Saint-Hippolyte is a small town located in the hills of the Greater Saint-Emilion Area, belonging to the Dordogne Coteaux Canton and part of the 8 towns of the Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion. Its area is 444 hectares and it is located 4.6 km from Saint-Emilion and 10 km from Libourne. The town now has 138 inhabitants, called Hippolytains.

Saint-Hippolyte has remarkable architectural on the Ferrand plateau which is overlooking the Dordogne valley.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Saint-Hippolyte takes its name from the eponymous saint, Saint-Hippolyte who was a philosopher during the 3rd century and a brilliant theologian of the Romanesque church, after opposing Saint-Calixte I, he reconciled with the Church and returned to the Catholic faith.

A NATURAL HERITAGE

The town is crossed by about 600 meters of water courses, mainly consisting of the Langrane Creek.

VINEYARDS

Its vineyard is included in the famous appellation of wines of Saint-Emilion and produces many wines in AOC Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

More information on the vineyard of Saint-Emilion here.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• The view from the Ferrand plateau, where the horizon extends over the Dordogne valley.
  
  
• Ferrand grottos date from around or well before the 17th century, and are located a few kilometers from the town. It was Elijah Bétoulaud, an unknown poet of the 17th century, that was the author to write about these grottos. There are 3 dug-out rooms : the love room, a cross-shaped room and a lyre-shaped room. There, next to them there is a maze consisting of two symmetrical parts, they were made in tribute to Ms. Scuderi and in honor of King Louis XIV.
  
  
• The church that was erected on the Ferrand plateau, was built in three stages. The choir dating from the 14th century is actually the old chapel of the castle Saint-Poly, the family home of the Bétouleau family. The nave, which has exposed beams, was added in the 16th century, and the square-shaped bell tower was built in 1783. In 1980 the church was restored.
  
  
• The Château de Ferrand, erected during the reign of Louis XIV and situated on a plateau of Saint-Hippolyte, is an elegant building dating from the 17th century. Bought in 1978 by the Baron Bich, the castle had major renovations made in respect of the architecture of the time. The castle is composed of two large square pavilions connected by a small main building in the background. Today is a winery that operates in the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. SITE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
  
  
• Cycling and hiking routes made by the Tourist Office going through Saint-Hippolyte:
  
  
• "The terroirs road " for a 6 hour hike
  
  
• "The remarkable architectures" a cycling route of 19 km to discover the wine and architectural heritage of Saint-Emilion.

All the routes are downloadable here.