Residents of Saint Emilion, a hugely popular Unesco World Heritage site in southwest France, were shocked when their mayor sold a mediaeval monument to pay off debts.

The 14th century Cordeliers cloister is home to a wine producer

And while the council has defended the controversial sale as a means of raising much-needed cash for the upkeep of historic sites, it has undertaken to rethink the strategy and find alternative means of funding in future.

“Saint Emilion has a very rich mediaeval heritage but that leaves them with a lot to do and they don’t have the resources,” was how Francois Gondran, the state architect responsible for Bordeaux and Saint Emilion, explained the sale of the 14th century Cordeliers cloister, home to a sparking wine producer.

“What are expensive to maintain are the ramparts, 80 per cent of which date from the Middle Ages. They are very expensive to restore and difficult to access. It involves a lot of man-hours.”

This mediaeval wine village 40 minutes from Bordeaux is part of the stunning vineyard landscape classified by Unesco as a heritage site in 1999.

Romans first brought vines in 27 BC, then an 8th century Breton monk inspired wealthy religious orders to build churches, cloisters, catacombs and convents.

By the 11th century it was a popular spot on the well-trod pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

Today wine devotees and history buffs, and the occasional pilgrim, pour through its cobblestone streets, limestone churches and wine shops.

The Cordeliers cloister offers respite for day trippers escaping the throngs.

“It’s more than just another historical monument. The courtyard of the Cordeliers was symbolic,” said Jean-Luc Boisseau, a bookstore owner and member of the town’s historical and architectural society.

“It was the last public park, free, open to everyone and where even people of modest means could have a drink amongst magnificent ruins.”

“He’s selling off the family jewels,” said one prominent landowner. Worse, he’s accused of not getting the best price: “He’s selling off historical monuments at a discount.”