Sited for seemingly an eternity in the heart of France, the city of Poitiers is relatively tiny by today’s standards, with a population of only around 89,000. However this tiny city is strategically located, being only an hour’s train journey from Paris and not far from the Atlantic coast. It is thus a major economic center, plus a most pleasing tourist destination.
The name Poitiers is also synonymous with three major battles. The first was the Battle of Poitiers in 507 in which King Clovis I attacked the Visigoths under their king Alaric II. The second Battle of Poitiers took place in 732, this time with Charles Martel at the head of the Francs against Moorish troops. But perhaps the most well-known Battle of Poitiers, at least in the Anglophone world, was that of 1356 when the Black Prince at the head of the English army defeated King John of France.
Something many might know is that Poitiers is also an old university city. Indeed the University of Poitiers was founded in 1431. It was soon to become a center of learning famous throughout Europe with many of the world’s greatest thinkers and philosophers having studied there. The modern-day Poitiers University in fact is responsible for around 14% of the entire population of the city during term time! It is thus one of the most important universities in France and home to a range of faculties in most disciplines.
During the summer tourist season, the city is thronging with theatrical spectacles. Very often these spectacles are free and in public areas such as squares and gardens. But it’s not just limited to theatre, there are also balls, artistic events, and even philosophical debates hosted in several cafes. Poitiers really is a thriving cultural center!
With regard to museums, the classified museums and art centers are a delight to all enthusiasts. The Saint John Baptistry also invites you to see a major collection of tombs and sculptures from the Merovingian and Carolingian periods of the city. Also in the city, there are numerous galleries with exhibitions on a whole range of subjects.
Dance also occupies an important place in the cultural life of Poitiers, particularly in the guise of contemporary dance. There are numerous dance festivals and spectacles throughout the year.
As for the theatre, Poitiers has more than its fair share, with over 20 theatre groups in the city catering for all tastes including amateur and professional productions. These theatres provide year-round entertainment for an audience ranging from youth – in the many schools and the university – to the culturally aware citizenship, to the highly developed tourist industry. The many theatre groups also welcome and enjoy regular contact with the public through a host of programs and workshops designed to put the writer, actor, and director in direct contact with the appreciative audience.
One destination not to be missed when in the Poitiers region is the Futuroscope park, European Park of the Image, which was inaugurated in 1987. Every year Futuroscope attracts ever-increasing numbers of visitors from throughout Europe, all keen to discover the latest technologies in a very educational way. Indeed much of the technology employed at Futuroscope is the first of its kind in the world and making an impressive debut at Poitiers.
As for history, not for nothing is Poitiers also known as the “city of a hundred bells”. The city is home to approaching a hundred monuments in the city center alone. From the attractive medieval streets to Roman-style churches, from imposing Parisian-style boulevards to contemporary edifices, every historical period has left its stamp on the city, making the city a veritable architectural treasure-trove.
As for food, Poitiers certainly isn’t lacking in that area, since the many restaurants combine the best of both traditional country dishes and urban sophistication. Here you can eat as sophisticated or as rural as you like, with the traditional Poitiers farci dish holding pride of place. But don’t be surprised (or indeed afraid) at the many dishes available containing the ubiquitous frogs, snails, and eels. This is France after all!
So, if France is your travel Destination this time then never forget to visit the city of Poitiers, the place where you fall in love with.
2021-06-25
