Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
30 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
30 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
30 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
30 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Château Cugnac cellars
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Château Cugnac cellars

See and taste one of the oldest and rarest collections of Armagnacs in the world.

Condom, France

Added By
Amanda Garnham
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A traditional Armagnac alembic is on display.   Amanda Garnham / Atlas Obscura User
A traditional Armagnac alembic is on display.   Amanda Garnham / Atlas Obscura User
The flag represents the current American owner.   Amanda Garnham / Atlas Obscura User
The labeled barrels in the cellar.   Amanda Garnham / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Down a small street in the Condom, France, lies an 18th-century cellar that holds the world's largest collection of old vintage Armagnacs in one place. Armagnac, France's oldest spirit, is a brandy made from white grapes grown in one or more of the three AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) zones for its production. Legend has it that this spirit was a favorite of musketeer D'Artagnan, the real historical figure who served as an inspiration for author Alexandre Dumas in his novel. 

Visitors to the cellar can watch a short film on the family who ran this Armagnac house throughout history, as well as how the Armagnac grapes are grown, distilled and aged. Armed with this knowledge you are led through into another part of the old stone cellar with a vaulted ceiling that holds more barrels and a collection of much older Armagnacs in bonbonnes. 

Inside the high-ceiling room, the aroma of Armagnac maturing in barrels is intoxicating. The thick stone walls blackened by the microscopic fungus that feed on the “angel's share,” or evaporation of the alcohol from the oak cask, could tell a story or two. Shelves contain bottles in different shapes and sizes, some containing Armagnacs that date back to 1868. 

An old copper alembic rests in what was most likely the orangery of the chateau. These mighty, mobile sills once traveled from farm to farm in the region, distilling Armagnac along the way. 

The American flag outside is a sign that this Armagnac house is now owned by the Vermont-based Raj Bhakta, the largest ever exporter of Armagnac to the USA. Following your free visit to the cellar, be sure to shop by the shop for an Armagnac tasting. 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Tags

Collections Booze

Know Before You Go

The cellars and shop at Château Cugnac are open weekdays from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

Amanda Garnham

Published

February 2, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Château Cugnac cellars
36 Rue Daunou
Condom, 32100
France
43.956036, 0.37346
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Flaran Abbey

Valence-sur-Baïse, France

miles away

Club 47

Monbalen, France

miles away

Rembrandt’s Christ on the Cross

Le Mas-d'Agenais, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 700
Stories 74

Nearby Places

Flaran Abbey

Valence-sur-Baïse, France

miles away

Club 47

Monbalen, France

miles away

Rembrandt’s Christ on the Cross

Le Mas-d'Agenais, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 700
Stories 74

Related Places

  • Every tour begins in the basement, featuring a bar decorated in Russian vodka labels.

    Staten Island, New York

    Booze History Museum

    Crammed into several rooms of a Staten Island home, this museum is a vodka-soaked paean to the pleasures of drinking.

  • Guanajuato, Mexico

    Miniature Collection at Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato

    A collection of miniatures made in the central-western region of Mexico.

  • Marietta, Georgia

    The Georgia Room at Switzer Library

    Strange memorabilia held inside an unassuming library.

  • The ornament collection spans decades.

    Dearborn, Michigan

    The Hallmark Collection at the Henry Ford Museum

    A comprehensive archive of Hallmark Holiday ornaments.

  • Key moments of the multi-day fight are recreated in the museum’s diorama.

    Monterrey, Mexico

    Museo de la Batalla de Monterrey (Battle of Monterrey Museum)

    This museum tells the story of a decisive battle in the Mexican-American War.

  • Twelve Mile Limit is the kind of bar with a whole roster of regulars.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Twelve Mile Limit

    Both the cocktails and the dive bar vibes are immaculate at this Mid-City watering hole.

  • Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Tep Bar

    Sidle up for this Chinatown watering hole for Thai moonshine accompanied by traditional live tunes.

  • This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.

    London, England

    John Snow

    Named for a doctor who made a breakthrough in London’s cholera epidemic, this 1800s pub was also the site of a queer “kiss-in.”

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.