Cognac
Whether you are a fan of brandy or not, Cognac makes for a lovely day-trip, full of history and beauty. It is only one hour drive from Chez Mathieu.
Cognac became a wealthy city in the 16th and 17th centuries due to the salt trade, and much of the architecture in the old town dates from that time. Taking a walk around Old Cognac is lovely. It is incredibly picturesque, with cobbled streets and white stone buildings, typical of the Charente, but dotted with a notably wide range of architecture.
When in Cognac, an obvious activity is to go bandy tasting! There are the large distilleries, such as Hennessey, Martell, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier, which offer tours, but you can also stumble across much smaller, more charming and less commercial ones.
Cognac isn't only about drinking fine liquor! There are many good restaurants in the town, including some dotted along the banks of the Charanre river, serving good food, accompanied by stunning views.
