Maison Martell, une institution de Cognac

The 5 stages of an urban outing in Cognac

Cognac is a deft blend of traditional and contemporary. Take Martell, for example. It’s one of the oldest Cognac maisons and the most avant-garde of corporate foundations dedicated to modern art. And in case that wasn’t enough, they’re also expert mixologists. As for Chais Monnet, today it boasts five stars. Cognac mixes well with any era.

1. Go three centuries back in history

article standard 01Cognac1280x800

Not to be missed, Maison Martell has dominated the landscape for more than three hundred years. Book your tour (with tasting), and be ushered through the humble doorway of the building erected by Jean Martell in the late 1700s. Be shown the holy of holies: the cellar where the precious spirit only gets better with age. End your tour in the “salle des montres”. A fantastic introduction to Cognac.

2. Get immersed in the Martell Foundation

article standard 02Cognac1280x800

You’ll have to come back at least once a year if you don’t want to miss the immersive installations on the ground floor. Not ours, but the Martell Foundation’s. Every year it invites a different artist to take over its 900m² of free space. The only rule: to create a complete, immersive, and evolving environment. No mean feat!

3. Perch on a rooftop

article standard 03Cognac1280x800

Come evening, keep climbing up the Gâtebourse tower until you reach the rooftop and its bar: Indigo by Martell. It’s our new favourite spot for a new take on the city, sipping on one of the cocktails of which only Maxime Le Gal, head bartender, knows the secrets. And if you want to keep your visit strictly Cognac, there’s plenty on the menu!

4. Sleep in the Chais Monnet

article standard 04Cognac1280x800

And was Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European project, one of the same family of wine merchants? Indeed he was. And tonight, you’ll be sleeping in their cellars. No need to panic! They have been renovated a little bit since 1838. Today, they are no longer home to the barrels containing the precious nectar, but rather a five star hotel in the perfect location in the heart of Cognac. You want the address?

5. Get your own cellar started at the Cognathèque

article standard 05Cognac1280x800

What’s the Cognathèque? It’s more than just a wine cellar. Far more! It’s the high temple of cognac! There’s dozens of varieties of Pineau de Charentes, and hundreds of cognacs... You wouldn’t even think there could be so many! Newcomers to the world of cognac can sample incredible spirits. Connoisseurs can learn the art of tasting.

Places to go

  • A single address for the Maison Martell, the Martell Foundation, and Indigo by Martell :16 Avenue Paul Firino Martell, 16100 Cognac
  • Hôtel Chais Monnet: 50 avenue Paul Firino Martell, 16100 Cognac
  • La Cognathèque: 10 place Jean Monnet, 16100 Cognac

Getting to Cognac 

RELATED
ARTICLES 

South of Bordeaux, come along and discover Château Guiraud and its organic philosophy by visiting its garden set in the...

When competition time is over, the stars of the oval ball welcome you to their fiefdom. Here’s my selection of the...

The world of vines and wine has always been an integral part of Nouvelle-Aquitaine's identity. Vineyards shape its...

These restaurants, nestling at the heart of renowned wine estates or centre staged as listed-château ambassadors,...

Cognac, located some 44 kilometres from Angoulême, has been cultivating the art of distilling wine and its lees using...

Since wine is so much more than just a "drink" in France—really, it's a way of life—certain Bordelais winemakers...

RELATED
ARTICLES 

South of Bordeaux, come along and discover Château Guiraud and its organic philosophy by visiting its garden set in the...

When competition time is over, the stars of the oval ball welcome you to their fiefdom. Here’s my selection of the...

The world of vines and wine has always been an integral part of Nouvelle-Aquitaine's identity. Vineyards shape its...

These restaurants, nestling at the heart of renowned wine estates or centre staged as listed-château ambassadors,...

Cognac, located some 44 kilometres from Angoulême, has been cultivating the art of distilling wine and its lees using...

Since wine is so much more than just a "drink" in France—really, it's a way of life—certain Bordelais winemakers...