French city of Poitiers (region of Poitou-Charentes)
The French city of Poitiers is the main city of the Vienne department, the historical center of the Poitou region. Lies on a limestone plateau, which is washed from the east and north by the Claine river and from the west by the Boivre river.
Coming from Tours on the Aquitaine Motorway, you are unlikely to enjoy the cluster of towers and office buildings towering over the plain, as you will see Poitiers.
But get a little closer and the city will seem completely different. Poitiers, located on a hilltop overlooking two rivers, is a rural town that owes its unique charm to a long history full of significant events (for example, it was the seat of the Dukes of Aquitaine).
The winding streets and the variety of architectural styles in which its secular and religious buildings and old mansions are made will tell you about the residence itself. Pedestrian areas, restaurants and Cafe with tables on the boulevards (as well as several wonderful gardens in the center) will make exploring the city even more comfortable.
Arrival, information about the city and accommodation in Poitiers
The train station is located on boulevard du Grand-Cerf, part of the ring road that runs around the foot of the hill on which Poitiers is built. There is no bus station in the city: intercity buses of the Rapides de Poitou company leave from the train station.
The Tourist Office is a 15-minute walk from the train station (45 place Charles-de-Gaulle), where hikers will be offered guides to local trails: the GR-364 route starts here, leading to the Vendée coast via Partenay.
You can rent a bike at Cyclamen (60 boulevard Pont-Achard), a car at the offices of companies at the train station, on Grand Cerf, for example, in Citer (48 boulevard Grand-Cerf), and use the Internet at Cybercorner (18 rue Charles -Gide or rue Carnot).
Along the Grand Cerf Boulevard near the train station there are many hotels but this is not a very healthy area: a lot more entertainment awaits you a little higher up the hill, on boulevard Solferino - then turn right, up the steep steps that lead to the city center to the Place du Marechal- Ledere).
Poitiers Hotels
1). Hotel Bistrot de la Gare- A somewhat noisy hotel, reasonably priced, next to the train station. Hotel address: 131 Blvd du Grand Cerf;
2). Hotel Du Chapon Fin- A solid old two-star hotel, extremely well located next to the magnificent town hall. Rooms are spacious, all with shower. Opening hours: closed from mid-December to mid-January. Hotel address: 11 rue Lebascles;
3). Hotel Continental- Comfortable two-star hotel opposite the train station. All rooms are soundproofed with bath (or shower) and TV. Hotel address: 2 boulevard Solferino;
4). Hotel de l`Europe- A hotel in the heart of the city with efficient staff. The front patio is located in the back, away from the street - and therefore it is very quiet there. Covered parking is available. Hotel address: 39 rue Carnot;
5). Jules Ferry Hotel- A friendly family run establishment located on a quiet side street in a residential area near the Saint-Hilaire Church. Clean and nicely decorated. Hotel address: 27 rue Jules-Ferry;
6). Hotel Du Plat d`Etain- An attractive, well-organized hotel in a quiet main street, adjacent to the main shopping area. Opening hours: closed from mid-December to early January. Hotel address: 7 rue du Plat-d'etain;
7). Terminus Hotel- One of the good hotels in the vicinity of the station, with an excellent brasserie. Very clean, modern soundproofed rooms. Hotel address: 3 boulevard Pont-Achard;
8). Hotel Victor Hugo- A cheap hotel in the city center above a pleasant bar - only five rooms, almost all very basic. Hotel address: 5 rue Victor-Hugo.
Hostel and Camping Poitiers
1). Hostel HI- Large modern hostel, next to the pool, often crowded with groups of schoolchildren. Take bus number 7 from the train station to the stop "Bellejouanne". Convenient signs lead directly to the hostel: on the right, off the N-10 ( Angoulême). Hostel address 1 allee Roger-Tagault;
2). Municipal camping- A grassy meadow with clean amenities, located 2 kilometers north of the city (bus no. 7). Opening hours: closed: October-May. Camping location: Rue de Porteau.
