urban popular song of Portugal”:

Fado (Lisboa – Portugal) (Photo credit: Patxi64)

“Fado is a performance genre incorporating music and poetry widely practiced by various communities in Lisbon. It represents a Portuguese multicultural synthesis of Afro-Brazilian sung dances, local traditional genres of song and dance, musical traditions from rural areas of the country brought by successive waves of internal immigration, and the cosmopolitan urban song patterns of the early nineteenth century.” (UNESCO) For more information visit UNESCO’s website here

Image via Wikipedia

Furthermore, Lisbon won The Academy of Urbanism’s “European City of the Year 2012.”  The organization was impressed with “Lisbon’s development of the River Tagus waterfront (now home to the annual Festival dos Oceanos) and the revival of Mouraria, one of the city’s typical historic quarters. Lisbon has successfully managed to sustain its classical and modern architecture. There was a tremendous amount of rebuilding after the great earthquake of 1755.”

The Academy  of Urbanism is “an autonomous, politically independent organisation whose goals are the recognition, learning and promoting of best practices in urbanism.”

Here’s a great video to watch before you plan your trip to Portugal: http://youtu.be/qt-T6Zbry98

When I was in Lisbon, I also did some side trips. I went to see Portugal’s natural and architectural wonders of Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon.

I visited Sintra; an old pedestrian village that was founded a thousand years ago. The Greeks named Sintra the “Mountain of the Moon” and today is still a true fairy tale village. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1995.

We drove along the Atlantic Coast to Cascais; a former fishing village that gained fame as a resort for Portugal’s royal family in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Cascais was the summer retreat of the Portuguese nobility, and today the town is an elegant fusion of decorative 19th-century architecture and modern tourist facilities.

 

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

Image via Wikipedia

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This is the port producing Douro Valley. This is a great place for a river boat cruise along the Douro River.

Here’s an map of Portugal’s regions including the Port-producing Douro Valley.

View or download map PDF

After you visit the Alto Douro Wine Region World Heritage Site you should definitely visit Lisbon. Then schedule enough time in Portugal to explore central Portugal’s magnificent coast and charming villages. Visit the quaint streets of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for the captivating Pena Palace. Then head to the coast where you can soak up the sun in the famous beach town of Cascais.

I truly enjoyed Fatima because I love Marian pilgrimages. Fatima is in central Portugal home to the Sanctuary of Fátima, a Catholic pilgrimage site.

The story of a famous miracle in Fátima, Portugal, began in May 1917, when three children (ages 7, 9, and 10) claimed to have encountered the Virgin Mary on their way home from tending a flock of sheep. The three Fátima children were Lucia Santos, 10, in the middle; with her cousins, Jacinta, 7, and Francisco Marto, 9.  The Shrine of Fatima is a place of pilgrimage, which celebrates the memory of its founding event, the apparitions of Our Lady to the three little Shepherds. The pilgrim’s pastoral hospitality is a key element to its mission. There is a movie called Fatima that you should watch before you visit the town and the shrine. Here’s a link to the website https://www.fatima.pt/en

“It was Mary’s final appearance, on Oct. 13, 1917, that became the most famous. In his book “Looking for a Miracle,” Joe Nickell states that “an estimated 70,000 people were in attendance at the site, anticipating the Virgin’s final visit and with many fully expecting that she would work a great miracle. As before, the figure appeared, and again only to the children. Identifying herself as ‘the Lady of the Rosary,’ she urged repentance and the building of a chapel at the site. After predicting an end to [World War I] and giving the children certain undisclosed visions, the lady lifted her hands to the sky. Thereupon Lucia exclaimed, ‘The sun!’ As everyone gazed upward, and saw that a silvery disc had emerged from behind clouds, they experienced what is known [as] a ‘sun miracle’.”

