Musée des arts du Cognac, Local museum in Cognac, France
The Musée des savoir-faire du cognac, formerly the Musée des arts du cognac, occupies the former Maison Augier, a trading house founded in 1643 by Philippe Augier, and part of the Hôtel Perrin de Boussac, whose facade is a listed historic monument. Inside, remains of the Lusignan tower and a section of the 14th-century town walls are visible. Displays follow cognac making from grape growing to packaging, with presses, Claude Boucher bottle-making machines, and bottles, corks, labels and posters from many countries.
The museum opened in 2004 in the former Maison Augier, the first cognac trading house, founded in 1643 by Philippe Augier and now owned by Pernod Ricard. Part of it also occupies the site of the Hôtel Perrin de Boussac, whose facade is listed as a historic monument. Remains of the Lusignan tower and a section of the 14th-century town walls can be seen inside. In 2020 the Musée des Arts du Cognac merged with the Espace Découverte en Pays du Cognac to become the Musée des Savoir-Faire du Cognac.
The museum's collections trace cognac's production chain: vine and harvest tools such as presses, and industrial pieces like Claude Boucher's bottle-making machines. Bottles, corks, labels and posters gathered from many countries show how the drink was advertised abroad. Temporary exhibitions and a computerised documentary collection complete the visit.
The museum sits in the center of Cognac's old town, surrounded by narrow streets that are easy to walk. The entry ticket also covers a visit to the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Cognac, so both can be seen on the same day.
Within the museum you can see remains of the Tour Lusignan and part of the 14th-century town ramparts, standing inside the exhibition rooms. The building also occupies the former Maison Augier, the first cognac trading house, founded in 1643 by Philippe Augier.
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