Attractions Poitiers
Poitiers' poles of public life remain the shady place du Marechal-Leclerc with popular cafes, always filled with cheerful youth, and place Charles-de-Gaulle in the north, where a large and noisy food and clothing market is open. ...
A network of rich streets stretches between the two squares - right up to the medieval half-timbered mansions on de la Chaine; from the north they are bordered by street Gambetta, passing by the old Palace of Justice(Palais de Justice), where much more ancient contents are hidden behind the facade of the 19th century, including the magnificent Gothic Main Hall of the 13th century.
The Palais de Justice overlooks one of the greatest and most unique churches in France - Notre Dame la Grande(Notre-Dame la Grande) or the Great Church of Our Lady of Poitiers, begun in the 12th century during the reign of Eleanor and recently restored: oddly enough, it was not deep excrement and polluted air that caused the most problems, but salt from the stalls of fishmongers and salt sellers. which was absorbed into the ground, and from there fell on the facade of the church.
The strangest and most picturesque part of the temple is the western façade. It cannot be called beautiful, at least not in the usual sense of the word: the low and wide surface is covered with detailed carvings to such an extent that it seems lurid to the modern look. But it is the details that make it so exciting: the subjects of the drawings vary - from homely familiar to alarmingly disorderly.
The keystone of the blind arch to the right of the entrance is adorned with the image of a seated woman, whose hair flutters in the gusts of wind, and on the frieze above her Mary gently puts her hand on the belly of the pregnant Elizabeth. You will also see baby Jesus gurgling in the bathtub, admired by a pair of silly-looking sheep.
Even higher, there are portraits of the apostles, and at the very top, where you will certainly, without noticing it, look up - Christ in glory in an "almond" sculptural insert. Such facades, decorated with intricate stucco molding (like the pine-cone domes on the towers and the bell tower), became a hallmark of the Romanesque style in Poitou. The interior of the church, crudely altered and decorated with frescoes in the 19th century, is much less interesting.
Cathedral Saint Pierre and surroundings
The cathedral is located on the eastern edge of the Old Town. Cathedral Saint Pierre(Cathedrale Saint-Pierre) - a huge building, on which a wide light facade pigeons spend the night and ivy curls. Some of the stained glass windows date back to the 12th century, most notably the Crucifixion (central window in the apse), where it is believed that features of Henry II and Eleanor can be distinguished.
The choir seats are also full of characteristic medieval details: the flirtatious Madonna and Child, a peasant killing a wild boar, an architect at work with a compass in his hands, a baker with a basket of bread. But the most striking decoration of the cathedral is the magnificent 18th century Orgue Clicquot, which is often used to perform different melodies at incredible loudness (in summer, the cathedral hosts concerts).
Opposite (literally in the very center of Rue Jean-Jaures) you will find a low, wide, square structure, reminiscent of a minor Roman temple. In fact, this is the Baptistery of Saint-Jean, built in the middle of the 4th century, according to the general opinion: the oldest of the Christian buildings in France - until the 17th century, baptism in Poitiers according to all the rules could only be here.
The "font" was an octagonal pool in the floor. The guide assures that the water pipes found at the bottom show that the water in the pool did not rise more than 30-40 centimeters - which raises doubts about the widespread belief that the early Christians were baptized completely submerged in water.
There are also some very old faded frescoes on the walls, including a depiction of Emperor Constantine on horseback and a collection of Merovingian sarcophagi. The influences of postmodernism are felt in a small building with a dome between the cathedral and the baptistery - in Espace Mendes-France, where the ultra-modern planetarium is located.
Next to the baptistery is the city museum of Sainte-Croix (Musee Ste-Croix; rue Jean-Jaures), which displays an interesting collection of farm utensils. There is also a good Gallo-Roman section with beautiful glassware, ceramics and sculpture - the white marble Minerva of the 1st century is especially interesting.