Take the wine road to the coastal Lisboa wine region north and west of  Lisbon. Choose from the Rota dos Vinhos de Bucelas or The Rota da Vinha e do Vinho de Lisboawhich has 3 options: Quintas de Alenquer, Linhas de Torres and Obidos. Check out this site for more information:

www.vinhosdelisboa.pt

There are 2 Wines of Portugal Tasting Rooms that will allow you to taste wine from some of Portugal’s 14 wine regions and 31 Denomination of Origin areas. Taste some amazing blends from some of the 250 native grape varieties. Visit the Wines of Portugal Lisbon Tasting room in the Sala de Provas de Lisboa or the Porto Tasting Room in the Sala de Provas do Porto.

Portugal produces primarily rich whites and big reds. Here are some of the world’s major wine-producers:

In the 19th century Sintra became the first center of European Romantic architecture. Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements and in the creation of a park blending local and exotic species of trees. Other fine dwellings, built along the same lines in the surrounding serra , created a unique combination of parks and gardens which influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/723/video/

Brief Synthesis

The Cultural Landscape of Sintra is located in Portugal’s central region, at the extreme west of the Iberian Peninsula and a few kilometres away from the Atlantic Ocean. This Cultural Landscape is an exceptional mixture of natural and cultural sites within a distinct framework. Seen from a distance, it gives the impression of an essentially natural landscape that is distinct from its surroundings: a small chain of forested granite mountains rising over the hilly rural landscape. When seen from closer at hand, the Serra reveals a surprisingly rich cultural evidence spanning over several centuries of Portugal’s history.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/723/gallery/

Around 1840, Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle in which Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements were displayed. He surrounded the palace with a vast Romantic park, unparalleled elsewhere planted with rare and exotic trees, decorated with fountains, watercourses and series of ponds, cottages, chapels and mock ruins, and traversed by magical paths. He also restored the forests of the Serra, where thousands of trees were planted to supplement the oaks and umbrella pines which made a perfect contribution to the romantic character of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.

The Royal Palace is undoubtedly the dominant architectural feature of Sintra, situated in the town centre. Probably constructed on the site of the Moorish alcazar of Sintra, the palace’s buildings date from the early 15th and early 16th centuries. One of the most important features of the Palace is the facing with tiles (azulejos), the finest example of this Mudéjar technique on the lberian Peninsula. The interior contains painted and tiled decoration and other features characteristic of the Mudéjar and late Gothic Manueline styles.

The Pena Palace, high on a peak in the Serra, is a work of pure Romanticism, designed by the Portuguese architect Possidónio da Silva. Ferdinand II conversion of the medieval monastery, which was abandoned after the 1755 earthquake reduced it to ruins, is eclectic in its use of Egyptian, Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance elements to produce an ensemble that is a pure expression of the Romantic Movement. Within the 19th century Palace are the church, cloister, and refectory of the 16th century monastery, richly decorated with azulejos.

The Palace of Monserrate was designed for Sir Francis Cook by the distinguished British architect James Knowles Junior. Again, it is an example of mid-19th century eclecticism, adapted to the remains of the earlier building, also ruined in the 1755 earthquake. lt combines neo-Gothicism with substantial elements derived from the architecture of lndia. Monserrate is renowned for its gardens, largely the work of Thomas Gargill: careful analysis of the microclimatic zones of the land made it possible to plant over 3000 exotic species, collected from all parts of the world.

The earliest structure on the site of Quinta da Penha Verde was built by the 16th century Portuguese captain and viceroy João de Castro and enlarged by his heirs and successors. The ensemble is somewhat austere but has a harmony of its own, with a series of chapels dating from the 16th-18th centuries.

The Palace of Ribafrias, with its chapel, is in the centre of the town and was built in 1514 by the Royal Great Chamberlain, Gaspar Gonçalves. lts original rather severe lines have been softened by subsequent alterations, such as the insertion of Manueline and Pombaline windows into the facade.

The Moorish Castle, high on a peak of the Serra, might be of Visigothic origin; it was certainly used in the 9th century, during the Moorish occupation. lt was finally abandoned with the successful Reconquista of Portugal from the Moors. Now in ruins, the remains of its barbican, keep and walls vividly illustrate the problems of constructing a fortress on a rocky outcrop of this kind.

