Cognac, France
Self Catering Cognac Holiday Rental Villas - Gites Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department of the Poitou-Charentes region. Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right bank area known as the Saint Jacques district. The town is situated on one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella. Cognac gives its name to one of the world's best-known types of brandy or eau de vie.
For it’s in Cognac that you'll find the largest concentration of chais or wine cellars where fine brandy or Cognac is matured. Drinks must be made in certain areas within the town and must be made according to strictly-defined regulations to be granted the name Cognac.
When you stay in self-catering Cognac accommodation, there are many Cognac houses to visit including Cognac Otard or Hennessy Cognac which keeps 180,000 barrels in stock. Be prepared to learn all about the fine art of Cognac making and the secret of blending when you rent self-catering holiday villas or gites in Cognac, France!
Be sure when you stay in Cognac to visit its Old Town. The town's medieval quarter "Vieux Cognac" runs from the Tours Saint-Jacques, alongside the river, up to the Saint-Léger church. The area contains many unusual buildings, built between the 15th and 18th centuries, situated on narrow cobbled streets. Many contain sculptures of the salamander, the symbol of King François I, as well as gargoyles and richly decorated facades.
Other sites to visit when you rent a holiday home in Cognac include: the Château des Valois, an important medieval trading post; the Saint-Léger church; the musée d'Art et d'Histoire (art and history museum) ; the musée des arts du Cognac (art museum) and the Saint-Gobain glassworks and barrelworks . There are six vineyard areas around the Cognac area, all of which are within the Appellation Controlee for Cognac.
Travelling to your Cognac holiday rental property: To reach Cognac by car then take the A10 Paris / Poitiers; N10 Bordeaux
N141 Saintes. Via Train (TGV) to Paris is 2h20, the nearest station which serves Cognac is Angouleme. The nearest airport is at Angouleme which offers a Ryanair service to London Stansted, slightly further away is Bordeaux Merignac airport which offers a full range low cost, charter and scheduled flights too airports all over the UK.
Winters are mild, average temperatures are 10-14C, in spring and autumn it’s sunny with the odd thunder storm 20- 22C. In July and August it’s mainly hot with blue skies and full sunny days. Av temp 25C.