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Poitiers is a city on the river Clain in western France. It has been known as a university town since 1431, when Charles VII and Pope Eugenius IV founded what is today the Université de Poitiers. However, Poitiers’ history goes back further, and in Roman times the city was known as Pictavium. During this period, Poitiers’ town plan was laid out according to the usual Roman pattern with the central and intersecting streets, Decumanus Maximus and Cardo. The streets can still be seen and today they are called Grande Rue and Rue Arsène Orillard.
During the 5th century, several churches were built in Poitiers, which later became the seat of a county. In the 9th century, the city’s importance was further increased, as Poitiers became the capital of the entire south-west French area between the Loire and the Pyrenees. It was a time of cultural and economic progress. From 1423 to 1436, Charles VII moved his government from Paris to Poitiers, as the English occupied Paris. It was during this time that the city’s university was established. Later, the city’s political, economic and cultural importance declined.
Poitier’s population was approximately 15,000 in the middle of the 16th century, and centuries without the previous development caused the population to stagnate, and at the beginning of the 19th century there were only about 20,000 citizens in the city. Napoleon founded a barracks in Poitiers, which was also designated as the regional seat of administration. However, efforts to create growth yielded only limited results, and Poitiers did not benefit from the industrialization of the 19th century to the same extent as other cities.
Today, Poitiers is a city with just under 100,000 inhabitants in the city itself, and you can enjoy several interesting sights here. Among other places, the Baptistère Saint-Jean, which is considered France’s oldest preserved church. Built in the late 4th century on a former Roman building, it stands as a beautiful example of Merovingian architecture. You can also see the Èglise Notre-Dame-la-Grande, which is an impressive Romanesque church, which mainly stands as it did after a major reconstruction that was carried out in the 11th century. Finally, you can also visit the city’s cathedral, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, which was built in the 12th century, and which contains beautiful glass mosaics and more.
There are also several other sights in Poitiers, where you can make some wonderful walks in the city’s streets and in Poitiers’ squares such as the Place du Maréchal Leclerc. Here is the city’s town hall, which was built in period style in the years 1869-1875. A short walk from the square you can see the Palais des ducs d’Aquitaine, which for centuries was the residence of the area’s counts and dukes. The residence was built in the Middle Ages and gives a fine impression of its time. There are also several museums such as the Musée Sainte-Croix and the Musee d’art Populaire and other activities in the city such as Futuroscope, which is a futuristic theme park with a focus on multimedia, film and audiovisual experiences.
Tours is a city in western France, located along the Loire River. The city was historically a Gallic city, which after the Roman conquest of the region was called Turonensis or Caesarodunum. In the 4th century, Martin of Tours was bishop in the city, and his tomb has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. Tours’ status as an important ecclesiastical center was emphasized by the fact that councils were held in Tours in 461, 567 and 755.
Limoges is a city along the Vienne River in central France. The area was settled by Celts, and the Romans later expanded the city, which they called Augustorium. Several important roads crossed here, and in Roman times they built a forum, a theater and an amphitheater and other structures in the city. Limoges became an episcopal seat, and in the Merovingian era the city was home to a mint. Later, many centuries followed under alternating dominions, with the Cité being the episcopal city and Château Saint-Martial being the count’s city.
Overview of Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the river Clain in western France. It has been known as a university town since 1431, when Charles VII and Pope Eugenius IV founded what is today the Université de Poitiers. However, Poitiers’ history goes back further, and in Roman times the city was known as Pictavium. During this period, Poitiers’ town plan was laid out according to the usual Roman pattern with the central and intersecting streets, Decumanus Maximus and Cardo. The streets can still be seen and today they are called Grande Rue and Rue Arsène Orillard.
During the 5th century, several churches were built in Poitiers, which later became the seat of a county. In the 9th century, the city’s importance was further increased, as Poitiers became the capital of the entire south-west French area between the Loire and the Pyrenees. It was a time of cultural and economic progress. From 1423 to 1436, Charles VII moved his government from Paris to Poitiers, as the English occupied Paris. It was during this time that the city’s university was established. Later, the city’s political, economic and cultural importance declined.
Poitier’s population was approximately 15,000 in the middle of the 16th century, and centuries without the previous development caused the population to stagnate, and at the beginning of the 19th century there were only about 20,000 citizens in the city. Napoleon founded a barracks in Poitiers, which was also designated as the regional seat of administration. However, efforts to create growth yielded only limited results, and Poitiers did not benefit from the industrialization of the 19th century to the same extent as other cities.
About the Poitiers travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The Poitiers travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the French city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Poitiers is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Poitiers and France
France Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/france
City tourism: https://visitpoi-tiers.fr
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Poitiers you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
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