Cognac is a beautiful town in the South West of France that is mostly known for its luxurious spirits. I’ve been living in France for years but somehow visiting Cognac has never crossed my mind until we moved to Bordeaux. I have to admit, at first, I wasn’t a huge fan of the spirit itself, drinking it mostly on special occasions. So prior to my first visit there, I was wondering what’s there to do in Cognac beyond the cellar tours. Luckily there are plenty of things to do in Cognac!
This little town will surprise you with its impressive architecture, delicious restaurants, and remarkably nice people. In this article, I gathered the top 10 things to do, see and eat in Cognac.
If you are here for the Cognac itself, here’s my article about the best distilleries to visit in Cognac.
Also, don’t miss a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in France – Aubeterre sur Dronne, check out my article about it.
1. Discover the Old City of Cognac
Stroll the narrow paved streets of the city center to absorb the charm of Vieux Cognac (the old Cognac). The architecture will take you back in time to the early days of the salt trade that started the economic growth of the city. Many of the old houses date back to the 16th and 17h centuries, displaying the eclectic architectural style of the city. Most buildings have large windows, an indication of the wealth of the traders living in this area at that period of time. The “newer” part of the old city unveils the vibrant economic and cultural development of Cognac in the 19th century. That trail called the “Belle epoque” starts at Place Francois I and ends at the Jardin de
2. Take a tour in a Cognac distillery
With almost 200 Cognac producers in the area, this is definitely the main attraction of Cognac. The cognac houses include big names like Hennessy (book a tour), Martell (book a tour), Rémy Martin (book a tour), and Courvoisier. These four produce most of the Cognac exported to the world. Other known brands include Otard, Camus, Meukov (book a tour), and Delamain (located in the neighboring town of Jarnac). Many distilleries offer tours in French and English. However, if you need an English-speaking tour, be sure to book in advance. Martell and Hennessy are very popular tours as well as those by Otard where you get to visit the old Chateau de Cognac (the place of birth of King François I).
I have a full article dedicated to the best distilleries to visit in Cognac, so there’s a lot to choose from. You should know, however, that many distilleries are closing for winter so consult their tour schedules before heading to Cognac.
We took the Hennessy tour and had a fabulous time. The company’s boat took us to the other side of the river to visit the cellars. Then we learned all about the processes of creating this luxurious spirit, from the terroir to the maturing and assembling processes. At the end of the tour, you get to taste two different Cognacs and a Cognac-based liqueur (which to be honest, I loved the most). The price of the tour is 20 euros per person, you can book it here.
If you’re looking for a more authentic / boutique experience check out the “in the Terroir of Cognac” tour. This half-day trip includes a visit to several artisan distilleries and a cognac co-operative. You will get to taste some of the best craft cognacs in the region and get a more diverse and full experience of Cognac.
Book this Tour3. Walk along the Quai of the Charente river
For many years the river banks of the Charente river were the prime business center of the city. King François initiated the salt trade in Cognac, making the river an important economic player. Later, all the big Cognac houses would establish their main buildings on the riverfront. Walking on the elegant promenade you’ll pass by the port of Cognac, the Hennessy house, the Chateau de Cognac (now the Otard Cognac house) and the impressive Tours Saint Jacques, one of the only remainings left from medieval times. The promenade itself is very pleasant and makes for a nice tour on both sides of the Charente river.
4. Eat great local food
Do you really think that a place with such a reputation for its luxury alcohol wouldn’t master the gastronomic side as well? There are plenty of great restaurants in Cognac, both in the old city and on the other side of the river (in quartier Saint Jacques). The one we particularly liked was L’atelier des quais, where the delicious food was accompanied by an incredible view of the old part of Cognac. Their big terrace in front of the riverbanks makes it a perfect place for sunny days. Other recommended restaurants are: La Courtine, La Poulpette, L’arty show
5. Taste Pineau des Charentes
Although Cognac is the main star here, there’s another spirit you must taste if you’re in the Charente department. Pineau des Charentes is a fortified wine, created from the mix of grape juice and Cognac eau-de-vie, which then goes through a maturing process. This is a very popular aperitif in Charente but not very known in other parts of France. It’s really good so don’t miss the chance to taste it!
6. Visit the local market
I absolutely adore French markets so I was very happy to discover that there’s a covered market in Cognac. This market is not on my top 10 French markets list but it’s a nice place to buy some local products. One of the stands sells great local alcohol and cheese and you can even order a cheese plate and take it to the picnic area in the middle of the market.
7. Learn about Cognac in the Musée des Arts du Cognac
If you’re interested in learning more about the production of the
8. Drink a Cognac cocktail
As Cognac became an international success it took a life of its own. A fair amount of Cognac-based cocktails have been developed outside of France, in particular in the US. Some cocktails can be ordered in bars and restaurants in Cognac and they are really worth a try. Some of the most popular ones are Classico, Sidecar, French75 and Le Cognac Summit (the tourist information even gives you the recipe, click here to learn how to make it).
9. Visit the villages around Cognac
Although Cognac is the main town of the region, it’s not the only place where the spirit is produced and definitely not the only one worth visiting. If you want to visit more distilleries go to Jarnac, the second distilling town in the area. There you can find Cognac houses like Courvoisier, Louis Royer, Hine
10. A city of festivals
Although it’s a small sized city, there are plenty of cultural events and festivals taking place in the Cognac area throughout the year. In the summer the city hosts one of the biggest music festival in the region, the Cognac Blues Passion. The festival, taking place in July, attracts some of the biggest names in the Blues world. Another big summer festival is Fête du Cognac. The Cognac festival celebrates the spirits of the region, the Cognac, Pineau des Charentes and wines of the region. Another cool festival is Distillerie en fête which takes place during the winter. From December to February plenty of activities are put in place by the Cognac distilleries to help you discover the behind the scenes of Cognac production. For more info check out the tourist info website.
Get into the atmosphere with more photos from Cognac
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4 Comments
We have family reasons for visiting the Bordeaux region often and for reasonably long periods. Your suggestion to visit Chateau de Lacquy in Armagnac has prompted three fantastic visits to that distillery and the region. Thank you for that! In a few weeks we return and we’re wondering about an equivalent in Cognac. I see the big international houses but are there any really special smallish distilleries in Cognac you might suggest? Btw, my wife and I are not oenophiles or even much of a drinking family but we are adventurous reporters who appreciate the remarkable shoulder-season, off-the-tour-bus-track quest. And an exceptional glass of something with a simple, extraordinary meal every once and a while is awfully nice. Finally, I must tell you we very much appreciate your site!
Hi Roland! Thank you so much!
I apologize for the late response, hope my answer is still relevant 🙂
If you’re looking for a more small family-owned distillery, I highly recommend Cognac Pasquet. Contact them before you go
Enjoy!
Would also recommend the Camus visitor center, the largest independent family owned cognac house. If you prebook you can try XO grade Cognacs from the different terroirs and then blend them to make your own bottle of Cognac. You record the blend in a register so you can order it again when you run out!
You are absolutely right! I discovered it after writing this article, I need to update it