Hotels in Cognac

Cognac is a small, quiet town on the Charente river that the whole world knows for one thing: the brandy that carries its name. Almost everything here revolves around it. The big houses, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and Camus among them, run cellar tours and tastings along the riverbanks. Smaller family producers are scattered through the surrounding vineyards. The old town has handsome cobbled streets, a château where François I was born, and the blackened walls typical of the region, darkened by a fungus that feeds on the evaporating spirit, the so-called angels' share.

Be honest: once you've done the distilleries, there isn't a great deal else to fill more than a couple of days. Evenings are subdued, and the town can feel sleepy outside summer and the harvest season. With a fairly limited choice of hotels, it rewards booking ahead around festival dates. Stay in or near the old town by the river, where the main cognac houses, restaurants and the château are all within easy walking distance.