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{{short description|Prefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France}}
{{about|the city|the surname|Poitier|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                 = Poitiers
|native name          = ''Poetàe'' ([[Poitevin–Saintongeais]])
|commune status       = [[Prefectures of France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image coat of arms   = Blason ville fr Poitiers (Vienne).svg
|image                = Poitiers hill.jpg
|caption              = Historic centre of Poitiers with [[Church of Sainte-Radegonde (Poitiers)|Church of Saint-Radegund]], [[Poitiers Cathedral|Cathedral of Saint-Pierre]] and the [[Palace of Poitiers]] in the background
|arrondissement       = Poitiers
|canton               = [[Canton of Poitiers-1|Poitiers-1]], [[Canton of Poitiers-2|2]], [[Canton of Poitiers-3|3]], [[Canton of Poitiers-4|4]] and [[Canton of Poitiers-5|5]]
|INSEE                = 86194
|postal code          = 86000
|mayor                = [[Léonore Moncond'huy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires |url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503 |publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises |date=8 October 2023 |language=fr}}</ref>
|party                = [[Europe Ecology – The Greens|The Greens]]
|term                 = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality     = [[Grand Poitiers|CU Grand Poitiers]]
|coordinates          = {{coord|46.58|0.34|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m          = 75
|elevation min m      = 65
|elevation max m      = 144
|area km2             = 42.11
|population           = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date      = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|population demonym   = Poitevin·e
|website              = [https://www.poitiers.fr/ poitiers.fr] {{In lang|fr}}
}}

'''Poitiers'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|w|ɑː|t|i|eɪ}} {{respell|PWAH|tee|ay}}, {{IPAc-en|UKalso|ˈ|p|w|ʌ|t|i|eɪ}} {{respell|PWUT|ee|ay}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|ˌ|p|w|ɑː|t|i|ˈ|eɪ|,_|p|w|ɑː|ˈ|t|j|eɪ}} {{respell|PWAH|tee|AY|,_|pwah|TYAY}},<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref><ref>{{cite EPD|18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Poitiers|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190503155551/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Poitiers "Poitiers"] (US) and {{cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Poitiers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806052032/https://www.lexico.com/definition/poitiers |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-08-06 |title=Poitiers |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite Merriam-Webster|Poitiers|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|pwatje|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-Poitiers.wav}}; {{langx|roa|label=[[Poitevin dialect|Poitevin]]|Poetàe}}.}} is a university city on the river [[Clain]] in west-central [[France]]. It is a [[commune in France|commune]],  the capital of the [[Vienne (department)|Vienne]] department, part of the [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] region of France, and the historical center of [[Poitou|Poitou Province]]. In 2021, it had a population of 90,240. Its conurbation had 134,397 inhabitants in 2021 and is the municipal center of an urban area of 281,789 inhabitants. It is a city of art and history, still known popularly as the "Ville aux cent clochers" ("City of a hundred [[bell tower]]s").

With more than 30,000 students, Poitiers has been a major university town since the creation of its [[University of Poitiers|university]] in 1431, having hosted world-renowned figures and thinkers such as [[René Descartes]], [[Joachim du Bellay]] and [[François Rabelais]], among others. The plaza of the town is picturesque; its streets including predominantly preserved historical architecture and [[half-timbered houses]],<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Poitiers |volume=21 |pages=897–899}}</ref> especially religious edifices, commonly from the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] period. The latter includes notably the 4th century baptistery of Saint-Jean ([[Baptistère Saint-Jean]]), the 7th century Merovingian underground chapel of the Hypogeum of the Dunes ([[Hypogée des Dunes|L'Hypogée des Dunes]]), the [[Church of Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers|Church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande]] (12th century), the Church of Saint-Porchaire (12th century) or [[Poitiers Cathedral]] (end of the 12th century) as well as the [[Palace of Poitiers]], until recently a courthouse (12th century), the former palace of the [[Counts of Poitou]], [[Dukes of Aquitaine]], where the Dowager Queen of France and England [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] held her "[[Court of Love]]".

The city's pedigree is associated with two major battles that took place in the area. The first, in 732, also known as the [[Battle of Tours]] (to avoid inevitable confusion with the second), saw the defending [[Francia|Frankish]] warhost commanded by [[Charles Martel]] defeat the belligerent expeditionary army of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] led by Muslim general [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Ghafiqi|Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi]]. The second battle, in 1356, a lionized military capstone was the [[Battle of Poitiers]] which was one of the focal battles of the [[Hundred Years' War]]. It saw the defeat of a larger French royal army by the English and the capture of [[John II of France|King John II of France]] by the triumphant [[Edward the Black Prince|Prince of Wales Edward]].

