Francis I, born in 1494 at the House of Valois now the Otard Chateau,modernized the Charente River's navigation system and Henry IV considered it the most beautiful river of France. This calm river flows through the town of Cognac and an impressive array of the famous liquor houses flanks its banks here. Of course, the town gave the famous liquor its namesake (I was told that Cognac is among the highest income per capita town in France).
I had the second opportunity to visit this town back in the spring of 2005. It was a cultural visit for the purpose of learning French and this time, we got to first see how oak barrels are made and later visit the Otard Chateau to get a fully guided trip on the vinification process of cognac, called eau de vie in French (water of life). It was a very pleasant and informative trip and definitely worth checking out if one ever visit France, out of Paris. For the liquor connoisseur, where else to buy a good bottle of cognac sauf directly from the cave (cellar) of the house itself!
I had the second opportunity to visit this town back in the spring of 2005. It was a cultural visit for the purpose of learning French and this time, we got to first see how oak barrels are made and later visit the Otard Chateau to get a fully guided trip on the vinification process of cognac, called eau de vie in French (water of life). It was a very pleasant and informative trip and definitely worth checking out if one ever visit France, out of Paris. For the liquor connoisseur, where else to buy a good bottle of cognac sauf directly from the cave (cellar) of the house itself!
At the courtyard
The quiet Sunday street of Cognac town.
The front entrance to the chateau.
Part of the inner courtyard.
The governor's lodge
The entrance to the lodge.
The Helmet Room, named after the helmet-like emblem on the chimney.
Royal emblem of Francis I - the salamander
Freezes on the wall depicting the history of royal lives at the lower vaults of the chateau.
This is where the good stuff is kept - a walk along this vault is enough to give one a giddy head with the wonderful aroma exuded by the aging oak barrels with liquid 'gold' in them...
Markings on a barrel of X.O.
The Charente flows through this town...
Inside the State Room.
Royal emblem - the ermine
Portrait of Francis I
The museum cum merchandise display
Outside again...
Some of the tools...
At the courtyard...
Another view of the Charente
The unmistakable twin towers that dominate the Cognac landscape.Visit cognac at this site:http://www.ville-cognac.fr/
Visit the Otard chateau at this site: www.otard.com
Visit the Otard chateau at this site: www.otard.com
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