Long a destination for sybarites and luxury travelers, the town of Cognac gives its name to the exclusive white-wine-based brandy made by producers such as Rémy Martin, Martell, Courvoisier, and Hennessy. Touring vineyards and distilleries—and indulging in tasting flights—are among the top things to do in Cognac. However, visitors shouldn't miss Cognac’s riverside or cobblestoned Old Town, while the town's fine-dining restaurants offer a gastronomic accompaniment to all that liquid decadence. The Château de Cognac, plus two museums—one dedicated to art and history, one to Cognac production—are also worth exploring.
Summer is the most popular time to visit Cognac, thanks to the warm weather, ample sun, and the array of tours and tastings at the Cognac houses. July is particularly busy, and if you time your visit for the end of the month, you can overlap with the Cognac Festival (La Fête du Cognac), which includes live music, tastings, and other entertainment.
Cognac is served by the regional Cognac Station (Gare de Cognac), which operates limited train services; Angoulême Station, which is 24 miles (38 kilometers) away, connects to major lines. Local bus lines also operate. The town of Cognac itself is quite compact and easily explored on foot or by bicycle, while taxi services make it easy to return to your hotel after a tasting session at the grand Cognac maisons.
Most will recognize the names of the four major Cognac houses—Hennessy, Remy-Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier—but they’re not the only maisons in the region. To discover the smaller-scale side of Cognac, it’s worth visiting local houses like ABK6, Bache-Gabrielsen, Maison Frapin, Meukow, and other producers, many of which offer their own tastings and tours on a more personal scale. You can even visit Tonnellerie Allary to see how the barrels used for aging Cognac are made.