The Poitiers agglomeration, located halfway between [[Paris]] and [[Bordeaux]], is home to the [[Futuroscope|Futuroscope Technopole]], which includes major public ([[CNED]], Canopé, etc.) and private companies of national scope, as well as leading European research laboratories. With two million visitors annually, [[Futuroscope]] is the leading tourist site in [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]], and the [[List of amusement parks in Europe|third most popular amusement park in France]] after [[Disneyland Paris]] and the [[Puy du Fou]].

==Geography==

===Location===
The city of Poitiers is strategically situated on the [[Seuil du Poitou]], a shallow gap between the [[Armorican Massif|Armorican]] and the [[Massif Central|Central Massif]]. The Seuil du Poitou connects the [[Aquitaine Basin]] to the South to the [[Paris Basin]] to the North. This area is an important geographic crossroads in France and Western Europe.

===Situation===
Poitiers's primary site sits on a vast promontory between the valleys of the [[Boivre]] and the [[Clain]]. The old town occupies the slopes and the summit of a plateau that rises {{convert|130|ft|m}} above the streams which surround, and hence benefits from a very strong tactical situation. This was an especially important factor before and throughout the Middle Ages.

==Inhabitants and demography==
Inhabitants of Poitiers are referred to as Poitevins or Poitevines, although this denomination can be used for anyone from the [[Poitou]] province.

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|27358|Poitiers}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-86194#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 | 18284
|1800 | 18223
|1806 | 21465
|1821 | 21315
|1831 | 23128
|1836 | 22000
|1841 | 22376
|1846 | 26764
|1851 | 29277
|1856 | 30873
|1861 | 30563
|1866 | 31034
|1872 | 30036
|1876 | 33253
|1881 | 36210
|1886 | 36878
|1891 | 37497
|1896 | 38518
|1901 | 39886
|1906 | 39302
|1911 | 41242
|1921 | 37663
|1926 | 42347
|1931 | 41546
|1936 | 44235
|1946 | 48546
|1954 | 52633
|1962 | 62178
|1968 | 70681
|1975 | 81313
|1982 | 79350
|1990 | 78894
|1999 | 83448
|2007 | 89253
|2012 | 87646
|2017 | 88291
|2021 | 90240
}}

==Climate==
The climate in the Poitiers area is mild with mild temperature amplitudes, and adequate rainfall throughout the year although with a drying tendency during summer.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this type of climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]" (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=53370&cityname=Poitiers%2C+Poitou-Charentes%2C+France&units= Climate Summary for Poitiers, France]</ref>
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Poitiers ([[Poitiers–Biard Airport|PIS]]), elevation: {{convert|125|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1921–present
|collapsed = Y
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 17.7.
|Feb record high C = 23.4
|Mar record high C = 25.1
|Apr record high C = 29.3
|May record high C = 33.6
|Jun record high C = 39.0
|Jul record high C = 40.8
|Aug record high C = 39.6
|Sep record high C = 37.0
|Oct record high C = 32.2
|Nov record high C = 22.9
|Dec record high C = 19.0
|Jan record low C = -17.9
|Feb record low C = -17.3
|Mar record low C = -13.1
|Apr record low C = -5.6
|May record low C = -2.7
|Jun record low C = 0.8
|Jul record low C = 1.5
|Aug record low C = 0.8
|Sep record low C = 0.8
|Oct record low C = -6.5
|Nov record low C = -10.0
|Dec record low C = -16.5
|Jan high C = 8.2
|Feb high C = 9.6
|Mar high C = 13.4
|Apr high C = 16.3
|May high C = 20.0
|Jun high C = 23.7
|Jul high C = 26.1
|Aug high C = 26.3
|Sep high C = 22.5
|Oct high C = 17.5
|Nov high C = 12.0
|Dec high C = 8.7
| year high C = 17.0
|Jan mean C = 5.2
|Feb mean C = 5.6
|Mar mean C = 8.4
|Apr mean C = 10.8
|May mean C = 14.4
|Jun mean C = 17.9
|Jul mean C = 19.9
|Aug mean C = 20.0
|Sep mean C = 16.6
|Oct mean C = 13.0
|Nov mean C = 8.4
|Dec mean C = 5.6
| year mean C = 12.2
|Jan low C = 2.1
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 3.5
|Apr low C = 5.4
|May low C = 8.9
|Jun low C = 12.1
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 13.7
|Sep low C = 10.7
|Oct low C = 8.6
|Nov low C = 4.7
|Dec low C = 2.4
| year low C = 7.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 61.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 47.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 49.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 52.8
|May precipitation mm = 63.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 59.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 45.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 43.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 52.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 72.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 74.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 72.6
|year precipitation mm = 695.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 10.3
| Feb precipitation days = 9.4
| Mar precipitation days = 9.0
| Apr precipitation days = 9.4
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 7.9
| Jul precipitation days = 6.9
| Aug precipitation days = 6.4
| Sep precipitation days = 7.1
| Oct precipitation days = 10.5
| Nov precipitation days = 11.8
| Dec precipitation days = 11.0
| year precipitation days =109.3
|Jan snow days = 2.6
|Feb snow days = 2.8
|Mar snow days = 1.9
|Apr snow days = 0.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.9
|Dec snow days = 2.2
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 77
|Apr humidity = 74
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 73
|Jul humidity = 70
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 77
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 87
|Dec humidity = 88
|Jan sun = 70.3
|Feb sun = 101.6
|Mar sun = 157.8
|Apr sun = 183.1
|May sun = 213.2
|Jun sun = 232.5
|Jul sun = 250.5
|Aug sun = 244.3
|Sep sun = 199.5
|Oct sun = 130.8
|Nov sun = 86.6
|Dec sun = 70.5
|year sun = 1940.6
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=86027001&normes=2020&normes2=0
|title=Normales et records pour Poitiers-Biard (86)
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>
| source 2 = Infoclimat.fr (relative humidity 1961–1990)<ref name=Infoclimat>{{cite web
| url = https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07335-poitiers-biard.html
| title = Normes et records 1961–1990: Poitiers-Biard (86) – altitude 123m
| language = fr
| publisher = Infoclimat
| access-date = 14 February 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160315123415/http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07335-poitiers-biard.html
| archive-date = 15 March 2016}}</ref>

