When 11th-century rulers wanted to impress pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, they did something unexpected: they dug downward.

The Monolithic Church of Saint-Émilion is a cathedral-sized hollow carved directly into the limestone cliff, one of Europe's largest underground churches. Inspired by rock-cut temples the Viscounts of Castillon had seen during the First Crusade in Cappadocia, workers extracted an estimated 15,000 cubic metres of stone to create this subterranean marvel.

The church honours the 8th-century Breton hermit Émilion, who carved a cave nearby and reportedly restored a blind woman's sight by tracing a cross on her forehead. Inside, you'll find tombs cut into the floor, carved centaurs and serpents, and a 14th-century Last Judgement portal. A 68-metre bell tower rises above, the only hint of what lies beneath.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours trace how Saint-Émilion evolved from a hermit's refuge to a pilgrimage stop, revealing the First Crusade influences behind the church and the stories carved into its walls.