Other buildings in this group are the Palace of Seteais (late 18th/early 19th century), the Quinta de Regaleira (late 17th century), and the Town Hall (early 20th century).

The Trinity Convent of the Arrabalde was founded by a group of monks from the Trinity Convent in Lisbon in 1374 in a quiet valley of the Serra. Their primitive hermitage was replaced by the first monastery in 1400 and reconstructed a century later. Following severe damage in the 1755 earthquake, much of it had to be rebuilt. The present small cloister dates from 1570 and the church largely from the late 18th century. lt has retained the tranquillity that attracted the first monastic community to this site.

The Church of Santa Maria, with its three naves, represents the transition between Romanesque and Gothic of the mid-12th century. The facade and tower are from 1757.

Other churches in the town are the Sao Martinho and Sao Miguel parish churches (mainly post-1755), the former Sao Pedro de Canaferrim parish church inside the Moorish castle (12th century) and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia (17th-18th centuries).

Work on the Parque de Pena was begun by Ferdinand II around 1840. Many species were brought from North America, Asia and New Zealand. The whole park covers 210 ha, including the Tapada do Mocho and the Moorish castle and is enclosed by a stone wall. The higher ground is covered with oak, cypress, and pine woodland, but nearer the castle there are more classical gardens, with parterres and some remarkable specimens of Taxus baccata and Sequoia sempervirens. Among the most notable features of these gardens are the Garden of the Camellias and the “English Garden” with its unique specimens of cycas, and the Garden of the Feitoria da Condessa with its remarkable dendrological variety.

The Parque de Monserrate covers 50 ha on the northern slopes of the Serra. William Beckford’s remodelling of the existing palace in the late 18th century involved the creation of a landscape garden. When he took over, Sir Francis Cook employed James Burt to design various sites for exotic gardens. The planned gardens are surrounded by a semi-natural oak forest.

Other prestigious homes were built along the same lines in the surrounding Serra de Sintra (also known as Monte da Lua, the Mountain of the Moon).

Major landmarks such as the Pena Castle, the Moorish Castle, the Church of São Pedro, Penha Verde, the Cruz Alta, and Palace of Seteais interact with one another and with the landscape; they have been restored earlier and have an authentic raison d’être with surprising views which differ from every angle.

Even though magnificent royal residences in the Romantic style are often to be found in 19th and 20th century Europe, Sintra is a pioneer work of European romanticism, bringing together its incredible botanical richness and a diversity of monuments and buildings from a long period of history. Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture.

This cultural landscape is an extraordinary and unique complex of parks, gardens, palaces, country houses, monasteries and castles, which create an architecture that harmonizes with the exotic and overgrown vegetation, creating micro-landscapes of exotic and luxuriant beauty, such as Mexican cypress, Australian acacias and eucalyptus as well as pine trees. This amalgamation of exotic styles changes the landscape into an abundant world which offers surprises at every turn in the path, leading the visitor from a discovery to another. Its uniqueness and botanical richness presented to the visitor with great accuracy, and its charming environment make it unique among landscapes. This syncretism between nature and ancient monuments, villas and quintas with monasteries and chalets influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.

The World Heritage property has 946 ha and is surrounded by a buffer zone of 3,641 ha.

Criterion (ii): In the 19th century, Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements and in the creation of parks, blending local and exotic species of trees. Ferdinand II (1836-1885) thereby developed romanticism in a splendid form that was unique in the Mediterranean region.

Criterion (iv): The landscape is a unique example of European Romanticism with the cultural occupation of the northern slope of the Serra that has maintained its essential integrity as the representation of diverse successive cultures, as well as the associated flora and fauna. The romantic atmosphere, strengthened over time, and the reminders of the Victorian period as well as the exotic allusions are still potent and can be easily recognized throughout the landscape. The villas and quintas with their gardens and parks that cover the major area of the property correspond to a clearly defined landscape designed and created intentionally by people through landscape design.