}}

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Poitiers}}

===Antiquity===
Poitiers was founded by the [[Celts|Celtic]] tribe of the [[Pictones]] and was known as the [[Oppidum]] ''Lemonum'' before [[Roman Republic|Roman]] influence. The name is said to have come from the Celtic word for [[elm]], ''Lemo''. But after, the Pax Romana settled, the town became known as ''Pictavium'', or later "Pictavis", after the original Pictones inhabitants themselves.

The Pictavis Period has provided the city with a rich wealth of [[archeological]] finds from the Roman-era in Poitiers. In fact until 1857, Poitiers hosted the ruins of a vast Roman [[Amphitheatre]], which was larger than the Amphitheater of [[Nîmes]]. Furthermore, [[Roman bath]]s, or ''Thermæ'' built in the 1st century and demolished in the 3rd century, were uncovered after the Amphitheater in 1877.<ref name=EB1911/>

In 1879, a burial-place and tombs of a number of [[Christian martyr]]s were discovered on the heights to the south-east of the town.<ref name=EB1911/> The names of some of the Christians had been preserved in paintings and inscriptions.<ref name=EB1911/> Not far from these tombs is a huge [[Dolmen]] (the ''Pierre Levée''), which is {{convert|22|ft|m|order=flip}} long, {{convert|16|ft|m|order=flip}} wide and {{convert|7|ft|m|order=flip}} high, and around which the great fair of [[Saint Luke]] used to be held.<ref name=EB1911/>

The Romans also built at least three [[aqueduct (bridge)|aqueduct]]s. This extensive ensemble of Roman constructions suggests Poitiers was a town of primary importance, possibly even the capital of the [[Roman province]] of ''[[Gallia Aquitania]]'' during the 2nd century.

As [[Christianity]] ([[Chalcedonian Christianity|Chalcedonian]]) was made official and gradually introduced across the [[Roman Empire]] during the 3rd and 4th centuries due to [[Constantine the Great and Christianity|Constantine I's influence]]. The first [[Bishop of Poitiers]] from 350 to 367, was [[Hilary of Poitiers]] or Saint Hilarius,<ref name=EB1911/> who proceeded to evangelize the town. Exiled by [[Constantius II]], he risked death to return to Poitiers as [[Bishop]]. In tandem, the first foundations of the [[Baptistère Saint-Jean]] can be traced to that era of open Christian conversion. This man was later named "Doctor of The Church" by Pope Pius IX.

In the 3rd century, a thick wall 6m wide and 10m high was built around the town.{{sfn|Bachrach|1975|p=540}} It was {{convert|2.6|km|0|abbr=on}} long{{sfn|Bachrach|1975|p=540}} and stood lower on the naturally defended east side and at the top of the promontory. Around this time, the town began to be known as Poitiers.

