4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

ITINERARY USING COGNAC AS A BASE

  • Cognac
  • All year round

©Cognac / CRTNA-FEDER

Table of contents

Cognac is a town packed with history and craftsmanship. It’s the epitome of South Western France’s understated elegance home to blonde stone buildings, vines and the glittering Charente River. As the world capital of its namesake spirit, the town celebrates its signature “art de vivre” carved out by the bond between the Charente River, distillation and the finer things in life. Cognac is the perfect base for trips to the ocean, Charente valleys and exciting neighbouring lands.

©Distillation du cognac / BNIC-CRTNA

DAY 1 – COGNAC, THE SPIRIT OF A LAND

Morning – Meet the brandy baron
Visit Cognac old town: Quais de la Charente, cobbled lanes and shops.
Dive into the history of cognac and its connection with maritime trade at the Musée des Arts du Cognac.

Afternoon – Famous names and Charente craftsmanship
Tour and tasting at one of the biggest cognac brands (Rémy Martin, Martell, Hennessy, Château de Cognac or Camus).
Meet an independent producer in the Grande and Petite Champagne region: blending workshop, sensory experience and insider knowledge.

Overnight stay in Cognac.

©Angoulême / CRTNA-FEDER

DAY 2 – ANGOULÊME, HOME TO ILLUSTRATIONS AND RAMPARTS (45 min drive)

Morning – Angoulême, capital of comics and illustration
Wander around the old town and ramparts towering above the Charente River.
Explore the world of comic strips at the Musée de la Bande Dessinée and the town’s famous murals.

Afternoon – History and the great outdoors
Set sail on the Charente in a gabarre (traditional flat-bottomed boat) to the old river port of Saint-Simon.
Visit a local winery for a Pineau des Charentes tasting.

Back to Cognac for the evening.

©La Rochelle / Along Dusty Roads / CRTNA

DAY 3 – LA ROCHELLE OR ROCHEFORT : A BREATH OF SEA AIR

Option A – La Rochelle (1 hr 45 drive)
Morning: visit the Vieux-Port, medieval towers and market hall.
Afternoon: trip to the Aquarium de La Rochelle or cruise around Fort Boyard with a guide.
Back to Cognac for the evening.

Option B – Rochefort and Arsenal des Mers (1.5 hr drive)
Morning: visit the Arsenal des Mers, Corderie Royale and Maison Pierre Loti, French seafaring and literary landmarks in Rochefort.
Afternoon: riverside stroll along the Charente, tour of the Musée National de la Marine or hemp and traditional sailing workshop.
Back to Cognac for the evening.

©La Clé des songes / Futuroscope

DAY 4 – CHOICE OF DAY TRIPS : POITIERS OR BORDEAUX

Option A – Poitiers, history and Futuroscope (1 hr 45 drive)
Morning: guided tour of the local Romanesque gem that is the old town home to Notre-Dame-la-Grande and the Palais des Ducs d’Aquitaine.
Afternoon: thrills and spills at Futuroscope theme park.

Option B – Bordeaux, capital of wine and architecture (1 hr 40 drive)
Morning: guided tour of a UNESCO-listed old town.
Afternoon: trip to the Cité du Vin or wine tasting cruise on the Garonne.

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