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Before you go
Your trip to Cognac.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Cognac – Nouvelle-Aquitaine about 120 km from Bordeaux
How to get there
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Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) Mérignac · 130 km
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Gare de Cognac 2 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
For those arriving by plane, the nearest international airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac, about 130 km away. Cognac station, about 1.5 km from the centre, receives regional trains from Angoulême and Saintes. By car, Cognac is about 120 km from Bordeaux and 45 km from Angoulême.
How many days
One day for the old centre, the Porte Saint-Jacques, the church of Saint Leodegar, the public garden and one museum. With two days you can see both museums at a relaxed pace and take a boat on the Charente.
When to go
From May to September, when days are long and boat trips on the river run. Harvest is in September and October, and distillation goes from November to March. In winter, from December to February, the weather is cold and humid.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not for the town itself: everything is walkable from the centre. For the vineyards and regional villages like Jarnac, a car or bicycle is useful; there is a bike path along the Charente.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Cognac
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Morning
Cognac knowledge museum
Start with the Cognac knowledge museum, near the river, to understand the vineyard, the distillation and the trade of the brandy. The visit takes about an hour and a half.
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Afternoon
Porte Saint-Jacques and old town
Descend to the Porte Saint-Jacques on the banks of the Charente and climb the streets of Vieux Cognac, with houses from the 15th to the 18th centuries, up to the church of Saint Leodegar. On the way, pass the castle where Francis I was born.
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Late afternoon
Public garden
Continue to the public garden surrounding the town hall and walk along the avenues, the streams and the theatre of greenery. The art and history museum is located within the garden.
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Evening
Dinner in the centre
Dine at one of the restaurants around Place François-Ier. On many menus cognac appears in the cooking and in desserts.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Cognac in one day?
The Cognac knowledge museum, the Porte Saint-Jacques, the streets of the old centre, the church of Saint Leodegar and the public garden, with the art and history museum.
Do Cognac’s museums have a joint ticket?
The two municipal museums, the Cognac knowledge museum and the art and history museum, operate together, and a ticket for one usually grants access to the other. It is worth checking the conditions at the ticket office.
Can you take a boat on the Charente in Cognac?
Yes. In season, from May to September, there are boat trips on the river from the town’s quays.
Is the Cognac castle open to visits?
The castle where Francis I was born belongs to a cognac company that organises visits. From the street you can see the riverside façade.
Can cognac only be produced in Cognac?
The appellation covers a delimited area around the town, across several departments in western France. The eau-de-vie is presented on a dedicated page in Flavors of France.