Fifty years later, Poitiers fell into the hands of the [[Visigoths|Arian Visigoths]], and became one of the principal residences of their royals.<ref name=EB1911/> Visigoth King [[Alaric II]] was defeated by [[Clovis I]] at [[Vouillé, Vienne|Vouillé]], not far from Poitiers, in 507, and the town thus came under [[Franks|Frank]]ish dominion.<ref name=EB1911/>

===Middle Ages===
[[File:PlacedeGaulle Poitiers.JPG|thumb|Place Charles-de-Gaulle and its medieval heritage]]

During most of the [[Early Middle Ages]], the town of Poitiers took advantage of the defensively tactical placement of its location, which was far from the nucleus of [[Carolingian Empire|Frankish power]]. As the seat of an ''[[Diocese|évêché]]'' (bishopric) since the 4th century, the town was a cynosure of notable importance and the capital of the county of [[Poitou]]. At the crux of their power, the [[Count of Poitiers|Counts of Poitiers]] governed a sizeable domain, including both [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] and [[Poitou]].

The town was often referred to as ''Poictiers'', a name commemorated in [[HMS Poictiers|warships of the Royal Navy]], after the Battle of Poitiers.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kendall B. Tarte|title=Writing Places: Sixteenth-century City Culture and the Des Roches Salon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFPvOm09BhwC&pg=PA134|year=2007|publisher=Associated University Presse|isbn=978-0-87413-965-5|page=134}}</ref>

The first decisive victory of a Western European Christian army over a [[Caliphate|Islamic]] power, the [[Battle of Tours]], was fought by [[Charles Martel]]'s men in the vicinity of Poitiers on 10 October 732. For many historians, it was one of history's most pivotal moments as it marked the end of territorial end of Muslim expansion although the influence of the region would bourgeon for hundreds of years to come.<ref>Professor of religion [[Huston Smith]] says in ''The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions'': "But for their defeat by Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours in 733 {{sic}}, the entire Western world might today be Muslim."</ref>

[[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] frequently resided in the town, which she embellished and fortified, and in 1199 entrusted with communal rights.<ref name=EB1911/> In 1152 she married the future King of England [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] in [[Poitiers Cathedral]].

During the [[Hundred Years' War]], the [[Battle of Poitiers]], an English victory, was fought near the town of Poitiers on 19 September 1356. Later in the war in 1418, under [[Charles VI of France|Charles VII]], the royal parliament moved from Paris to Poitiers, where it remained in exile until the Plantagenets finally withdrew from the capital in 1436.<ref name=EB1911/> During this interval, in 1429, Poitiers was the site of [[Joan of Arc]]'s formal [[inquest]].<ref name=EB1911/>

The [[University of Poitiers]] was founded in 1431. During and after the Reformation, [[John Calvin]] had numerous converts in Poitiers and the town had its share of the violent proceedings which underlined the [[French Wars of Religion|Wars of Religion]] throughout France.<ref name=EB1911/>

In 1569, Poitiers was defended against an assailing siege by [[Guy de Daillon]], Count of Lude, against [[Admiral of France]] [[Gaspard II de Coligny|Gaspard de Coligny]], who after an unsuccessful bombardment and seven weeks, retired from a siege he had laid to the town.<ref name=EB1911/>

===16th century===
[[File:Braun Poitiers UBHD.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|Poitiers in the 16th century]]
The type of political organization existing in Poitiers during the [[late medieval]] and [[early modern]] period can be sheened through a speech given on 14 July 1595 by [[Maurice Roatin]], the town's mayor. He compared it to the [[Roman Empire|Roman state]], which combined three types of government: [[monarchy]], [[aristocracy]], and [[democracy]]. He said the [[Consul|Roman Consulate]] corresponded to Poitiers' mayor, the [[Roman Senate]] to the town's peers and ''[[Magistrate|échevins]]'', and the [[Elections in the Roman Republic|democratic element in Rome]] corresponded to the fact that most important matters "can not be decided except by the advice of the ''Mois et Cent''" (the broad council).[[#Notes|<sup>1</sup>]] The mayor appears to have been an advocate of a mixed constitution; not all Frenchmen in 1595 would have agreed with him, at least in public; many spoke in favor of [[absolute monarchy]] which would be pioneered by the [[Absolutism (European history)|Father of Absolutism]], [[Louis XIV]] '''Le Roi Soleil'''. The democratic element was not as strong as the mayor's words may have seemed to imply: In fact, Poitiers was similar to other French cities such as, [[Paris]], [[Nantes]], [[Marseille]], [[Limoges]], [[La Rochelle]], and [[Dijon]], in that the town's governing body (''[[Municipal council|corps de ville]]'') was "''highly exclusive and oligarchical:"'' With a small number of professionals and family groups controlling most of the city offices. In Poitiers many of these positions were granted for the lifetime of the office holder, an archaic byproduct of the [[Absolute monarchy in France|Age of Absolutism in France]].[[#Notes|<sup>2</sup>]]

