On the hill of Fronsac, overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers, Charlemagne had a fortress built to control navigation and the land route to Bordeaux. An important stop on the road from Bordeaux to Paris before the transportation revolution, the Fronsadais area found itself bypassed by major communication routes and ignored by the railway, which hurt its renown. Spanning six communes, the area is distinguished by its hillside terroir. Within the AOC Fronsac, two communes have their own specific appellation: Fronsac and Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac, home to Canon-Fronsac. Long overlooked, Fronsac wines now benefit from attractive pricing.