Cognac - a town of spirit.. (an area in Poitou Charente, in the Charente region of France)

Home Regions Département Areas Dadani Information Contact us Advertisers

Places to try... Things to know...

Mesnardiere (la), Guest House.
49 bd Deligné,
+339)0545320631
Click to email us
Bungalow not far from town centre with large garden and swimming pool. Mme Mesnard relaxes on walking holidays in the Himalayas.

Parc (le), Restaurant.
Parc Francoise I
0545823478
Rather like Dr Who's Police Box this place looks like a small cricket pavilion in superb surroundings on the banks of the Charente. Somehow it conceals a large restaurant and terrace.

Place Françoise I,
Cognac town centre.
A number of restaurants, cafes or grills line one side of the central square.

Municipal Camping Site.
About 2.5 km on the D24 in the direction of Boutiers.
+33(0)545321332
Click to email us
Site with good shade between the Charente and a tributary. Open May to October with shop, café-bar and leisure facilities (inc. swimming pool). Some mobile-homes for hire.

Cognac - The Seductive Saga of the World's Most Coveted Spirit.

<p align="center"></p> <div class="mapdiv"><img src="img/map/map39.jpg" alt=""><br /> The flag of one of the brandy companies beckons beyond the river marina.</div> <h1>Cognac - a town of spirit..</h1> <h2>Not Bourbon or Whisky but Cognac.</h2> <p>One French Guide-book asserts in its introduction to Cognac that this town must be among the very few whose name is known world-wide - at least among lovers of wines and spirits. But from a point of view beyond the national borders it does not necessarily follow that there should be a town which gave its name to a drink. Indeed there is no place called Whisky in Scotland, Whiskey in Ireland or Gin in England. There is a Bourbon county in Kentucky (named in honour of the French assistance received during the American War of Independence) - but it has no distilleries! In France, though, pragmatism reigns as always in the naming of wines, spirits and foods too. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div class="imgdivleft"><img src="img/map/mapdet44.jpg" alt=""><br />This statue of King Françoise 1, born in Cognac in 1494, stands in the central square that bears his name. During his reign (1515 - 1547) he was instrumental in developing and promoting the famous châteaux of the Loire Valley.</div> <p class="pictcap">Attractions that captivate new devotees. </p> <p>The name pre-dates the spirit by several centuries having been derived from a Roman sources. If the brandy has taken the name across continents the inhabitants of those lands could do worse than seek out Cognac. It's a town of about 50,000 population that has spread out from the riverside fortified chateau about which the 'chais' (warehouses) clustered. Anyone wishing to be close to the services of a major provincial town will find the full variety of homes and properties that you'd expect in such a conurbation. Those who establish a base here or in the surrounding areas will find that they are installed within the ambit of an ancient town that has fostered a fascinating industry and who's attractions are increasingly captivating new devotees. </p> <div class="imgdivrt"><img src="img/map/mapdet45.gif" alt=""><br />A Cellar Master in the Remy-Martin 'chais' takes a sample of an eau-de-vie. Photo courtesy of the company. See also their informative web-site www.remy.com The company is based at Merpins 4km SW of the town where a train takes visitors about the site!</div> <p class="pictcap">Barges taking barrels to barques and brigantines. </p> <p>The heart of the place remains on the banks of the Charente. In and around the Chateau where Françoise I was born (1494) you can walk along cobbled streets between mediaeval houses and have little difficulty in imagining the hurly-burly of old when horses hooves and metal-rimmed cartwheels clattered their way to the quay. There you can narrow your eyes and convert the modern leisure craft into barges preparing to take barrels to the barques and brigantines at Rochefort for their journey to London and elsewhere. There is a romance too in the curiosity that the buildings - built in a local white stone - have developed an autumnal brown hue. Don't rush to blame pollution - it's caused by a microscopic organism that thrives in an atmosphere laced with evaporating brandy fumes. If that seems improbable you may reflect on the fact that as much cognac escapes to the air each year as is drunk in the whole of France! </p> <div class="imgdivleft"><img src="img/map/mapdet46.jpg" alt=""><br />France's principal blues festival, which is held in Cognac at the end of each July, brings street concerts and vibrancy to the town.</div> <p class="pictcap">Miniature trains to animated tableaux. </p> <p>Although probably not something that a resident might do on a regular basis surely no one can come to Cognac without visiting one of the great houses of the industry. The famous names welcome visitors and offer different presentations of the manner in which they produce a range of spirits from the standard to VSOP and blends with names resounding with 'Napoleon' and 'Champagne'. Sadly this ultimate after dinner drink is having great difficulty in maintaining market share. It seems somewhat strange that while all sorts of devices - from miniature trains to animated tableaux and video presentation - are used to tempt the tourist none of the manufacturers operate a restaurant where one could savour great Charentaise food as well as the region's liquor. </p> <br class="clearboth"> <p> </p> <p> </p> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> </td> <td width="336"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></td> <td> </td> </tr> </table></td><td width="185" valign="top" class="freeads"> <h2>Some further information...</h2> <p> <strong>The Cognac 'Houses'.</strong><br /> Several of the most famous names have their bases in and about the town and can be visited. They are generally open every day in high summer but check opening times out of season. <br />OTARD is located in the Chateau (Tel: 0545368886); HENNESSY uses a boat trip to connect premises on both sides of the river (Tel: 0545357268); CAMUS (Tel: 0545327296) and MARTELL (Tel:0545363333) are within the older part of the town. PRINCE HUBERT DE POLIGNAC (Tel: 0545820998) is 4km to the SE and REMY MARTIN (Tel: 0545357666) 4km to the SW.<br /><br />There are many smaller producers who produce their own blends in the surrounding small towns and villages. Most encourage visits which will generally be more informal than ones to the great 'houses'. There may well be a chance to meet the viticulter, the distiller, the blender and the sales manager - or else his (or her) spouse!<br /><br />See also our Area: Jarnac and the Charente Valley. <br> </p> <p><img src="img/agent/po141.jpg" alt="Will's DIY Dictionary"><br /> <strong>Will's DIY Dictionary</strong><br /> From Sewage to Shocking Pink<br> Extensive details about the volume may be found in the 'Département' designated as 'Will's DIY Dictionary' on this site.<br /><br />This English / French / English lexicon contains more than 4,500 terms and phrases useful for Anglophone property holders in France. It aims to cover all aspects of establishing and developing a home and a property in that country and contains a host of specialist expressions that will not be found in general purpose dictionaries. <br /><br> </p> <p>  <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=86998&v=1589&q=68815&r=75764"><img src="http://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=86998&v=1589&q=68815&r=75764" border="0"></a>  </p></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td class="box"> </td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div id="foot">  <a href="dadani-sitemap.lasso"><img src="img/imap.gif" alt="Dadani site map" width="29" height="18" border="0"></a><a href="index.lasso"><img src="img/ihome.gif" alt="Dadani home" width="29" height="18" border="0"></a><a href="mailto:website@dadanimail.co.uk?subject=Enquiry on Dadani web site"><img src="img/iemail.gif" alt="Email Dadani" width="29" height="18" border="0"></a></div> </body> </html>