The city government in Poitiers based its claims to legitimacy on the theory of government where the mayor and ''échevins'' held jurisdiction of the [[fief]]'s administration separate from the monarchy: that is, they swore allegiance and promised support for him, and in return he granted them local authority. This gave them the advantage of being able to claim that any townsperson who challenged their preeminence was being treasonous to the king's decree. Annually the mayor and the 24 ''échevins'' would swear an [[oath of allegiance]] "between the hands" of the king or his representative, usually the [[Lieutenant-General (France)|lieutenant general]] or the [[Sénéchaussée]]. For example, in 1567, when [[Maixent Poitevin]] was mayor, [[King of france|King]] [[Henry III of France|Henry III]] came for a visit, and, although some townspeople were disgruntled regarding the licentious behavior of his entourage, Henry smoothed things over with a warm speech acknowledging their allegiance and graciously thanking them for it.[[#Notes|<sup>2</sup>]]

In this era, the [[Mayor|mayor of Poitiers]] was preceded by sergeants wherever he went, consulted deliberative bodies, carried out their decisions, "heard civil and criminal suits in first instance", tried to ensure that the food supply would be adequate, and visited markets.[[#Notes|<sup>2</sup>]]

In the 16th century, Poitiers impressed visitors because of its large size, and important features, including "royal courts, universities, prolific printing shops, wealthy religious institutions, cathedrals, numerous parishes, markets, impressive domestic architecture, extensive fortifications, and castle."[[#Notes|<sup>3</sup>]]16th-century Poitiers is closely associated with the life of [[François Rabelais]] and the community of [[Bitard]]s.

===17th century===
The cosmopolitan town saw less activity during the [[Renaissance]]. Few changes were made in the urban landscape, except for laying the way for the ''Rue de la Tranchée''. Moreover bridges were built where the inhabitants had colloquially used ''[[Ford (crossing)|gués]]''. A few ''[[hôtel particulier|Hôtels particuliers]]'' were built at that time, such as the Hôtels Jean Baucé, Fumé and Berthelot. Poets [[Joachim du Bellay]] and [[Pierre Ronsard]] converged at the [[University of Poitiers]], before leaving for Paris leaving an indelible mark on the city.

During the 17th century, many people emigrated from Poitiers and the Poitou to the French settlements in the new world and thus many [[Acadians]] who would later be [[Cajuns]] living in North America contemporarily can trace their ancestry back to this region.

===18th century===
During the 18th century, the town's ebb and flow mainly depended on its administrative functions as the regional capital: Poitiers served as the seat for the regional administration of royal justice, the évêché, the [[Monastery|monasteries]], and the intendance of the ''[[:fr:Généralité de Poitiers|Généralité du Poitou]]''.

The [[House of Rohan|Viscount of Blossac]], [[intendant]] of Poitou from 1750 to 1784, had a [[French garden]] landscaped in Poitiers. He also had [[Aliénor d'Aquitaine|Eleanor of Aquitaine]]'s ancient wall razed and have modern [[boulevard]]s built in its place.

===19th century===
[[File:Poitiers mairie.jpg|thumb|The [[Hôtel de Ville, Poitiers|Hôtel de Ville]]]]
During the 19th century, many army bases were built in Poitiers because of its strategic location. Poitiers would also become a [[garrison town]], despite its distance from France's borders.

The [[Poitiers station|Poitiers train station]] was built in the 1850s, and connected Poitiers to the rest of France. The [[Hôtel de Ville, Poitiers|Hôtel de Ville]] (city hall) on Place du Maréchal-Leclerc was completed in 1875.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA00105619}}</ref>

===20th century and contemporary Poitiers===
Poitiers was bombed during [[World War II]], particularly the area around the railway station which was heavily hit on 13 June 1944.

From the late 1950s until the late 1960s when [[Charles de Gaulle]] ended the American military presence, the [[U.S. Army]] and [[U.S. Air Force]] had an array of military installations in France, including a major Army logistics and communications hub in Poitiers, part of what was called the Communication Zone (ComZ), and consisting of a logistics headquarters and communications agency located at Aboville Caserne, a military compound situated on a hill above the city. Hundreds of graduates ("[[Military brat (U.S. subculture)|Military Brats]]") of Poitiers American High School, a school operated by the [[Department of Defense Education Activity|Department of Defense School System (DODDS)]], have gone on to maintain successful careers, including the recent commander-in-chief of the [[United States Special Operations Command|U.S. Special Forces Command]], Army General Bryan (Doug) Brown. The Caserne also housed a full support community, with a theater, commissary, recreation facilities and an affiliate radio station of the American Forces Network, Europe, headquartered in [[Frankfurt]] (now [[Mannheim]], [[Germany]].){{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

