Véloroute Cognac – Local itinerary 24 B

World-renowned for its eau de vie, Cognac will reveal its richness and beauty before taking the road for a tour through stones and vineyards. A "Cognac Experience" of which you will discover all the secrets thanks to the wine merchants and museums. Cognac, home of Jean Monnet and François 1er, is also a town of Art and History with its medieval quarter, the Château des Valois, houses and mansions along the cobbled streets, but also the church of St Léger, the Récollets convent, the Town Hall and its English-style garden, the François 1er park without forgetting the Charente and its various river activities. After this visit, head for Javrezac where you will discover houses and farms with typical Charentaise architecture as well as wash houses and mills, including that of Les Angeliers on the river l'Antenne. Following this beautiful valley of the Antenne, rich in flora (oaks – frescos – maples) and fauna (wild boar – roe deer – otters – European mink and bats), you will notice beautiful dovecotes (château de Richemont), mills including that of Prézier, fountains and wash houses as in Cherves where you will stop near the medieval cross in front of the church. On the way back to Cognac, you will not fail to visit the ruins of the church of Saint-Marmet which dominate the promontory overlooking the Charente at Boutiers St Trojan then the last few kilometres will be along the Charente.