Location on the River
Libourne is located in the Bordeaux region at the confluence of the Isle and the Dordogne in the inner Gironde estuary. The port is about 100 kilometres from the sea and is accessible to seagoing ships via the influence of the tides and navigable channels. Parts of the city outside the historic fortified settlement lie on flood-prone land along the rivers.
History and Port
The city was founded in 1270 as a medieval bastide by Sir Roger de Leyburn, a lieutenant of the English King Henry III. Historically, the river port served shipping on the Isle and Dordogne, linking inland trade with sea routes.
Climate
The nearby weather station Saint-Gervais lies at an elevation of 42 metres. For the period from 1995 to 2020, it records an average annual temperature of 13.9 °C and an average annual rainfall of 824.9 millimetres.
Viticulture and Appellations
A delimited part of Libourne’s municipal area belongs to the production area of the AOC Pomerol. For the AOC Lalande-de-Pomerol, Libourne is permitted as part of the immediately adjacent area for vinification, ageing and maturation. Delimitation documents also record plots in Libourne within the appellation framework of Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur and Crémant de Bordeaux.
