Cognac- The Epitome of Elegance and Serenity.

There is always a motivation for desiring to visit a place.  The first time I heard the name Cognac was when my father referred to it as a luxurious alcoholic drink that he wished to have. his eyes were lighting up with longing when he mentioned its name.

I was wondering if cognac was just a drink, and was thrilled to discover that there is a city named Cognac.

So, here to celebrate the arrival of spring, off I went to find the place that has such an elegant name. For me, cognac is like an abundant stream of water pouring from a mystical  source.

I started the journey to Cognac in a delightful, surprising way. I had an appointment with the press officer at the Angoulême train station, a city near Cognac. Angoulême with its comics and street art, deserves an article on its own. The weather was ideal for a spring day, with the sun shining and welcoming.

And here I was going on my adventure, living the experience of Cognac and its surroundings. Cause Cognac is located in a most prosperous nature.  

We went to visit prominent locations -La Baume de Bouteville. The name Bouteville sounds like a wizard’s magic word.  (So many French names sound poetic and melodic). Bouteville is the name of the village.

The domain of La Baume is a vinegar fabrication and its boutique. I got fascinating explanations of the vinegar-making process.  It was very interesting, cause the art of making the different flavors is quite meticulous.  The grapes are distilled, but differently from the wine’s fabrication. As the factory is surrounded by the vineyards, there is a strong feeling of quality and authenticity.

The air is filled with the tasty, perfumed vinegar. You can have tastes of the different sort. It is interesting to learn that each of them is a notable example of precise ingredient preparation.  You can have honey, balsamic, or even cinnamon flavors, and the taste was very appetizing. I dreamt already about a huge salad spiced with one of those vinegars. Their signature vinegar is" the balsamic of 6 years."

This place is open to tour guides, so I advise you not to miss it on your way to Cognac.

Raising your eyes, you will see on a cliff the Castle of  Bouteille. just a few minutes'

walk from La Baume de Bouteville.

It's a most thriving castle that was falling into ruin and was reconstructed to preserve its long and mysterious story.  Thanks to the great community of Cognac, it was renovated. Although there is hardly any furniture, what is amazing is the memories that each room contains. You feel like walking through 1000 years of history.

You will be captivated by a striking fireplace with its sculptures. The original was placed in a nearby private castle, but the crafters who built an identical one are truly gifted. You will barely notice any difference from the original.

There are authentic graffiti from prisoners from previous centuries on the wall.

 As you climb to the top, you see the wonderful view of the Cognac region, and it is a most picturesque scene. The space is often used for celebrations and cocktails

A few minutes' drive brought us to the village of Bassac, where lies the essence of charm and serenity.

The first monumental site to visit is the abbey. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century.  It is filled with spirituality and quietness that simply enveloped me.

Strolling later in the village, felt like I jumped into an impressionist drawing, where I just wanted to stay relaxed, listening to the water stream and simply being zen. Apparently, a cat thought the same as I, standing on the riverbank, enjoying the sight and the warm weather. It was like, "I don't need anything, just leave me here alone."

Arriving in Cognac late afternoon. The Medieval Cognac invites one to explore and enjoy the beneficial atmosphere.  This city was a true revelation. And I could better understand how it's all connected to the renowned drink; its elusive color reflects the river La Charente, which is so beautiful and changes throughout the day, and the white stone, which is very typical of Cognac.  The city center will surprise you with streets lined with a variety of houses, some half-timbered, others just fantastic to look at. Giving you the authentic feel of Medieval houses.

You can just enjoyably get lost in the old heart of Cognac, a city with so many significant monuments and interesting details.  And when you feel like resting from this agreeable stroll, just sit in one of the bars and have a coffee or a glass of Cognac.

Les Jardin Public

What I loved in Cognac is the easy access to all the exquisite places. Sometimes, even in a small city, they can be too far to reach.  Le jardin public de Cognac. The public garden is so charming, with a royal and outlandish feel, inspired by English gardens. It is, in fact, the reunification of two properties, l’Hotel Otard de la Grange and Hotel Dupuy d’Angeac, and their gardens.

The two renowned architects, Edouard Andre  and Alfred Leroux, designed. Each one of them created and contributed to the style and the perspectives of these fabulous gardens.

The interior courtyard of the Château

Château de Cognac- maison de Cognac -Otard - A journey in the essence of Cognac.

After visiting this emblematic castle, I understand even more why the drink Cognac is associated with elegance and luxury. Before even entering the castle, you have to raise your eyes to see the beautiful Renaissance facade that fronts the river Charente.

The castle has a passionate story, full of twists and layers. I will not tell you in detail, cause once you arrive in Cognac, I advise you to have a guided tour. It is essential to undersatnd the castel's story. I was guided by Mathilde. She knows a lot , and her explanations while guiding me through the different rooms was a very worthwhile experience.

The fascinating King François I was born and baptized in the castle. He adored Renaissance art and wished to have this architecture in various places, such as the magical, huge hall with Renaissance-style arches.

I enjoyed the explanations about the king Francois I, who was obsessed with salamanders and you can see a few sculptures of them in the castle. He appreciated so much the beauty of the Renaissance, that next time when you are visiting a few of the renowned chateaux of the Loire, as château Chambord. For your attention, it was his creation.

