Introducing Poitiers
Inland from the coast, the cobblestone city of Poitiers is packed with history. Founded by the Pictones, a Gaulish tribe, it is the former capital of Poitou, the region governed by the Counts of Poitiers in the Middle Ages. A pivotal turning point came in AD 732, when somewhere near Poitiers (the exact site is not known) the cavalry of Charles Martel defeated the Muslim forces of Abd ar-Rahman, governor of Córdoba, thus ending Muslim attempts to conquer France. The Romans built up the city, and there are numerous reminders still evident, such as extensive ruins uncovered when the large Cordeliers shopping centre was built in the town centre about a decade ago. The city’s remarkable Romanesque churches are in part a legacy of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s financial support.
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Poitiers has one of the oldest universities in the country, first established in 1432 and today a linchpin of this lively city.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
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RE: Poitiers
by ausone 11 April 2012
Hi Mr Dangerous , http://www.passionsetgourmandises.com/reception.php?libelle=salle this is for me the best one in Poitiers
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Poitiers
by dick_dangerous 10 April 2012
Hi, My wife and I are going to a wedding in Chef Boutonne near Poitiers this summer and will be making a long weekend of it. We're most…
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Re: French motorways
by happyindijon 28 January 2012
Grr! Just before I'm going to use them to go to the Futuroscope in Poitiers and visit a few chateaux... Such a huge profit they make on…
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