Cognac

Nestled on the banks of the Charente, the town of Cognac built its international fame on the brandy that bears its name, distilled and aged in cellars blackened by the famous "angels' share" that evaporates each year through their stone walls. The great cognac houses, Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin and Camus, set up their headquarters along the quays and now open their cellars to visitors, who discover the mystery of blending brandies aged in Limousin oak casks. The old town, where King François I was born in 1494, keeps a heritage of half-timbered houses and Renaissance mansions around the Valois castle, while the riverside quays invite a stroll alongside the moored gabares.

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