With the same ticket you can go to the Chievre Museum (Musee de Chievres; 9 rue V-Hugo), with a rather boring old collection of not particularly curious paintings, ceramics, furniture and weapons, as well as an underground tomb. If you want to continue exploring further, take a look at the 7th century underground chapel of Dunes (Hypogee des Dunes; 44 rue du Pere de la Croix).
Also worth a visit is the Pierre Levee dolmen - a prehistoric stone chamber located on the east bank of the river, behind the Pont-Neuf bridge, where Rabelais came with his student friends to chat, buy and carve his names on the stones.
Instead, you can take a leisurely stroll along the riverbank trail (to the right of the Neuf Bridge) upstream to the Pont St-Cyprien. On the opposite bank you will see a characteristic feature of any provincial town in France: neat, well-fertilized vegetable gardens (potagers), descending to the water itself, with a small muddy berth at the end and a skiff moored to it.
Park Blossack and Saint-Hilaire
At the southern end of the Old Town, there is Parc de Blossac, a lovely place to sit among clipped lindens and gravel paths, watch a game of petanque and chew on a baguette. Nearby is the 14th-century Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand church (St-Hilaire-le-Grand; rue du Doyenne): it's hard to believe, but part of its nave was cut off in the 19th century, although the aisles behind the choirs are - still look great; the apse is surrounded by a particularly beautiful group of chapels.
Inside the church is the usual covered gallery, intended for the many pilgrims who flocked here - probably one of them was the culprit in a fire in 1100, which destroyed the original wooden roof and necessitated an impromptu alteration, to which Saint-Hilaire owes its architectural uniqueness: eight heavy domes, replacing the roof, some kind of support was needed - this is how a forest of additional columns arose, forming three aisles on both sides of the nave.
Where to eat and drink in Poitiers
If you want to do your best to save money, ask about student offers at the Center for Information for Young People (CIJ; 64 rue Gambetta). Students at the University of Poitiers have a fun nightlife - especially in the bars on Rue Carnot and Place de la Liberte, and posters of musicians and dancers are posted throughout the city.
Poitiers restaurants and cafes
1). Alain Boutin Restaurant- A good place for lovers of regional dishes such as quails cooked in cognac liqueur (cailles au pineau), with a small, carefully selected menu; sets of dishes from 20 €. Opening hours: closed on Saturdays and Mondays for lunch, and also on Sundays and the first half of January. Restaurant address: 65 rue Carnot;
2). Bleu Sel Restaurant“They serve a good range of salads and sandwiches at reasonable prices - popular with students. Opening hours: closed on Sundays for lunch. Restaurant address: 40 rue Moulin a Sel;
3). Les Bons Enfants Restaurant- Good combination of price and quality: on weekdays a set of dishes for lunch costs 9 €; evening sets - from 18 €. Opening hours: closed: Sunday evenings and Mondays. Restaurant address: 11bis rue Cloche-Perse;
4). Le Cappuccino Restaurant- One of several Italian restaurants in the area; the cost of sets of meals starts from 16 €. Opening hours: closed: Sundays and Mondays. Restaurant address: 5 rue de l'Universite;
5). Le Poitevin Restaurant- Regional dishes at affordable prices, in an exaggerated "rural" setting. A set of dishes from 22 €. Opening hours: closed on Sundays. Restaurant address: 76 rue Carnot;
6). Le St-Hilaire Restaurant- An extraordinary place for a pleasant lunch: a magnificent medieval cellar with stained glass windows and ancient columns - and the prices here are lower than the interior suggests. A set of dishes for lunch from 14.48 euros, for dinner - from 15.24 €. Opening hours: closed on Sundays. Restaurant address: 65 rue Theophraste-Renaudot;
7). Le St Nicholas Restaurant- In fact, it is located on a small pedestrian street, next to Rue Carnot, which means you can eat in peace at an open-air table. Traditional food is served in a modern atmosphere. A set of dishes –16 € and 20 €. Opening hours: closed on Wednesdays and Sundays for lunch. Restaurant address: 7 rue Carnot;
8). Cafe Confort Moderne- The café just across the Neuf Bridge serves French and Moroccan food. It is connected to the exhibition center and audio store. Cafe address: 185 Faubourg du Pont-Neuf.
