© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
Cardinal Palace ruins, Saint Emilion
Luxury home to Gaillard de la Mothe, Cardinal of Sainte Luce
Gifted to Gaillard de la Mothe by his uncle Bertrand de Goth, Archbishop of Bordeaux, who later became Pope Clement V, the Cardinal Palace sits at the entrance to the city of Saint Emilion.
The ruins of the 12th-century building are still clearly visible today and it is easy to see the artistic Roman influences in the arches and floral decorations. If you descend into the moat area that runs in front of the walls then you can clearly see that there are some pipes coming out of the wall that would once have been used for elimination of the latrines. This details tells us that this was not built first and foremost as a defensive structure, but rather as a display of wealth and of comfort.
The walls of the palace form part of the old wall that was built along this part of city. Access to this part of the outer walls, outside of the city itself it free, so make sure you take time to explore this.
