Poitiers
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Template:FRdot Image:Poitiers hill.jpg
Poitiers is a town located in west central France. It is a commune and the capital (préfecture) of the Vienne département and of the Poitou-Charentes région. Poitiers is situated on the Clain River.
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Geography
Poitiers is strategically situated on the Seuil du Poitou, a shallow zone joining the Armorican to the Central Massif and connecting the Aquitaine Basin to the Paris Basin. The site of Poitiers is a vast promontery between the valleys of Boivre and Clain.
History
Poitiers was founded before Roman influence by the Pictones tribe. The Battle of Poitiers was fought at Poitiers on September 19, 1356, during the Hundred Years' War. An earlier battle, the first decisive Christian victory over Muslims was also fought here on October 10, 732 — this battle is better known as Battle of Tours.
King Charles VII established the University of Poitiers in 1432.
Poitiers was the capital of Poitou, the region governed by the Counts of Poitiers.
Miscellaneous
Poitiers was the birthplace of influential 20th century French philosopher Michel Foucault.
Many Acadians or Cajuns living in North America can trace ancestry to this region as their descendants left from here in the 17th century.
Twin Towns
Poitiers is twinned with:
- Northampton, United Kingdom
- Marburg, Germany
- Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
- Coimbra, Portugal
- Yaroslavl, Russia
- Iaşi, Romania
See also
External links
- City council website (in French)
- Visiting Poitiers (in English)Template:Poitou-geo-stub
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