1^st class train from Paris to La Rochelle with high speed train

Departure at 9:08 am, arrival at 12:24 pm

Meet your private driver guide in La Rochelle

Spot for a quick lunch on the Vieux Port, from where you can admire boats, pick a perch for a coffee or a glass or wine, and contemplate views which have inspired countless artists.

2-hour private guided tour of La Rochelle
Take a guided walking tour through the Old Quarter, visit the Maison Henri II and the Musée du Nouveau Monde. Heritage landmarks include the Tour Saint-Nicolas, which has defended the entrance to the harbour for more than 500 years, the Tour de la Lanterne, and the Gothic Porte de la Grosse Horloge.

Private transfer from La Rochelle to Cognac

Accommodation, breakfast and taxes included at Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa*****
Located in Cognac, 27 km from Saintes Train Station, Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa provides accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. 27 km from Abbaye aux Dames and 28 km from Saint Pierre Cathedral, the property features a terrace and a bar. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower. Guest rooms include a wardrobe. At Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa you will find a restaurant serving French and local cuisine. Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options can also be requested. Guests can relax in the wellness area, including an indoor pool, a sauna and a hot tub, or in the garden.
https://www.chaismonnethotel.com/

Day 2:

2-hour private guided tour of Cognac
Your guide will take you through the enchanting cobblestone lanes of Cognac’s historic center, where you will marvel at stunning medieval architecture. You will discover the historic Church of Saint-Léger, with a Latin cross structure and cupola that dates to 1130, while its Romanesque façade, built in the 1400s, features a marvelous rose window and doorway framed by the signs of the zodiac. La Maison de la Lieutenance, once the home of a prominent 17th century military officer, also shows traces of its medieval past. You will end your tour at the Chateau de Cognac. After the destruction of the first castle to the X century, a new one is built in the XIII century. According to legend, François Ier was born in the park adjacent to the castle in 1494. It now bears his name. The castle was bought in 1796 by Baron Otard, who landscape caves for cognac. It can be visited from the guard room and large arches, the home of the Governor and the chamber of Casque, a museum is also devoted to the production of cognac.

Visit and tasting at Hennessy for 2h30 minutes
This private, small group tour offers a unique opportunity to slip behind the scenes and deepen your knowledge about Hennessy’s legacy and how its remarkable cognacs are made. Board a shuttle for a brief crossing of the Charente River — an essential part of the Maison’s history — and visit the Ageing Cellar, an authentic working cellar lined with oak casks hand-inscribed in chalk script. In this magical place redolent with the aroma of the eaux de vie, gain a better understanding about the Cognac ageing process and discover the natural phenomenon known as the « angels’ share. »

Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the spa at your hotel

Day 3:

Exclusive 2CV tour in Cognac with picnic
Drive the small roads through the vineyards, follow the Charente river and take the landscape in, stop for a bucolic picnic and finally push the door of a distillery to unlock the secrets of distillation.

Cocktail-making workshop at Maison Rémy Martin late afternoon.
Cognac fans will begin their day in the historic Maison’s cellars, where they will uncover the secret to the age-old skills that lie behind these golden eaux-de-vie.
Visitors will then get to sample Rémy Martin cognacs during a tasting session. This will help them to identify the full aromatic palette before attempting to incorporate these aromas into their cocktails. Either on their own or in a team, they can let their imagination run wild while following the advice of a professional mixologist.
The workshop ends with a tasting of their cocktail creations, served with delicious gourmet bites.

Gastronomic dinner in Michelin Star Restaurant Les Foudres
In the heart of your hotel, the gastronomic restaurant Les Foudres will delights you as you enter its cathedral-like chai (“cellar” in the local Charentais dialect), passing underneath hundred-year-old oak barrels to arrive at their Michelin-star meal. With local, creative, fresh and gourmet cuisine, each of the chef’s dishes is a journey to new horizons.

Day 4

Private transfer from hotel to Bordeaux airport