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Everybody has passed through the city of Poitiers. From the Black Prince of England to Joan of Arc, even Richard the Lionhearted has set foot in this ancient capital of Poitou. The city of Poitiers is filled with such history the place may as well be synonymous to the word itself.

The city of Poitiers is one of the most fascinating and picturesque cities in France. Its streets make for interesting sights to feast upon with their remains of architecture in the past, particularly that of the Romanesque period and other recollections of great historical events.

Situated strategically on the Seuil du Poitou, a shallow zone that joins the Armorican to the Central Massif and linking theAquitaine Basin to that of the Paris Basin, the city stands on a hill that overlooks the rivers of the Clain and Boivre. Conquerors have drooled over the strategic location of Poitiers for years; Charles Martel himself drove out the Muslims that occupied the town in AD 732, an event which drastically changed the course of European civilization.

Another historical tidbit that makes this city even more interesting is its link to Eleanor of Aquitaine. Poitiers was the chief city of Eleanor of Aquitaine who made headlines in history when she annulled her marriage to pious Louis VII so she could marry Henry II of England.

Poitiers is also remembered in history to be the place where one of the three great English victories in the Hundred Year War was held. Called the Battle of Poitiers, the fight was fought between the armies of Edward the Black Prince and King John of France on September 19, 1356.

If you are one who is interested in antiquity, you will surely find the city of Poitiers to be the most delightful historical city in France.

For a dose of history, one must take the time to visit Baptistere St. Jean, reputed to be the most ancient Christian monument that is still standing in France. Built as a baptistery on Roman foundations in the early fourth century, the Baptistere St. Jean features frescoes that date back from the eleventh to the fourteenth centuries, plus a fine collection of funerary sculpture.

Poitiers is also home to the twin-towered Cathedrale St. Pierre located in the eastern sector of the city. The cathedral was built by Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1162 on top of the ruins of a Roman basilica and features admirable stained glass from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

If you are one who is a fan of the Romanesque-Byzantine style, another landmark that would appeal to you at Poitiers would be the Eglise Notre-Dame-la-Grande. Dating back from the late eleventh century, this richly decorated church is surrounded by an open-air market and boasts of a façade that is carved like an ivory casket and is distinguished by its towers that are shaped like pine cones. The church also features carvings depicting scenes from the Bible on its doorway.

But don’t think that this city is lost in ancient slumber; Poitiers is awakening with vitality brought about by its thriving student population and the opening of a cinema theme park, the Futuroscope.

The Futuroscope is Poitier’s wonderland of technology, a science amusement park that transports you in a once-in-a-lifetime experience of sounds, images, and sensations using the most advanced film-projection techniques and largest screens in the world. Exhibitions in Futuroscope include the Kinemax, which refers to mirrors covering a rock crystal and a 400-seat cinema and the Omnimax, which puts you right in the middle of the action by projecting films onto a humungous dome with special fish-eye lens. If you want to know what it is like to fly above the world’s most striking monuments and most beautiful sites of natural beauty, Le Tapis Magique at Futuroscope is a must-see film.

Nightlife at Poitiers is altogether a whole different scene and vibe too. Discos puncture the air with its high-energy beats to the latest music. A high-profile disco to visit at Poitiers would be La Grand’ Goule where the partying and dancing starts right after 11 pm. For an eclectic mix, one can head to the La Maison Blanche, which features dances from 1980s and 1990s or at La Douche, which offers a grungy mix of house and garage music. Le Confort Moderne is the town’s scene to be in when it comes to the most popular techno and electronic music concerts.

If you are hoping for a relaxing evening out in Poitiers, settle in a nearby café or restaurant. Life in Poitiers is lived in the streets, and from where you are sitting, you can watch the world go by.

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