Criterion (v): The cultural landscape, with its local and exotic vegetation – such as Mexican cypress, Australian acacias and eucalyptus, and pine trees -, its crests and piles of granite rocks covering the archaeological remains, palaces and parks, as well as the historic centre of Sintra and other fine dwellings, built along the same lines in the surrounding Serra, forms a continuing and organically evolved landscape, which has been sustained by painstaking restoration and preservation projects. This unique combination of parks and gardens turned the landscape into an abundant world, which offers surprises at every turn in the paths, leading the visitor from a discovery to another, and influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.

Integrity

The state of conservation of historic buildings that are open to the public is excellent thanks to the appropriate maintenance and rehabilitation actions they have undergone, and the architectural surveys that have been conducted.

In cultural terms, the uniqueness of Sintra resides in the fact that, even though magnificent royal residences in the Romantic style are often to be found in 19th and 20th century Europe, the property is a pioneer work of European romanticism, bringing together its botanical richness and a diversity of monuments and buildings from a long time span in history. Within the boundaries of the 946 ha property are located all the elements necessary to express the Outstanding Universal Value of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.

Authenticity

Despite the transformations the landscape of Sintra went through in the 20th century, most of its buildings have preserved their structural authenticity, and so have its gardens and parks. Adaptation to modern times has not jeopardized the authenticity of the cultural landscape. The original design can still be traced in the most important parks such as Pena and Monserrate and in some of the small gardens included in this ensemble. The major landmarks such as the Palace of Pena, the Moorish Castle, the Palace of Sintra, the church of São Pedro, Penha Verde, the Cruz Alta, the Estate of Regaleira and the Palace of Seteais, that interact with one another and with the landscape, have been restored and retain their authenticity. Likewise, agricultural buildings that have preserved their activity show a satisfactory condition, as the small changes they went through are insignificant, not jeopardizing the authenticity of the whole group of buildings. The romantic atmosphere, strengthened over time, and the reminders of the Victorian period, as well as the exotic references, are still strong and can be easily recognized in the landscape.

Cultural Landscapes

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play_arrow Cultural Landscape of Sintra (UNESCO/NHK)

Portugal

Date of Inscription: 1995

Criteria: (ii)(iv)(v)

Property : 946 ha

Buffer zone: 3,641 ha

Dossier: 723

Sintra/Serra

N38 46 59.988 W9 25 0.012

The Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belém, both known as the complex of Belém, located on the shore of the Tagus River at the entrance to the port of Lisbon. The Monastery of the Hieronymites is a royal foundation that dates back to the late 15th century.

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery (Portuguese: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, IPA: [muʃˈtɐjɾu ðuʒ ʒɨˈɾɔnimuʃ]) is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, Portugal; it was secularised on 28 December 1833 by state decree and its ownership transferred to the charitable institution, Real Casa Pia de Lisboa.

The monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. It was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém, in 1983.

Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbor, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/263/video/

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

“This serial World Heritage property comprises the Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belém, both known as the complex of Belém, located on the shore of the Tagus River at the entrance to the port of Lisbon. The Monastery of the Hieronymites is a royal foundation that dates back to the late 15th century. It was commissioned by King D. Manuel I and donated to the monks of Saint Hieronymus so that they would pray for the King, and pay spiritual assistance to seafarers that left the shores of Lisbon in quest for the new world. The monastery was also built to perpetuate the memory of Prince Henry the Navigator. Its very rich ornamentation derives from the exuberance typical of Manueline art. Being symbolically linked to the Age of Discoveries, the monastery still preserves most of its magnificent structures, including its 16th-century Cloister, the friars’ former Refectory, and the Library.

Not far from the monastery, on the banks of the Tagus River, Francisco de Arruda constructed the famous Tower of Belém around 1514, also known as the Tower of St Vincent, patron of the city of Lisbon, which commemorated the expedition of Vasco da Gama and also served to defend the port of Lisbon. The cross of the Knights of Christ is repeated indefinitely on the parapets of this fortress, while the watch towers that flank it are capped with ribbed cupolas inspired by Islamic architecture.