The town benefited from the industrial ''[[Décentralisation]]'' of France in the 1970s, for instance with the installation during that decade of the [[Michelin]] and [[Schlumberger|Compagnie des compteurs Schlumberger]] [[factories]]. The ''[[Futuroscope]]'' [[Amusement park|theme-park]] and research park project, built in 1986–1987 in nearby [[Chasseneuil-du-Poitou]], after an idea by French politician [[René Monory]], consolidated Poitiers' place as a [[touristic]] destination and as a modern university center, opening the town to the era of information technology. {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

==Landmarks and attractions==
[[File:Saint Hilaire Poitiers 2.jpg|thumb|Church of St. Hilary le Grand]]
[[File:PoitiersEglise Notre Dame.JPG|thumb|[[Église Notre-Dame-la-Grande|Church of Notre-Dame la Grande]]]]

* [[Baptistère Saint-Jean]] (4th century), the oldest church in France
* [[Palace of Poitiers]], the seat of the dukes of [[Duchy of Aquitaine|Aquitaine]]
* [[Church of Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers|Church of Notre-Dame la Grande]], oldest [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church in Europe
* [[Poitiers Cathedral]] (''Cathédrale Saint-Pierre''), (12th century)
* [[Musée Sainte-Croix]], the largest museum in Poitiers
* [[Church of St. Radegonde (Poitiers)|Church of St. Radegonde]] (6th century)
* [[Church of Saint-Hilaire le Grand]] (11th century)
* [[Hypogée des Dunes]] (underground chapel)
* [[Jardin des Plantes de Poitiers]], a park and [[botanical garden]]
* [[Church of Saint-Jean de Montierneuf]]
* [[:fr:Ancien Théâtre Municipal de Poitiers|Théâtre Municipal de Poitiers]], by the French architect [[:fr:Édouard Lardillier|Édouard Lardillier]]
* [[Futuroscope|Parc du Futuroscope]] (European Park of the Moving Image, some {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Poitiers; theme is visual communication technology in ultramodern buildings)

==Sports==
The [[Stade Poitevin]], founded in 1900, is a multi-sports club, which fields several top-level teams in a variety of sports. These include a [[volleyball]] team that play in the [[LNV Ligue A Masculine|French Pro A volleyball league]], a [[basketball]] team, an amateur [[Association football|football]] team and a professional [[Rugby football|rugby]] team (as of the 2008–2009 season).

The [[Poitiers Basket 86|PB86]] or Poitiers Basket 86 play in the [[LNB Élite|French Pro A basketball league]]. In the 2009–10 season, three Americans played for PB86: Rasheed Wright, Kenny Younger and Tommy Gunn. The team played the French championship playoffs in the 2009–10 season and was the [[LNB Pro B Leaders Cup|Pro B French Champion]] for the 2008–2009 season. The team's communication strategy is considered by some to be one of the best in the French basketball scene.

[[Brian Joubert]], the French [[figure skating]] champion, practices at [[Centre sportif de la Ganterie|Poitiers' Ice Rink]] and lives with his family in the city.

==Tourism==

Historic churches, in particular Romanesque buildings, are the main attraction inside Poitiers itself. The town center is gorgeous, with generally well-preserved architecture and a recently re-zoned pedestrian area. There are numerous shops, cafes and restaurants in the town centre.

Since 1987, Poitiers' tourist industry has indirectly benefited from the ''[[Futuroscope]]'' theme-park and research park in nearby [[Chasseneuil-du-Poitou]]. The kernel of town receives visits in complement to the theme-park and benefits from a larger proportion of European tourists, notably from the United Kingdom. In conjunction, Poitiers' tourism has also benefited from the [[TGV|TGV high-speed rail]] link to Paris.

==Transport==
[[Gare de Poitiers|Poitiers' railway station]] lies on the [[TGV Atlantique]] line between Paris and [[Bordeaux]]. The station is in the valley to the west of the old town center. Services run to [[Angoulême]], [[Limoges]] and [[La Rochelle]] in addition to Paris and Bordeaux. The direct [[TGV]] puts Poitiers 1 hour and 40 minutes from the Parisian [[Gare Montparnasse]].

[[Poitiers–Biard Airport]] is located {{convert|2.4|km|mi}} west of Poitiers with flights to [[Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport|Lyon—Saint Exupéry]], [[London Stansted]], [[Edinburgh Airport]] and [[Shannon Airport]], Ireland on [[Ryanair]].

