Saint-Emilion: The French wine town that's even more beautiful than Bordeaux IF YOU want a weekend break that gives you beautiful scenery, excellent wine and fabulous food, you head straight to Bordeaux, don't you? GETTYJust half an hour away from the city of Bordeaux is Saint-Emilion and it's even more beautiful than the famed city of Bordeaux. Saint-Emilion isn't much of a secret with wine lovers. It's known for its Grand Cru wine and it's actually one of Bordeaux's largest winemaking appellations. Despite this, the town is often pegged as a simple day trip on a break to Bordeaux rather than a destination in its own right. Awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 1999, the medieval town is small but perfectly formed, offering visitors the ideal mix of history and excellent food and drink. Some of the churches date back as far as the 12th century and even if you're not a wine drinker, this is a town worth making some time for. Bypass Bordeaux and head straight to Saint-Emilion for the weekend. 

GETTYHow to get there Bordeaux-Merignac airport is the nearest airport, with flights from London taking just an hour and half. The town is within driving distance from Bordeaux city centre but if you do come via train, your journey takes a little over thirty minutes. The number 100 bus will also take you here and buses are surprisingly efficient in the city. Expect a bit of an uphill walk from the main road (vineyards make for hilly holidays). best wine in parisYour walk takes in beautiful scenery and also travels past a couple of wine chateaus, so you can take your time.best wine with dessertGETTYWhen to go The wine season doesn't start until after March so if you do want to make the most of the chateaus, time your holiday for late spring or the end of summer when you'll miss the bulk of the tourists but still get to enjoy the warm weather and popping corks. chocolate shop wine buy online

What to do You're in the perfect location to do a lot of nothing except drink fabulous wine, but if your legs are up for the workout, Saint-Emilion is the ideal place to stroll around and discover for yourself.A lot of the town is underground so join a tour if you want to get a glimpse of the catacombs, the guides hold to keys to the village's ancient secrets.Make sure you take a trip up the Bell Tower for beautiful views of the hills and play king of the castle at the King's Tower, which dates back to the 13th Century. the best wine for christmas dinnerWhat to buy Saint-Emilion isn't really somewhere to visit for shopping if you're not in the market for a bottle or wine or six.wine and food gourmetYou might feel like giving the wine shops a serve if you're hand-luggage only but most vineyards and the wine shops in the village will take care of the shipping for you.best rose wine in a box

If you need some souvenirs, you'll also find shops selling Saint-Emilion's other famous export: almond macaroons. Don't mix these up with the other famed French delicacy, these are bigger and much more like almond cookies. They'll be foisted on you in the street and they're very hard to turn down. GETTYWhat to eat Head to the market square if you want to really feel like part of the town. There's no denying that the restaurants are geared towards tourists but it manages to still feel authentic and it's hard to argue with an al fresco lunch on the cobbles./) /?lang=en) takes you underground for traditional classics. /uk/5-shops/30-elaboration-of-sparkling-wine/53-les-cordeliers.html) and they'll make you up a picnic with a bottle of fizz to enjoy in the beautiful grounds under the sun. Make sure you explore the cloisters before you leave. GETTYWhere to stay You're spoilt for choice with traditional accommodation but most of the hotels have had a modern update so you can expect wifi and modern facilities.

/) is between Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion and it's everything you'd want from a luxury castle hotel. It's Disney perfect and it's set in 8 hectares of land.The stereotypical Frenchman may no longer start the day with a shot of red wine to "tuer le ver" (kill the worm) followed by an espresso, but France is one of the top ten alcohol-consuming countries in the world. Wine, predictably, is the favorite tipple and there are dozens of wine-producing regions throughout France. Wines in France are generally named after the location of the vineyard rather than the grape varietal, and there are strict regulations governing where, how and under what conditions grapes are grown. Here are 7 picks adapted from Lonely Planet's "Top 10 spots to pop a cork in France." Text and captions courtesy of Lonely Planet.Chablis, Beaune, Dijon, Cluny, Mâcon and Vézelay are some of the famous towns in Burgundy known for their wine, fine food and glorious past, with châteaux, churches and museums at all points

north, south, east and west. Visit the markets, specialist food shops and restaurants and soak up the French atmosphere in the bars and cafes. is the Roman heart of Burgundy. A town rich in history and architecture, surrounded by beautiful countryside. the River Yonne, explore the old part of town with its timber framed Famous for its football team. overlooks the beautiful Cousin Valley from the town’s ramparts. A charming market town. centre of the wine region, steeped in wine culture, with famous vineyards surrounding it at all points of the compass. town is known as the ‘Golden Gate’ of Burgundy for the great wine it produces. on the Saône river, good for shopping. enjoy the Musée Nicéphore-Niepce. in the north-east of Burgundy is famous for the magnificent Treasures the largest abbey in Christendom, this town is an important location region with majestic buildings dating back to the glorious days

of the Dukes of Burgundy. town, home of one of France's best known restaurants, La Côte St-Jacques and centre of viticulture. wines and landscapes, Mâcon on the River Saône is the gateway to the south, Lyon and the Mediterranean. on the River Loire, the seat of government for the Nièvre is a good shopping centre with hearty food and scenic waterways. the N6 on the edge of the Morvan Forest, Saulieu is famous as centre for gastronomy in the region. fortress town on the River Armançon. city, an important archiepiscopal seat in its heyday, stands at the northern entrance to Burgundy. A treasure trove of antiques and brocante is to be found in this small town. town with antique shops, cafes and restaurants in the maze of streets. World Heritage Site has been a centre of pilgrimage for centuries. The basilica is the nucleus of this charming medieval town, which rates as one of Burgundy‘s, and France’s best.