Created by the royal dynasty of Avis at its height, the complex of Belém is one of the most representative examples of Portuguese power during the Age of Discoveries. 

Criterion (iii): The Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém are a unique and exceptional testimony to a 15th and 16th-century civilization and culture. They reflect the power, knowledge and courage of the Portuguese people at a time when they consolidated their presence and domain of intercontinental trade routes.” UNESCO

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/263/gallery/

The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago_(route_descriptions)#/media/File:French_Ways_of_St._James.svg

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the last of the pilgrim churches that stretch along the Christian Pilgrimage route across the Pyrenees to Galicia in Spain. It is said to house the remains of the apostle St. James. Work began on the church in 1075 during the reign of King Alphonse VI, under the direction of Bishop Diego de Pelaez. The church was consecrated in 1211. The Baroque facade forms part of the Plaza del Obradoiro, a large square surrounded by public buildings.

Santiago’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Praza do Obradoiro is a wide city plaza that contains the medieval Cathedral of St. James (also known as Santiago). The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the most famous sites for religious pilgrimages in Spain. You can visit the Museo das Pergrinacions (Museum of Pilgrimage). In this town you should also consider a visit to the Museo do Pobo Galego (Museum of Galician People).

Saint James, the brother of St. John the Evangelist,  is the patron saint of Spain. His remains are in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. His feast day is on July 25th. The traditional pilgrimage to the grave of the saint, known as the “Way of St. James“, has been the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics since the Early Middle Ages.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/347

The most popular route is the Camino Francés which stretches 780 km (nearly 500 miles) from St. Jean-Pied-du-Port near Biarritz in France to Santiago. This route is fed by three major French routes: the Voie de Tours, the Voie de Vezelay, and the Voie du Puy. It is also joined along its route by the Camino Aragones (which is fed by the Voie d’Arles which crosses the Pyrenees at the Somport Pass), by the Camí de Sant Jaume from Montserrat near Barcelona, the Ruta de Tunel from Irun, the Camino Primitivo from Bilbao and Oviedo, and by the Camino de Levante from Valencia and Toledo.

Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/347/video/

Book a room at Parador Santiago de Compostela

A stroll through Santiago is of great interest. Visit the Cathedral, the ”Plaza do Obradoiro” where the Parador^® is located, the Gemirez and Rajoy Palaces, the Church of Santa Maria del Sar, the Monastery of San Marin Pinario, the Museum of Tapestries, the Church of Santa Maria Salome and the Museo do Pobo Galego.

The main religious festival is on July 25th when solemn Mass is celebrated with the National Offering to the Apostle Santiago (Saint James) who is buried in the Cathedral. The processions during Holy Week are also very impressive.

The Galicia region is located in North West Spain and is a very beautiful and interesting area to visit. Take a tour by car and see the cliffs of the Costa do Morte (Death Coast) which are very impressive as are the splendid views that you will encounter at Finisterre (Land‘s end). Drive around the Spanish Rias and visit the many delightful small fishing towns and villages.

The activities you may enjoy in this area include hang gliding, rafting, sailing, canoeing, tennis, swimming

A 2-min walk from Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Address: Praza do Obradoiro, 1, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Phone: +34 981 58 22 00

https://www.paradores-spain.com/spain/pscompostela.html

A mixture of history, art and tradition, the Hotel Parador^® Santiago de Compostela forms a magnificent corner of the main square with the Cathedral in one of the most visited regional capitals in the world.

Also known as Hostal dos Reis Catolicos it was originally a Royal Hospital and dates back to 1499. It provided lodging and shelter for the numerous pilgrims making their way to Santiago, an age old practice which continues to this day.

Considered to be the oldest hotel in the world it is also one of the most luxurious.

It has four cloisters of immense beauty, elegant reception rooms, spectacular bedrooms and a luxurious dining room.

The restaurants of the Parador^® group hotels offer a wide and varied menu. As well as international cuisine they also offer a diabetic, vegetarian and gluten free option.

