World Famous Cognac a great day out when staying at
our Family Friendly gites
Cognac is a prosperous town with medieval alleyways that fan out from a delightful
riverside quarter.  Here you'll find the largest concentration of chais or wine cellars
where fine brandy or Cognac is matured.  It's not hard to spot these world famous
chais as their walls are covered with fungi that thrives on the alcohol fumes given off
during the maturing process.  There are many
Cognac houses to visit including Otard
or
Hennessy Cognac (above) which keeps 180,000 barrels in stock. Here (and in
most distilleries) you'll discover the fine art of Cognac making and the secret of
blending as all run regular tours throughout the year and all end with a
tasting. There
are also plenty of additional sights including the
Ancien Chateau - a
15th-16th-century chateau (now home to Cognac Otard) where the Valois clan lived
and where
Francois I was born.  The town has some lovely shops and great
restaurants too. We recommend a tour around one  of the houses followed by lunch in
the town and then a trip to the Andre Mermet park which has loads of fun things for
children including bouncy castles and a splash pool in peak season.