More photos of the sights of the French city of Poitiers here: Photo gallery
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The main city of the Poitou-Charentes region, the main city of the Vienne department. Lies on a limestone plateau, which is washed from the east and north by the Clain River and from the west by the Boivre River. The city is surrounded by ancient walls, with towers and 6 gates; it is adjoined by suburbs located in the valleys of both rivers. In the old part of the city, the streets are narrow and crooked. Nice Parc de Blossac. Inhabitants - 87,012 (2004).
There are several Gothic churches in Poitiers:
On the steep bank of the Clan, opposite the temple of St. Radegonda, a statue of the Most Holy Theotokos rises above the city in the dunes. Under it is the hypogée - an underground Christian tomb with a chapel. Below, on the bank of the river, a spring, ennobled in the old days, gushes out of the mountain, on which, however, it is written that the water is not potable.
In other years, the industry in Poitiers was quite developed: a stud farm, tanneries, tanning and rawhide factories, the preparation of goose skins (annually about 40,000-50,000 pieces) for export to America, the production of excellent cheese (Montbernage) and beer, vegetable oil, vinegar, pottery, gloves, etc.
Poitiers is rich in monuments of building art - Celtic, Roman and medieval: the ruins of the Roman aqueduct have survived, and before the city you could still see the Roman arena. On the other side of the Clan is the so-called "Pierre levée" - a dolmen, which is associated with many ancient legends and superstitions. -
Story
Three famous battles took place at Poitiers.
Battle of 507
In the city of Alaric II, he campaigned against Clovis in support of Theodoric the Great, the king of the Ostrogoths, whose daughter, Tiudigot, was given to Alaric as a wife. In subsequent years, the Visigoths clashed with the Franks several times, until peace was signed between the two peoples in the city. In the city of Clovis, he violated the peace agreement and occupied part of the Visigothic territory. In the battle that broke out then - the Battle of Vuye (Campus Vogladensis) - the Visigoths suffered a crushing defeat. Alaric II fell on the battlefield, and the Visigoths forever lost most of their possessions in Aquitaine, transferred to them under the treaty of Mr.Battle of 732
Having conquered Spain, the Arabs invaded Gaul through the Iberian passages, took possession of Aquitaine and occupied part of Neustria. The Christian world was in dire danger. At this critical time, the savior of the Franks and Christianity was Karl Martel, the Frankish Major. The Arabs went to Tour to take possession of the treasures in the church of St. Martin. Karl stood on the path of Abderrahman (October).Both opponents had an equally strong army. Karl did not attack first: he waited 6 days for an attack. On the seventh day, the light cavalry of the Arabs and Berbers crashed against a tightly-knit mass of Franks, heavily armed, fighting with great swords, unshakable like "blocks of ice." Miracles have been told about Karl; it retained the name "Martellus" - hammer. The Arabs were defeated. The question of who will get the victory in Europe - Islamism or Christianity - was decided in favor of Christianity.
Battle of September 9, 1356
- constitutes an episode of the Hundred Years War. The Black Prince - the hero of the Battle of Crécy - drew up a plan to pass from Bordeaux through the French kingdom, connecting on the Loire with the troops of the Duke of Lancaster.In July he moved to Paris. The French king John II the Good, having collected an army of up to 50 thousand people, quickly appeared on the Loire. His army included four sons of the king, more than 20 dukes and up to 20 thousand heavy cavalry. The British did not know about the approach of the French, therefore, during the retreat of the English army, the French were in front of it and cut off its path.