The restaurant at the Santiago de Compostela Hotel also specialises in Galician dishes and has revived ancient recipes and created its own. For example sea bass fillets baked in Iberian bacon and served with mint broad beans; scallops stuffed with sea urchin; sirloin steak in a cebreiro cheese sauce and for dessert, perhaps filloa crepes filled with apple compote.

This famous pilgrimage site in north-west Spain became a symbol in the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century. With its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, the Old Town of Santiago is one of the world’s most beautiful urban areas. The oldest monuments are grouped around the tomb of St James and the cathedral, which contains the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria.

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

“Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is located in Galicia, situated in the far north-west of Spain.

In the beginning of the 9th century, a hermit called Pelagius saw a mysterious light shining over a Roman tomb forgotten in the middle of a forest. Very soon, the incredible news spread all over the Christian world: the tomb of St. James the Greater, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, had been discovered in a far site near the finis terrae, the end of the known Earth, in the northwest of Iberian Peninsula. A few years later, this site became a famous pilgrimage town, one of the most important of Christianity. Pilgrims came from all over Europe following the Camino de Santiago to reach the city born around the Holy Tomb, exercising a great influence on the surrounding area. This is evidenced in the small towns, churches, hospitals, and monasteries that were built near the Camino to attend to the thousands of pilgrims who came to visit the tomb. This influence in the local architecture and art was especially strong and long-lasting in the north-west of Spain, but the fame and the reputation of the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela went well beyond; Galicia was even known in the Nordic sagas as Jakobsland.

This famous pilgrimage site also became a symbol in the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century.

The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, together with the outlying Santa Maria de Conxo Monastery, constitutes an extraordinary ensemble of distinguished monuments. The squares and narrow streets of the Old Town contain Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicist buildings. This town is not only a harmonious and very well preserved historical city, but also a place deeply imbued with faith. The cathedral, considered as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, keeps the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria, a jewel of the medieval sculpture. However, the authentic symbol of the city is the Baroque western façade of the cathedral, which forms one of the sides of the square of Obradoiro, one of the world´s most beautiful urban areas.

The phenomenon of pilgrimage is not only a relevant historical fact, but also a continuous movement thanks to the celebration of the Holy Years. 

Criterion (i): Around its cathedral, which is a world renowned masterpiece of Romanesque art, Santiago de Compostela conserves a valuable historic centre, known as one of Christianity´s greatest holy cities. All European cultural and artistic currents, from the Middle Ages to the present day, left extraordinary works of art in Santiago de Compostela.

Criterion (ii): During both the Romanesque and Baroque periods, the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela exerted a decisive influence on the development of architecture and art, not only in Galicia, but also in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

Criterion (vi): Santiago de Compostela is associated with one of the major themes of medieval history. From the shores of the North and Baltic Seas, thousands of pilgrims carrying the symbol of the scallop and the pilgrim’s staff walked, for centuries, to the Galician sanctuary along the paths of Santiago de Compostela, veritable roads of the Faith. 

Integrity

The property encompasses 108 ha, with a 217 ha buffer zone. Santiago de Compostela shows a remarkable state of conservation, largely due to conservation policies that have preserved the integrity of monuments and buildings that form the civil and religious architectural ensemble. Elements from the Middle Ages are integrated with those from the Renaissance, as well as the constructions from the 17th and 18th centuries into a high-quality urban fabric. The Old Town is a liveable and lively place where inhabitants and business coexist with tourism. The urban development has respected natural spaces where the green Galician fields join the historical city. In this respect, the property integrates the urban ensemble, historical oakwoods and open green spaces. 

Authenticity

Throughout its history, Santiago de Compostela has received different influences, and the Old Town has integrated these different styles and currents with local traditions. The result of this mixture is a city where the original Galician architecture, with its typical wooden galleries and traditional materials, like stone, wood, or iron, combines with great monuments that constitute a splendid tour across the history of European and universal art. 

