Excursion to Destination Cognac
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Program
Program
DAY 1
Étape 1 : 10:00 Guided visit the town of Cognac
Welcome to Cognac ! Explore the iconic town of Cognac during a fascinating guided visit that reveals the cultural and historic jewels that crowd the picturesque lanes. Your knowledgeable guide will take you through Old Cognac, where the safeguarded architecture of the traders’ houses demonstrates the wealth of the cognac industry.
Cognac is laden with history: it was here that the future François 1st was born. This is not just a town that depends on the cognac trade. Allow yourself to be charmed by the banks of the Charente that are a picturesque backdrop for our guide to relate the beginnings of the town.
You may even get a chance to plunge into the animated atmosphere of the covered market, a real jewel that was inspired by the market halls of the 19th century.
A visit that will leave you with lasting memories of a town full of charm and authenticity and especially its history.
Étape 2 : 12:00 Lunch in one of our partner restaurants
Enjoy your lunch in a convivial restaurant just a few steps from the preceding visit.
In the annexe of suggested menus, choose the one that inspires you – it will indicate the restaurant.
Menu of 3 courses, 25cl of wine and coffee
Étape 3 : 14:30 River cruise on La Demoiselle (April to November) or guided visit to the Musée des Savoir-Faire du cognac (according to the season)
Welcome on board La Demoiselle for an wonderful cruise that allows you to explore the picturesque beauty of the town of Cognac from the serene waters of the Charente. Thanks to its electric motor, this new boat offers a gentle trip that respects the environment.
As you glide through the water, let yourself be carried away by the commentary and discover the fascinating story of the Charente, of winemaking, of the rich heritage of the built environment, of the history of gabares (flat-bottomed sailing barges) that in times past were essential for the trade of salt and then eaux-de-vie, of the mansions of the traders. As a bonus, the voyage includes the experience of passing through a lock !
La Demoiselle awaits your company for a trip full of charm and authenticity where time seems briefly suspended.
Étape 4 : 17:00 Visit a trading house
A visit to a cognac trading house is a sensorial adventure, a deep exploration into the soul of this enchanting drink, where the present and the past intermingle with each drop. Your journey starts with a visit to the cellars where the cognac is reposing in hundred year old oak barrels; these impressive surroundings call to mind the history of the House. Then, experienced guides will reveal the secrets of distillation, explaining the meticulous choice of grape varieties, the process of fermentation, the delicate art of selecting the eaux-de-vie.
At the end of the visit, a tasting where you might get slightly tipsy thanks to the finished product !
As you leave the trading house, your memories will be suffused with the exceptional story of cognac.
Étape 5 : 20:00 Dinner in a restaurant in Cognac
20:00 Dinner in a restaurant in Cognac
Finish your day with a flourish enjoying a fine meal in one of our partner restaurants.
In the annexe of suggested menus, choose the one that inspires you – it will indicate the restaurant.
Menu of 3 courses, 25cl of wine and coffee
Overnight in a 3* hotel, double room
DAY 2
Breakfast at the hotel
Étape 1 : 10:00 Visit a cooperage
Accompanied by a guide, you’ll discover the vibrant workshop where coopers master the delicate art of barrel construction. The intoxicating aroma of heated wood and the regular sound of tools and machines are part of the visit while you observe each stage in the process, from the meticulous selection of the staves to the final assembly of the barrel. Learn about the subtleties of the different species of oak that are used and understand how they influence the unique character of each barrel. A fascinating visit that takes you to the heart of the harmonious marriage between the work of the cooper and the art of cognac through the crucial effect of barrels on aging and the aromatic profile of cognac.
Étape 2 : 12:00 Lunch in a restaurant
Enjoy your meal in a restaurant with a convivial atmosphere just a few minutes from the previous visit.
In the annexe of suggested menus, choose the one that inspires you – it will indicate the restaurant.
Menu of 3 courses, 25cl of wine and coffee
Étape 3 : 14:30 Visit of a family-run vineyard and tasting
A winemaker welcomes you to his vineyard and takes you to the very essence of cognac. Here is an environment where history, tradition and enthusiasm come together to create this exceptional product.
In the warm atmosphere of a family that has been making cognac for generations, the winemaker will demonstrate the process of making cognac and Pineau des Charentes.
It’s at the foot of the alembic that he will explain the alchemy of Charentais distillation.
In the intimacy of a cellar, he will talk about the aging process of cognac and all the symphony of complex aromas that he creates.
The visit ends with an explanatory tasting of a product that has been grown, made and put into bottles directly at the property.
Étape 4 : 20:00 Dinner in a restaurant in Cognac
Round off your day with a delicious meal in one of our partner restaurants.
In the annexe of suggested menus, choose the one that inspires you – it will indicate the restaurant.
Menu of 3 courses, 25cl of wine and coffee
Overnight at hotel
DAY 3
Étape 1 : 10:00 Visit to La Fabrique du Baume de Bouteville or the Château de Bouteville
In the heart of the cognac vineyards in Grande Champagne is an artisanal gastronomic workshop that produces Charentais balsamic vinegar made directly from the juice of grapes harvested from the best plots of the vineyard. The enthusiastic guide will unveil all the secrets of the five stages of this artisanal transformation that is well known in the region.
Le Baume de Bouteville is sought after by the top chefs and is aged in oak barrels that have contained eau-de-vie de Cognac; that gives it a unique flavour during the final tasting. A visit that respects culinary excellence !
Étape 2 : 12:00 Lunch in a restaurant
Enjoy your meal in a restaurant with a convivial atmosphere just a few minutes from the previous visit.
In the annexe of suggested menus, choose the one that inspires you – it will indicate the restaurant.
Menu of 3 courses, 25cl of wine and coffee
Étape 3 : 14:30 Visit La Petite Maison du Lin
Learn about flax, this natural fibre that has left its mark and shaped the daily life of numerous communes.
In a picturesque setting, la Petite Maison du Lin offers an immersive experience that will be enjoyed by fans of textiles, cultural history and arts and crafts.
You’ll be seduced by the warm atmosphere of this stone house that is a reconstruction of a Charentais weaver’s workshop in the time of Napoléon III.
A member of the association that runs the museum will show you a collection of spinning wheels and weaving trades and will explain the culture and story of flax and weaving.
Étape 4 : 16:00 Guided tour of Lignières-Sonneville village
We’re still discovering the discreet charms of western Charente, in the heart of Grande Champagne. This commune is witness to a rich past and has preserved much of its unusual history. Lignières-Sonneville got its name from the culture of lin (flax) that went far back into antiquity but is nowadays replaced by the vine. The commune has nevertheless preserved and maintained the ancestral know-how.
The guide will tell you about La Charmille and its park, the former outbuilding of the château, where you’ll return after La Petite Maison du Lin. The 17th century château is still surrounded by its moat and together with the 12th century church of Notre-Dame and the traditional houses nearby, tells of a harmonious, characterful village.
A fine way to end your day out !
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