Eaux-de-vie safely behind historic walls
In 1796, Baron Otard considered that the cellars in the château de Cognac, where François 1st was born, offered ideal conditions for ageing cognac. So he bought and restored the castle.
Visit Charente
Official Charente Tourist BoardCognac Otard
» Cognac Country » Guided visits of the cognac houses » Cognac OtardThe visit
The visit of the château de Cognac plunges the visitor into the history of France. The building was a witness to all the great events of the Hundred Years' War. Later, with the Valois-Angoulême, it was one of the beacons of the spirit of the Renaissance. In the lower levels, in the vaulted rooms built on the rock and the old city walls, time seems to be suspended. This is where the eaux-de-vie lie ageing in oak barrels. Finally, the visitor arrives in " Paradise ", the place where the oldest eaux-de-vie are stored (several date from 1820). Today's " Paradis " used to be hell as it was formerly the castle prison.
