Discover Cognac

Explore Cognac during your stay from several cultural perspectives: historic buildings, museum visits, self-guided routes through the old town and the Charente as the focus of a guided river cruise. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cognac, these differences can help with planning: Would you like to explore the city’s history, see collections or put the river at the heart of your visit? The following destinations offer some specific ideas.

Historic traces in Cognac

Château de Cognac is a historic monument and the birthplace of King François I. The medieval fortifications include two towers with a covered walkway, known as the Tours Saint Jacques or Porte Saint Jacques. They are the most visible remains of the complex and provide a distinct focus for a city visit.

Porte Saint Jacques offers a scenic tour through four rooms. From the terrace, panoramic views stretch over the old town and the Charente. It’s a good idea to check opening arrangements before your trip. Another architectural landmark is the church in Cognac today: it was built around 1130–1140 in the shape of a Latin cross with domes.

Museums with different focuses

The Musée des savoir-faire du cognac is located on the quays of Cognac and has more than 1,600 m² of permanent exhibition space. Its visitor route includes audiovisual projections, soundscapes, scent-based games and interactive exhibits. Images, sound, scent and participation are among the different formats you can expect along the route.

The Maison du négociant, Musée d’art et d’histoire, is located in the public garden of the Hôtel de Ville. Its collections include paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and archaeology. This gives you a clear distinction to consider when choosing: the Musée des savoir-faire du cognac focuses on its route and the different ways it engages visitors; the Maison du négociant offers collections from several areas of art and knowledge. You can therefore choose your museum visits based on the format that interests you most.

The Charente and its quays

The quays of the Charente are a central point of interest in Cognac. From the city, La Demoiselle offers a guided river cruise focused on the architectural and natural heritage along the Charente. The two-hour cruises pass through the green landscapes of the Charente Valley, between vineyards and limestone.

The departure and arrival point is Quai des Flamands, opposite Place de la Salle Verte. Cruises run seasonally; check operating dates and the boarding point before your trip. This makes it easy to plan the river cruise as a separate activity with a defined timeframe, rather than confusing it with walks through the old town.

Old-town walks and street art

Cognac has two self-guided walks through the old town, both called Promenades à Cognac. As route details may change, it’s a good idea to check the current route before setting off. If you prefer to explore independently, you can choose one of the two walks as a focus for your visit.

Wonderwall Cognac is an open-air street art gallery on the walls of Cognac. Individual artworks may change. This offers a different perspective on the city from its historic buildings and museum collections: here, the focus is on art in public spaces. There is also a clear difference in format and timeframe between La Demoiselle’s two-hour guided cruise and the self-guided Promenades à Cognac.

Discover more destinations: Tusson, Chatignac, Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, Lesterps, Jarnac, Salles-Lavalette, Verteuil-Sur-Charente, Chassenon.

View the broader travel overview: Charente.