Urban transportation in Poitiers is provided by a company dubbed Vitalis although their e-infrastructure is difficult to access. Regional ground transportation in the department of the [[Vienne (department)|Vienne]] is provided by private bus companies such as "Ligne en Vienne." Rail transportation in the region is provided by the public [[TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] (regional express train).

Between January 2009 and December 2012, Poitiers' town center underwent significant transformations aimed at reducing motor vehicle access. The initiative, called "Projet Cœur d'Agglo," sought to rethink the role of individual car use for accessing the town center and daily transportation. On 29 September 2010, 12 streets were permanently closed to motor vehicles, creating a fully pedestrianized zone. Lastly, a new line of fast buses was added around 2017.

{{Panorama
|image      = File:Poitiers_Panorama.jpeg
|fullwidth  = 12779
|fullheight = 2180
|caption    = Panoramic view of Poitiers at sunset.
|height     = 300}}

==Education==
The city of Poitiers has a very old tradition as being a prestigious town where many good universities agglomerate, starting as far back as the Middle Ages. The [[University of Poitiers]] was established in 1431 and has welcomed many famous philosophers and scientists throughout the ages (notably [[François Rabelais]]; [[René Descartes]]; [[Francis Bacon]]; [[Samir Amin]]).

Today Poitiers has more students per inhabitant than any other large town or city in France. All around, there are over 27,000 university students in Poitiers, nearly 4,000 of which are foreigners, hailing from 117 countries.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} The University covers all major fields from [[science]]s to [[geography]], [[history]], [[language]]s [[economics]] and [[law]].

The [[law degree]] at the [[University of Poitiers]] is considered to be one of the best in France. The program was ranked second by [[:fr:L'Étudiant (groupe média)|''L'Étudiant magazine'']] in 2005.{{citation needed|reason=find link to article if possible|date=October 2008}}

In addition to the University, Poitiers also hosts two engineering schools and two business schools:
* the [[École nationale supérieure de mécanique et d'aérotechnique]] (ENSMA)
* the [[École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs de Poitiers]] (ENSIP)
* the [[École supérieure de commerce et management|France Business School]] (FBS)
* the [[IAE Poitiers|Institut d'Administration des Entreprises de Poitiers]] (IAE).

Since 2001, the city of Poitiers has hosted the first cycle of "The South America, Spain and Portugal" program from the [[Paris Institute of Political Studies]], also known as Sciences Po.

