A recently opened, striking, luxury hotel in the centre of Cognac (16 Charente, Nouvelle Aquitaine) right by the river Charente – Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa

Originally a cognac and wine producer’s ageing cellars (La Maison Monnet), before being owned for a few years by the Hennessy Cognac company, the former industrial buildings have been incorporated into a modern and quite unique hotel.

In addition to the 92 rooms and suites, there is a 24-metre indoor/outdoor pool, jazz bar, spa and two atmospheric restaurants. In the Michelin-starred Les Foudres restaurant you can dine amongst the ancient Cognac barrels in the building’s historic ‘chais’. The other restaurant La Distillerie offers all-day dining.

In Cognac you can visit celebrated cognac houses, such as Martell, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier, whilst the vineyards of Bordeaux are not far away (60 mies/95 km). There are several local cognac producers other than the big name international brands, where the atmosphere may be more intimate and “French” which welcome visitors and offer tastings. At these cellars you can also sample Pineau des Charentes apertif ( a blend of unfermented grape juice and Cognac eaux-de-vie) which welcome visitors and offer tastings – see Destination Cognac

Cognac is a brandy made from a double distillation of grape juice, distilled in copper stills and aged in oak barrels for at least 2 years. see BNIC

for more info and to check availability at this Cognac Hotel see Hotel Chais Monnet

OR for alternative nearby Cognac accommodation see Hotel L’Yeuse

by train to La Rochelle

airport: La Rochelle Ile de Ré LRH(54 miles/85 km)

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airport: Brive Dordogne Valley BVE or Bergerac Dordogne-Perigord EGC