Known worldwide, this village in Gironde is losing more and more inhabitants despite its tourist attractiveness

See my news
Follow Bordeaux News

Saint-Émilion and its surroundings are known worldwide for their vineyards and their landscapes which make this area a historical heritage in France.

However, this place in Gironde is not insensitive to the rural exodus which affects many territories in France.

Thursday December 19, 2024, INSEE published its latest figures on the census in the country. Between 2016 and 2022, the community of communes of Greater Saint-Émilionnais is the one who experienced the strongest decline of the department (-0.8%). A trend which already confirms previous data (-0,7%) recorded between 2011 and 2016.

In the village of Saint-Émilion, the decrease is significant Also. At 1^is January 2022, the commune had 1,689 inhabitants compared to 1,876 souls in 2016 or even 1,958 inhabitants in 2011.

Secondary residences

To interpret this result, Bernard Lauret, maire of Saint-Émilion and president of the community of communes of Greater Saint-Émilionnais, lays the foundations.

“We have land listed as World Heritage UNESCOuprooting vines to build housing estates, it’s not possible,” says the councilor.

However, he assures that “investors come to buy properties” in this territory but rather as second homes.

“We have an attractive area but these buyers don't live there. Many houses or apartments are transformed into gîtes or Airbnb rentals,” explains the 67-year-old mayor.

Solutions studied

To stop this decline, Bernard Lauret and his elected officials intend to put things in place. “We are reviewing the urban plans and we will limiter rental time. »

In certain municipalities in the Saint-Emilion region, housing development projects have been launched to “stop this hemorrhage”. However, the councilor wishes to recall the difficulty of construction in this area.

“We are on agricultural and wine-growing land which is protected For the most part, we don't do what we want. This is the difference with the urban area which has a large population and which is becoming denser. »

A village that moves

Despite this drop, Bernard Lauret prefers to highlight the assets of Saint-Émilion. “It’s a dynamic tourist village,” assures the councilor before listing the number of businesses present in the town.

“We have a thirty restaurantswine shops, four bakers, a charcutier. The activity is booming and this is not insignificant. »

The mayor temperate on this situation, which also affects the communities of the communes of Castillon-Pujols and Pays Foyen which complete the podium for the strongest decline in Gironde.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.