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}

Poitiers is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Poitiers et ses villes jumelles|url=https://www.poitiers.fr/c__70_208__Poitiers_et_ses_villes_jumelles.html|website=poitiers.fr|publisher=Poitiers|language=fr|access-date=2019-11-16}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Northampton]], England, United Kingdom
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Marburg]], Germany
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]], United States
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Coimbra]], Portugal
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Yaroslavl]], Russia
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Iași]], Romania
*{{flagicon|TCD}} [[Moundou]], Chad
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
This is a list of people of interest who were born or resided in Poitiers:
* [[Oklou]] (born 1993), musician, singer, music producer, DJ, composer and actress
* [[Hilary of Poitiers]] (c300–367), elected bishop of [[Bishopric of Poitiers|Poitiers]] around the year 350, exiled and returned to die there
* [[Saint Radegonde]] or [[Radegund]] ({{Circa|520}} to 587), Thuringian princess and queen of France, founded an abbey in Poitiers and performed miracles there
* [[Charles Martel]], French general who defeated the Muslim [[Umayyad]] army in the [[Battle of Tours]] in 732
* [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]], queen consort of France (1137-1152) and England (1152-1204), was born, periodically lived, and died in Poitiers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eleanor of Aquitaine|access-date= 23 June 2017|periodical=Encyclopedia Britannica Online|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eleanor-of-Aquitaine}}</ref>
* [[François Rabelais]], [[Renaissance]] writer and [[humanist]]
* [[Pope Clement V]]
* [[St. Venantius Fortunatus]], 6th-century [[Latin]] poet and [[hymnodist]] and Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church
* [[Marie Louise Trichet]] (1684–1759)
* [[William Longchamp]], buried at the abbey of Le Pin, 1197
* [[René Descartes]] studied law at the University of Poitiers
* Saint [[Louis de Montfort]]
* [[Michel Aco]] (1680–1702), explorer, was born in Poitiers<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher=[[Marquis Who's Who]] | year = 1967}}</ref>
* [[Ribar Baikoua]] (born 1991), basketball player
* [[Jehnny Beth|Camille Berthomier]] (born 1984), singer in English rock band [[Savages (band)|Savages]], actress
* [[Antoine Brizard]], born in Poitiers in 1994, member of the France men's national volleyball team.
* [[Susann Cokal]], novelist, lived in Poitiers in mid-1980s and based her first novel ''Mirabilis'' on the geography of the city
* [[Lionel Charbonnier]] (born 1966), footballer (goalkeeper), World Cup winner for France. Played most notably for AJ Auxerre and Rangers. 
* [[Romain Édouard]] (born 1990), chess player and [[grandmaster (chess)|grandmaster]]
* [[Éric Élisor]] (born 1971), former professional footballer
* [[Maryse Éwanjé-Épée]] (born 1964), athlete
* [[Monique Éwanjé-Épée]] (born 1967), athlete
* [[Fernand Fau]], born in Poitiers in 1858, illustrator and cartoonist 
* [[Michel Foucault]] (1926–1984), philosopher
* [[Marie-France Garaud]], born in Poitiers in 1934, politician
* [[Hélène Grémillon]], (born 1977), writer, winner of the 2011 [[Prix Emmanuel Roblès]]
* [[Camille Guérin]], born in Poitiers in 1872, discovered a vaccine against tuberculosis with [[Albert Calmette]] in 1924
* [[Bruce Inkango]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Yassine Jebbour]] (born 1991), footballer
* [[Brian Joubert]] (born 1984), [[ice skating]] champion
* [[Natan Jurkovitz]] (born 1995), French-Swiss-Israeli basketball player for [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva]] of the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]
* [[Hervé Lhommedet]] (born 1973), footballer
* [[Frédéric Mémin]] (born 1979), footballer
* [[Blanche Monnier]] (1849–1913), socialite, known for being falsely imprisoned by her mother for 25 years
* [[Mahyar Monshipour]] (born 1975), [[World Boxing Association]] super bantamweight champion from 2003 to 2006
* [[Francis N'Ganga]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Elsa N'Guessan]] (born 1984), swimmer
* [[Simon Pagenaud]], race car driver
* [[Jean-Pierre Raffarin]] (born 1948), politician and senator for [[Vienne (department)|Vienne]], former [[prime minister of France]] (2002–2005)
* [[Joël Robuchon]], born in Poitiers in 1945, French chef and restaurateur
* [[Paul Rougnon]] (1846–1934), composer and professor at the Conservatoire de Paris
* [[Jean-Pierre Thiollet]], born in Poitiers in 1956, French author
* [[Louis Vierne]] (1870–1937), organist & composer, eventually at the Notre Dame cathedral, Paris
* [[Romain Vincelot]] (born 1985), footballer

==See also==

* [[Communes of the Vienne department]]
* [[Pierre-Marie Poisson]]
* [[The works of Maxime Real del Sarte]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite journal |title=Early Medieval Fortifications in the "West" of France: A Revised Technical Vocabulary |first=Bernard S. |last=Bachrach |journal=Technology and Culture |volume=16 |number=4 (Oct.) |year=1975 |pages=531-569 }}
# ''Archives communales de Poitiers'', reg. 54, pp.&nbsp;211–213; in Harry J. Bernstein, ''Between Crown and Community: Politics and Civic Culture in Sixteenth-Century Poitiers''. 2004, Ithaca N.Y., USA: Cornell University Press, p.&nbsp;22.
# Harry J. Bernstein, ''Between Crown and Community: Politics and Civic Culture in Sixteenth-Century Poitiers''. 2004, Ithaca N.Y., USA: Cornell University Press, pp.&nbsp;22–30.
# ''ibid''., p.&nbsp;2.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Poitiers}}
* [http://www.poitiers.fr Official website of the City of Poitiers]
* [http://www.grandpoitiers.fr Grand-Poitiers website]
* [http://www.vienne.pref.gouv.fr Prefecture of the Vienne]
* [http://www.vitalis-poitiers.fr Vitalis Official website (Urban Transportation)]
* [https://transports.nouvelle-aquitaine.fr/cars-regionaux/reseau-et-horaires/vienne Les lignes régulières dans la Vienne (Vienne transportation)]
* [https://m.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine Official website TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine]
* {{GaresConnexions website|frpis}}
* [http://www.ot-poitiers.fr Site of the Tourist Office of Poitiers]
* [http://www.univ-poitiers.fr/ The University of Poitiers website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090130032312/http://paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/France/West/Poitiers_Poitou_Charentes/Poitiers/Poitiers_Overview.htm Poitiers – History, Churches, Streets and Museum]

{{Préfectures of départements of France}}
{{Prefectures of regions of France}}
{{Vienne communes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Poitiers| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Vienne (department)]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]
[[Category:Gallia Aquitania]]
[[Category:Poitou]]
[[Category:Cities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]