The castle was later owned by Baron Ottard, who initiated the production of Cognac. I found the walk through the cave with the enormous cognac containers very pleasant. The perfume of the cognac is almost infused in the walls. It followed me even after leaving the castle.  The drink Cognac is described as made of eau de vie, the source of life.  

The river Charente has beneficial qualities, as does the region's climate and grape-growing conditions.

It is to do as well with the art of distillation, which has to be very precise.

At the end of this enchanting journey in the castle and its various rooms, you are invited to taste different cognacs.

Museums

There are two other great museums that I recommend in Cognac.

The museum — M’CO — Musée des savoir-faire du Cognac. In this museum, you will find a combination of the history of Cognac and the art of Cognac-making throughout the decades.  The history to learn is very accessible and visual. Children will also be captivated. From the machines, the pictures, and also live media. The different cognac bottles on display in the museum are works of art in their own right.

This is a 24 carats old cognac bottle. In the Museum Des savoir faire du Cognac. Credit picture- Nathalie -office de tourisme

Louis XIII Diamond cognac bottle. Credit picture. Nathalie- office de tourisme

Within walking distance, heading again to the town center, there is the beautiful hotel particulier of a family of a negociant, Les Dupuy d’Angeac. It has a very astonishing collection. It was the couple’s residence. The fine art museum has an eclectic collection of artworks from around the world that reflects their exquisite taste and prosperity through cognac exports. I loved the diversity of the paintings and sculptures.  It was very exotic and plunged me into a magnetic atmosphere.

One of the things I learned during my walk in Cognac is how history is so present in the architecture and the city’s identity.  The Square François I is the town’s main square. I understood during my visit that the city's signature is this important and majestic king. The sculpture of the king riding on his horse manifests how heroic he was.

Gladly, I discovered a great coffee roaster. Torrefaction Marignan. Not only is the coffee freshly roasted and accordingly very tasty, but I also enjoyed sitting in the lovely terrace, in front of a stunning old building. The street was lively and peaceful at the same time. The elegance of Cognac is fused into the city's structure.  The ambiance is chill.

Maison de Martel Cognac.

The most luxurious cognac bottle I have ever seen in the boutique of Maison Martel

In this foundation, you will encounter of the emblematic figures in the history of Cognac production :Jean Martel.

Originally from Jersey Island. Jean Martel moved with his family to the Charente region near Cognac, where he founded his spirits trading house in 1715. They exported cognac and wine to England, Northern Europe, and North America.  As his reputation grew, his loyal clientele expanded to include prestigious figures such as “The duke of Orleans, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

The distillery offers a guided tour of his world, inviting visitors to discover the secrets of Cognac. making.

The experience is beautifully crafted for the whole family, blending visual storytelling with art media. During my visit , the scent of cognac allowed my imagination to fly back to the Jersey Island where I could almost hear the calls of the Atlantic puffins and marvel at their unique beauty.

This house's store is astounding, displaying collections of various cognac bottles. You can appreciate the richness of the cognac production and how far this craft can reach.

I had few hours left to explore Cognac. The sun greeted me with a warm smile from above, as I headed to the porte Saint Jacques. A main vestige of the ramparts that encircled the town in Middle Ages. You can enjoy a fascinating guide tour that immerses you into Cognac at that time, sharing the history of this emblematic monument and the river Charente. It was a perfect closure to my trip.

I suddenly remembered that my grandmother told me, "Before leaving Belarus. The passport control officer wrote in my passport, her eyes color- Cognac." She said it proudly.

I was told, during my visit, that there is no true definition of the Cognac color

Yet for me it will always live in my grandmother's eyes- deep grey touched with flecks of honey and gold, and in those sweet, timeless memories I carried back from Cognac.

Text and photos- Niva Josef

Thank you for the 4 great guides that accompanied me in this journey in Cognac.

Nathalie, Mathilde, Nathalie and Aurore.

and Pamela Briaud, the press officer for such a wonderful stay in Cognac. A mesmerizing experience that you should not skip while visiting France next time.

Recommandations.

I stayed In a wonderful hotel that felt like being in the heart of nature. Quai des Pontis. Within a few minutes' walk you are in the town center. The hotel offered a serene and stylish escape from the hustle and bustle of the town, with its natural decoration and the comfortable. rooms The breakfast buffet was also delicious ,featuring fresh and local products.

In Cognac you will easily find many high-quality restaurants. I particularly loved

Ateliers des quais for its original and tasty food.

I had a great lunch in the beautiful restaurant Origin's.

For a casual and hearty food I highly recommend " Chez Aristide" don't miss their home made profiteroles.

By the hotel and with a very large terrace that is just by the river, is "Les copains d'abord" It is quite a busy restaurant, but there is no pressure, and siting by the river with such a view, you enjoy the sight and the very nice dishes.

View from the restaurant" Les copain d'abord" click inside the photo to get the website of Cognac tourism office. You can find all the adresses of the places I wrote about in their page. Enjoy the lovely Cognac.