Artigues-de-Lussac is a town belonging to the Canton of North Libourne and part of the community of villages of the Greater Saint-Emilion Area. Its area spread over 1016 hectares and is located 5 km from Saint-Emilion. Today the town has 1,101 inhabitants, called the Artiguais and Artiguaises.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Origin of the name

The names of Artigues is a word of Celtic origin meaning "clear".

History

During the Revolution, the Saint-Pierre of Lussac parish formed the town of Lussac. On August 14th 1869 the municipality of Lussac was fragmented to form the town of Artigues-de-Lussac. Thus, it is a recent town whose history is intertwined with that of Lussac.

The area of Artigues-de-Lussac was occupied for a long time. It is known that a Celtic tribe lived in the Faize forest. But there are no remains or material traces of ancient Celtic altars because of the Roman settling in the region; as they destroyed everything that was related to the celtic religion.

Since the 12th century the village began to develop with the construction of the abbey and the church of Faize. The religious community also attracted lay people who began settling in the area and the population grew over the following centuries.

However, at the time of the Revolution, the abbey was sold as national property and the church of Faize disappeared. It was only in 1830 that the authorities allowed the neighboring inhabitants of Artigues to build a new church, whose construction was completed in 1852.

A NATURAL HERITAGE

The town is crossed by the De Lavie and Petit Palais Creeks, there are over some 4 km of waterways along the village.

VINEYARDS

Today, the main source of income in the town of Artigues-de-Lussac is viticulture, producing wines from the appellation Bordeaux supérieur.

POINTS OF INTERESTS

The Tourist Office of the Greater Saint-Emilion Area offers a 1h30 hiking route through the town of Artigues-de-Lussac, "Les Artigues-de-Lussac" allowin for the discovery of the Abbey and wines from the area.

"History and heritage around Montagne" is a fairly easy bike route of 15 kilometers for a 1h30 bike ride through Les Artigues-de-Lussac.

The airfield of Libourne, on the municipality of Artigues-de-Lussac is ideal for a first flight or a flight initiation.

The Sacré Coeur parish church is built in a neoclassical style of the 19th century. Its interior frescoes and stained glass windows have to be visited and have been completely renovated thanks to the parish association of Artigues-de-Lussac.

The abbey was founded in 1137 by Viscount Pierre de Castillon who then depended on the Cistercian order. Enlarged and rebuilt in the 17th century before being sold as national property during the Revolution. The roof and stones were partly sold to build the surrounding buildings and the remains of the early church dedicated to the Virgin. What remains of the convent is now fully restored by its ultimate recipient, Maurice Druon, former minister of Culture and author of the saga The Accursed Kings. Today, Maurice Druon rests in peace in the former choir of the abbey.