Protection and management requirements

The conservation of Santiago de Compostela is the responsibility of the Consortium of Santiago de Compostela, created in 1991 and integrated by the national, regional, and local public administrations, as well as the archbishopric and the University. From its creation, the Consortium has carried out important works of restoration of monuments and public spaces, and has subsidized and implemented rehabilitation projects, both for housing and business premises in order to preserve the traditional activities of the historical centre. It also supports conservation actions carried out by the Town Hall of the city and the autonomous government of Galicia.

The regulatory framework that allows for conservation and management action is prescribed in the Special Plan for the Protection and Rehabilitation of the City of Santiago de Compostela.

In terms of management challenges, Santiago de Compostela is facing the pressures of mass tourism, which produces overcrowding around the cathedral and provokes changes in traditional commercial activities. Actions have been undertaken towards diversifying the touristic offer and diverting visitor flows to the suburbs of the city, such as with the construction of the City of the Culture of Galicia, a modern complex constructed by the Regional Government on Mount Gaias, in the proximity of the historical centre of Santiago de Compostela. In the future, adaptive changes will need to be foreseen in the Special Plan for the Protection and Rehabilitation of the City of Santiago de Compostela to preserve the traditional commercial activities in the Old Town, and to support the policies of conservation of buildings and monuments, as well as the recovery of degraded spaces.” UNESCO

The Douro is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Soria Province in central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part of central Spain and into northern Portugal, to its mouth at Porto, the second largest city of Portugal.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/wine/douro-valley-wine-tour

Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro region for some 2,000 years. Since the 18th century, its main product, port wine, has been world famous for its quality. This long tradition of viticulture has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution. UNESCO

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1046/video/

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief Synthesis

“The river Douro and its principal tributaries, the Varosa, Corgo, Távora, Torto, and Pinhão, form the backbone of the mountain landscape, which is protected from the harsh Atlantic winds by the Marão and Montemuro mountains, has been transformed by steeply sloping terraced vineyards that cover some 24,600 ha.

Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro Region for some 2,000 years. A world commodity, Port wine, a wine of a quality defined and regulated since 1756 is produced here.

Throughout the centuries, row upon row of terraces have been built according to different techniques. The earliest, employed during the pre-phylloxera era (pre-1860), was that of the socalcos, narrow and irregular terraces buttressed by walls of schistous stone, which require continuous maintenance on which only one or two rows of vines could be planted. The long lines of continuous, regularly shaped terraces date from the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20th century when the Douro vineyards were rebuilt, following the phylloxera attack. The new terraces altered the landscape, not only because of the monumental walls that were built but also owing to the fact that they were wider and slightly sloping to ensure that the vines would be better exposed to the sun.

Along the lower banks of the Douro or on the edges of watercourses on the hillsides are groves of orange trees, sometimes walled. The landscape is covered with brushwood and scrub and, here and there, a coppice of trees alternating with vineyards. Water used to be collected in catchments along stone channels. Characteristically white-walled villages and casais are usually located midway up the valley sides. Around an often imposing 18^th century parish church, rows of houses opening directly on to the street to form a web of narrow, twisty roads with some notable examples of vernacular architecture. The Douro quintas are major landmarks, easily identified by the groups of farm buildings and wineries that around the main house particularly in the Upper Corgo and the Upper Douro. The landscape is dotted with small chapels located high on the hills or next to manor houses.

The long tradition has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that is at the same time a reflection of its technological, social, and economic evolution. The visually dramatic landscape is still profitably farmed in traditional ways by traditional landholders.

Criterion (iii): The Alto Douro Region has been producing wine for nearly two thousand years and its landscape has been moulded by human activities.

Criterion (iv): The components of the Alto Douro landscape are representative of the full range of activities associated with winemaking – terraces, quintas (wine-producing farm complexes), villages, chapels, and roads.

Criterion (v): The cultural landscape of the Alto Douro is an outstanding example of a traditional European wine-producing region, reflecting the evolution of this human activity over time.

Since the 18th century, its main product, Port wine, has been world famous for its quality. This long tradition of viticulture has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution.” UNESCO

Cultural Landscapes

State of conservation of Alto Douro Wine Region (Portugal)

State of conservation of Alto Douro Wine Region (Portugal)