Origins of cognac XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Start of brandy practices.
1643
Augier House Foundation
Augier House Foundation 1643 (≈ 1643)
First trading house by Philippe Augier.
2004
Opening of the museum
Opening of the museum 2004 (≈ 2004)
Creation of the Museum of Cognac Arts.
2020
Fusion and renaming
Fusion and renaming 2020 (≈ 2020)
Becomes Museum of Cognac know-how.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Philippe Augier - Founder of Augier House
Created the first trading house in 1643.
François Ier - King of France
Linked to Cognac Castle evoked in virtual reality.
Claude Boucher - Industrial
Creator of exposed bottle machines.
Origin and history
The Musée des savoir-faire du cognac (formerly Musée des arts du cognac) is located in the town of Cognac, Charente, in the heart of New Aquitaine. Opened in 2004, it presents all the stages of manufacturing cognac, from viticulture to packaging, combining traditional techniques and industrial innovations. In 2020, it merged with the Discovery Space in Cognac to become the Museum of Cognac's know-how, integrating a heritage and economic dimension linked to local history.
The museum occupies the premises of the former Augier house, founded in 1643 by Philippe Augier, the first cognac trading house today owned by the Pernod Ricard group. Some of the spaces are also located in the Perrin de Boussac Hotel, whose facade is classified as Historic Monuments. Visitors can observe medieval remains, such as the Lusignan Tower and 14th-century ramparts, which witness Cognac's urban history.
The scenography of the museum revolves around two axes: the local heritage, with models from the Charente and the royal castle, and the know-how of cognac, illustrated by collections of tools (pressors, bottle machines by Claude Boucher), old advertisements, and objects related to world marketing (bottles, labels, posters). Immersive experiences, such as virtual reality, make it possible to discover emblematic places, such as the cellars or the castle of Francis I.
The museum highlights a multi-sensory approach, combining visuals, sound and olfactory atmospheres to plunge visitors into the cognac world. It also houses a computerized documentary library, hosts temporary exhibitions and offers a regional product shop. Its location on the quays of the Green Hall, a former place to board cognac on gabars, reinforces its anchor in the industrial and river history of the city.
The institution underlines the link between cognac and the social, economic and technical evolution of Cognac, from the 13th century to the contemporary era, by valuing both the material and intangible heritage associated with this world-famous brandy.