The small number of the English army, which was no more than 10 thousand, shaken Edward, and he invited the French to enter into peace negotiations, promising to return all conquests and not fight for 7 years. The proposals were rejected: the French believed too much in victory. The French army occupied the plain, the British - the heights in the fields of Maupertuis, two leagues from Poitiers. The area where the British troops were stationed was cut by bushes, vineyards, and hedges. Edward skillfully placed the shooters in the bushes, placing them in front of the exit of the road to the plain. On the right, a detachment of horsemen was hidden on the hill. The battle began with an attack by the French knights. By order of the king, they dismounted and fought on foot. Both columns of French horsemen were crushed, the narrow passage was cluttered with people and horses, the English arrows shot clouds of arrows from behind the hedge, and the cavalry that flew out horrified the French army, which turned into disorderly flight. John fought bravely, but was taken prisoner, along with his son Philip.
The whole flower of French chivalry perished. Among those killed were the Duke of Bourbon, Constable of France, Bishop of Chalon, 16 barons, 2426 knights; in total, 8 thousand were killed, and 5 thousand were killed during the flight. The captured king was solemnly brought to London (May 24). An armistice was concluded with France for 2 years. Huge booty was taken. France was plunged into deep sadness. The Dauphin Charles V the Wise becomes the King's Viceroy.
The inhabitants of Poitiers and its environs - Poatevin - are devout: on Sundays, churches are filled with believers. At the entrances to many settlements, the traveler is met with crosses. Note that in these, as in some other parts of France, for example in Vendée, the Crucifixion of our Lord and God Jesus Christ is carried out in the Orthodox tradition.
This baptistery is considered the oldest Christian architectural monument in France, the earlier ones were destroyed during the struggle against the Arians
Useful information for tourists about Poitiers in France - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
sights
Poitiers is the administrative center of the Vienne department and at the same time the historical center of the Poitou region. The city is located on a plateau between the Claine and Boivre rivers.
Poitiers is an ancient city, already in the 4th century it was known as a major religious center. At the very beginning of the 6th century, King Clovis annexed Poitiers to the Frankish kingdom. Due to its advantageous geographical position, the city was constantly involved in various military conflicts. In particular, Poitiers went down in history as the site of three major battles - in the VI, VIII, XIV centuries. As a result of the battle of 507, Poitiers became part of the state of the Franks. In 732, the army of Karl Martell gave a crushing rebuff to the army of the Arabs. The third battle took place during the Hundred Years War in 1356 and ended with a British victory.
In Poitiers and its environs, you can see the sights of different eras - from the Pierre-Levy dolmen, whose age is estimated at seven to eight millennia, to the gardens and parks founded in the 19th century. The stone block is located on the banks of the Claine River - it is possible that it was installed by the first people who settled in this area. The ruins of an aqueduct date back to the Roman era. But most of all in Poitiers are sights of the medieval period. One of the main ones is considered the former residence of the Counts of Poitiers, which became the palace of justice in the Middle Ages. The city has preserved the remains of the fortress walls and one tower of the six that surrounded Poitiers. The university, one of the oldest in France, can also be considered a medieval landmark. It was founded in 1431 by King Charles VII. The oldest Christian building in the country is also located in Poitiers - this is the Baptistery of John the Baptist with an octagonal baptismal pool, built in the 4th century.
Among other religious buildings, it is worth noting the Cathedral of St. Peter, which was built for two centuries, starting in 1162, the Cathedral of Notre Dame la Grande (XII century), on the facade of which projections of frescoes are shown in the summer at night, the Church of St. Radegunde (VI century ) with an underground tomb of the saint revered as the patroness of Poitiers, as well as the church of Saint Hilarius and the church of the abbey of Montierneuf (both founded in the 11th century).
Walking through the parks and gardens of Poitiers will allow you to get to know the city from a slightly different, even more beautiful, side. Blossack Park, for example, is an example of the French style in park art. It was founded in the middle of the 18th century, after about a century and a half a small landscape park appeared in it, and a hundred years later a modern garden was laid out in one of its parts. Today the park alleys are decorated with sculptures and bronze miniatures. Another green corner was created on the site of the city hospital - a botanical garden appeared in Poitiers in 1869.
