Cognac enters its autumn shoulder season with fewer summer visitors, comfortable weather and a calendar shaped by street performance, literature and the start of distillation.
In the centre of town, Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa is a five-star base set inside a restored 19th-century cognac distillery. Its seasonal stays combine tastings at celebrated houses with Michelin-starred dining, rooftop cocktails and spa treatments.
The timing suits travellers who want to explore beyond the cellar. Medieval streets and traditional markets are easy to discover on foot, while the Charente riverbank and surrounding vineyards offer longer routes by bicycle or vintage 2CV.
Stay at Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa
Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa occupies a characterful industrial site surrounded by some of Cognac’s best-known houses. The hotel has 92 rooms and suites across four buildings, alongside a contemporary brasserie, Michelin-starred restaurant Les Foudres and a generous wellness area.
The former distillery setting links the property to the town, while leaving room for other ways to enjoy the stay. Guests can move from a morning beside the spa pool to dinner beneath the old wooden vats at Les Foudres, where the tasting menu forms the centrepiece of the hotel’s gastronomic stay.
Bar & Rooftop 1838 holds a collection of more than 300 cognacs and offers broad views across the town. Its Cocktails & Sunset Special, valid for stays until 30 September 2026, includes two nights, breakfast for two, two cocktails with tapas and a €50 hotel credit. Spa and fitness access are also included, with prices starting at €750 for two people. Reservations are available until 31 August, subject to availability.
For a slower stay, the hotel’s three-night wellness retreat provides breakfast, full spa access, and a daily massage credit of €200 per person. The experience starts at €2,390 for two and includes detox juice in the room.
The spa has a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna and fitness room. This package is best suited to travellers who want the distilleries and restaurants of central Cognac within reach, while keeping long stretches of the stay free for treatments and rest.
Pets can join the autumn escape through the hotel’s VIPET experience, which includes a specially prepared gourmet menu served at La Distillerie. Standard room rates begin at €320 per night.
Cognac festivals from September to November
Cognac’s autumn programme begins with Coup de Chauffe, a free street-theatre festival running from 4 to 6 September. Now in its 32nd edition, the event will bring around 20 free performances to public spaces across the city, spanning theatre, circus and music.
From 16 to 18 October, the free Festival Polar de Cognac turns to crime fiction and thrillers. Its 31st edition covers books, film, television, theatre and comic-book programming, with a tribute to American crime writer Ed McBain. The full programme is due on 22 September, followed by reservations from 24 September.
The following weekend brings an event tied to the start of the distillation season. Le Ban de la Distillation, held across Grand Cognac from 23 to 25 October, marks the beginning of the Charente distillation season.
The programme is expected to include guided visits, concerts, exhibitions, conferences and meetings with people working across Cognac and Pineau des Charentes production. Most activities will be free, although advance booking is required for every event. The final schedule is due at the end of September.
The previous edition offered more than 60 activities and workshops, attracting over 5,000 visitors. A banquet for between 100 and 150 guests is planned for the evening of Saturday 24 October as part of the 2026 event.
Autumn closes with the European Literature Festival from 19 to 22 November. Founded in 1988, the free annual gathering brings writers, illustrators, translators and other artists to Cognac for readings, debates, screenings, exhibitions and family activities. Poland is among the areas of focus for 2026.
Private tastings and cognac pairings
Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa has developed several stays with local cognac houses, ranging from conventional cellar visits to cheese pairings and cocktail workshops.
The Belle de Brillet and Rémy Martin experience includes two nights at the hotel, Champagne on arrival, breakfast and spa access. At Maison Brillet, guests tour the distillery and cellar before creating two cocktails with Belle de Brillet, a pear-and-cognac liqueur. The Rémy Martin portion includes cellar visits, gourmet bites and tastings of VSOP and XO cognacs. Prices start at €470 per night for two people.
Maison Hine offers a more compact introduction through the Do You Cheese Frenglish experience. A private cellar tour leads into five cheeses paired with five cognacs, giving guests a structured way to compare flavour and texture. The one-night package includes Champagne, breakfast and spa access, starting at €610 for two. Visits run from Monday to Friday in English or French.
Other hotel experiences include a private dinner in Maison Delamain’s historic cellars, a Hennessy weekend focused on craftsmanship and mixology, and a Rémy Martin exploration of Louis XIII. The concierge can also arrange private visits and tastings outside the packages.
Planning an autumn stay in Cognac
Cognac can be reached from London via flights to Bordeaux or La Rochelle, followed by an onward journey to the town. Travellers attending October’s distillation events should wait for the detailed programme before finalising cellar visits, as all Le Ban de la Distillation activities require advance reservations.
September offers the last opportunity for sunset drinks on the hotel rooftop, while late October places visitors closest to the working distillation season. November exchanges the festival atmosphere of the streets and cellars for four days centred on European books and their creators.
