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Hotel of the Week: A Former Cognac Distillery Is Reborn as a Boutique Hotel Hideaway

The newly opened La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin offers gourmet dining and a bucolic landscape

By Jill Sieracki
Elegant white mansion with large windows, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees on a sunny day.
La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection

France’s Cognac region has long lured epicureans looking to sample wines and spirits produced from the area’s robust terroir. Now, visitors have a secluded hideaway perfect for immersing one’s self in the area’s most alluring attributes. The new La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin occupies a former Cognac distillery, set on 12 bucolic acres dotted with a variety of fruit trees, vegetable garden, and rose bushes, as well as a century-old Sequoia tree on the banks of the Charente river.

Elegant French chateau facade surrounded by lush garden and greenery in a serene outdoor setting
The new La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin occupies a former Cognac distillery. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection

The family-owned, 12-key boutique property retains much of its original charm and architectural details while offering romantic suites inside a restored Belle Époque mansion punctuated with glittering chandeliers made exclusively for the hotel in Murano. Guests can enjoy yoga or a picnic in the picturesque gardens, take a private boat cruise along the Charente, or arrange a bike ride through the vineyards, then return for a gourmet meal made with locavore ingredients by Brasserie des Flâneurs chef Anthony Carballo or savor an après dinner brandy at Paradis, the on-site cellar housed in a chic secluded space.

See more photos below: 

Modern house with white exterior, large windows, and surrounding greenery in a suburban neighborhood setting
Guests can enjoy yoga or a picnic in the picturesque gardens. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Elegant restaurant interior with wooden staircase, arched ceiling, and neatly arranged tables and chairs in a cozy ambiance.
Brasserie des Flâneurs at La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Rustic dining room with a long wooden table, leather chairs, arched windows, and a spread of breakfast items under high ceilings.
Brasserie des Flâneurs at La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Elegant grand staircase with curved railings leading to an upper level, featuring modern chandelier and neutral decor.
Custom Murano chandeliers installed over a sweeping staircase at La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Spacious hotel room featuring a cozy bed, wooden beams, artwork on walls, and a large flatscreen TV for a relaxing stay.
One of the guest rooms. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Aerial view of a rectangular swimming pool surrounded by loungers and gray umbrellas on a paved patio.
An aerial view of the property’s pool. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Serene canal scene with overhanging willow trees, calm water, and a pedestrian bridge in a lush park setting.
Guests can enjoy yoga or a picnic in the picturesque gardens. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection
Boat on a calm river surrounded by lush green trees under a clear blue sky
A private boat cruise up the Charente river is one of the bespoke offerings at La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin. Photo: Courtesy of the Almae Collection