Cognac is a bit of a hike but it is an opportunity to visit the world-renowned home of this special brandy.

I’ve provided the route to the Remy Martin house because the is probably the best visit. It’s worth booking in advance (online).

Cognac, the medieval town which bears the name of the region, is attractive with its narrow medieval cobbled streets and elegant Renaissance facades. It is here that the fabled nectar has been created since the 17th century and that the very air one breathes is permeated by the heavy scent of spirits evaporating from oak casks held in storage: this aroma is referred to as the “angels’ share”. World famous firms such as Camus, Hennessy, Niartell, Otard, Prince Hubert de Polignac, Rémy-Martin, Courvoisier, and Renault-Bisquit are located here; each distillery has its own secret and unique process for mixing the various blends of its eaux-de-vie. Join a guided tour to learn about the double-distilling process that goes on in copper stills before the ageing in oak barrels where the precious liquor will improve, taking on its final bouquet and famous golden glow. Take a barge or a small train and discover the history of cognac, its vineyards, distilleries and museums which show you not only how it is made but proudly display the oldest reserve of cognacs dating back to 1830. Then how about a taste!”

(Source: Western France Tourist Board)

The name Cognac is of course known the world over for the brandy produced in the region, and it is that that attracts many of the visitors. But Cognac the town is also worthy of your attention in between your tasting sessions.

Cognac ‘old town’ – the medieval part of the town – has a plethora of narrow cobbled streets, hemmed in by attractive houses from the 15th to 18th centuries, and a multitude of brandy maturing warehouses.

Cognac has various museums, according to your interests; an Art and History Museum; a Museum of the Arts of Cognac; and the St Gobain glassworks, which you can visit to see where the bottles are made to contain all that Cognac.

(Source: www.francethisway.com)