People have been passing through Poitiers for centuries, but Gillian Thornton found plenty of reasons to stop in this historic city.
18 March 2006
When it came to spotting strategic sites, nobody did it quite like the Romans. And whilst little remains today of the Roman town of Poitiers, the hilltop site that they chose forms the heart of today’s historic city.
Built on a promontory above a loop in the river Clain, Poitiers has been at a crossroads in trading routes for centuries, but now this attractive and lively town is enjoying a new lease of life as a tourist destination. Gateway to the resorts of the Atlantic Coast, it’s become a popular short break destination, thanks to a daily service by Ryanair and the proximity of the Futuroscope theme park.
Famed as the city of 100 church towers, 21st century Poitiers manages to combine over 80 buildings of historical interest with a lively social and cultural life. One of the first university towns in Europe, it is home to more than 25,000 students who together make up over a quarter of the city’s population.
Poitiers is small enough to be tackled on foot so drop by the tourist office in the heart of the old town and visit the first-floor exhibition for an overview of the town’s development. Then pick up the free leaflet detailing three historic walking trails, all starting from the nearby Church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande.
The richly carved fa?ade of the 11th century church is Poitiers’ architectural must-see. Take a close-up look at the rows of sculpted figures from the traffic-free square in front of the main entrance, then just soak up the overall effect from one of the cafes opposite. There are plenty of tempting shops here to part you from your euros, but in Poitiers, it’s easy to combine both shopping and sightseeing.
The city thrived from the 11th to 13th centuries and Poitiers still boasts a legacy of spectacular churches including St Peter’s Cathedral, founded by our own Henry Plantagenet. French historians gloss over the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 when England’s Edward III took the French king prisoner, but the founding of the university in 1431 brought a new wave of intellectual prosperity which still exists to this day.
We loved wandering the narrow streets, peeping inside hidden courtyards and popping into intriguing boutiques like the craft shops on Grande Rue. Don’t miss the covered market near the Tourist Office too for some authentic regional produce.
Information panels are sited by major historic buildings such as the 4th century Baptistry of St John, one of the oldest Christian monuments in the western world with some vivid 12th century frescoes. Cross the river Clain near the Baptistry and climb to the monument of Notre Dame des Dunes for panoramic views across the Medieval city. Then walk by the river or visit one of the city’s many public parks such as the Parc de Blossac, 22 acres of small themed gardens with an open air theatre.
Poitiers is a lively cultural centre, hosting several annual festivals ranging from hip-hop to international film, as well as concerts, exhibitions and theatre productions. During the summer months, the free programme of city centre illuminations brings visitors from all over the area.
There are summer spectaculars too at Futuroscope, 10 kms to the north of Poitiers. This unique theme park covers all the latest imaging technologies including 3D cinema, giant screens and interactive games to suit all ages. A third of the attractions are renewed each year, which provides the perfect excuse for a return visit. Or three ...
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.tourisme-poitiers.fr
www.futuroscope.com