Cognac is a town known primarily for the production of distillate, for which the name Cognac is adopted. The brandy-type drink was first produced at the beginning of the 17th century and now its name and method of production are reserved only for this area.
The city was founded around the 10th century and was then mainly a trade and craft center. Destroyed several times during the Hundred Years' War, it was reborn under the reign of Francis I, who continued to enjoy numerous privileges. At that time, the royal castle in Cognac was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, which is today the most important attraction of the city.
Around the castle there is a small, but very picturesque center with old half-timbered houses and a historic church. There are numerous restaurants and pubs where you can try the cognac made in and around the city.
The glassmaker Claude Boucher lived and worked in Cognac and developed a machine for blowing glass objects in the second half of the 19th century. At the Saint-Gobain glassworks, you can still see antique tools and take part in a glass production show.
