What should you definitely see, do and eat when you visit Cognac? Visit the great cognac houses, naturally, but also learn and discover new flavours and visit some truly magical places… Dive into history and set off on a journey to the land of the ‘Angels’ Share’.
What to see
- The Great Cognac Houses
- The Château de François 1er de Valois
- The Cognac Art Gallery
- The Art and History Museum
- The Saint Jacques Gate
- The Cognac public gardens (around the Town Hall)
- The Church of Saint Léger
- The Récollets Franciscan Convent
- The Rue de l’Isle d’Or
- The Rue Grande
- The Rue Saulnier
What to do
- The Cognac Blues festival
- The Cognac Crime Fiction Festival
- Take part in a Le bois que l’on boit (The Wood You Drink) workshop run by the Tourist Office and Oenowood
- Visit a barrel making workshop
- Soar high above the vines in a hot air balloon
- Tour the Rémy Martin winery by train
- Take part in one of the workshop sessions offered by Maison Rémy Martin: Cognac & Chocolate led by Chef Philippe Saint Romas, mixology, an introduction to tasting...
- Bottle your own liqueur at Maison Courvoisier
- Take a tasting course at Maison Martell
- Visit Château Otard for an exclusive tasting of Baron Otard VSOP, XO Gold, and EXTRA 1795 cognacs, as well as the exceptional FORTIS & FIDELIS.
- Play a round (or two) of golf: www.golfducognac.com
What to eat & drink
- Cognac
- Pineau des Charentes
- The wines of Charente
- Charentes-Poitou butter (PDO)
- Galette Charentaise cake
- Grillon Charentais paté
- Farcis Charentais stuffing
- Daube Saintongeaise beef casserole
- Jam with cognac
- Pine nuts (only on Palm Sunday/Easter)
- Saintongeais cake
- Chocolates from Chocolaterie Letuffe
Our favourites: Marguerites and Duchesses… two chocolatier specialities you should definitely not miss!
What to bring back
- Pineau
- Cognac
- An engraved carafe from Verre Création
- Handmade glazed earthenware
- A soy candle from Rives de Saintonge
- Homemade jam with Prisset Petite Champagne de Cognac
Our favourite: Délice de Cerise au Cognac: before being candied in sugar, the cherries are marinated in Cognac: amazing!
Enthusiastic globetrotter, Béatrice loves to explore new horizons in cultural heritage...in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, naturally. Contemporary architecture, history-laden old stones, picturesque villages, intangible heritage and literary treasures, hold no secrets for her.