Poitiers is one of the oldest cities in France and a striking example of how the centuries-old and eventful history of Europe is emerging through modernity. Familiar with the school bench names: Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor of Aquitaine - here find flesh and blood.
Today Poitiers is the administrative center of Poitou and the department of Vienne. This regional capital is located on a hill, between two rivers, which since ancient times has been considered a strategically advantageous location. Stormy history left not only a rich architectural heritage, but also the oldest European university, founded in the middle of the 15th century, in which about 25 thousand people study.
Modern Poitiers, with developed trade and industry, high-quality gastronomy, - a demonstration of the French "art de vivre."
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History and culture
The city was founded during the Celtic times by the Picton tribe and was then called Limonum .Withstood numerous attacks from outside, the future Poitiers fell under the onslaught of the Roman legions .The Romans actively built and rebuilt, turning this fortified settlement into one of the economic centers of the region .After the arrival of Christianity in the 4th century, its role increased even more, and after several centuries in Poitiers the whole religious life of the region is concentrated .The number of churches, chapels, monasteries was astounding to contemporaries, which allowed Poitiers, along with Rouen, to call the "city of one hundred bells" .These numerous monuments of Romanesque architecture have survived to our time .
The most important pages of the history of France were written here. At least three of the great battles took place at Poitiers. The most famous are in 732, when Carl Martell, the future founder of the royal dynasty, expelled the Saracens, and in 1356 between the troops of the French King John the Good and the eldest son of the English king Edward Black Prince. The constant involvement in various military actions led to the fact that after the end of the Religious Wars the city "fell asleep" until the 20th century and came to life relatively recently.
How to get to Poitiers
Getting to this region is easy for Russian citizens on an airplane through Paris. However, further will have to use either a train, or a bus, or rent a car. Unfortunately, direct flights from Paris to Poitiers are not served, you will have to fly with a transfer. But from Poitiers airport regular flights to Italy, England and some other cities of France are carried out. To get from the airport to the city can only be by taxi.
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By train
For the trip to Poitiers it is most convenient to use the railway. From the Gare Montparnasse station in Paris, regular trains run TGV. Travel time is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. There are first and second class. The ticket can be ordered via the Internet on the website (SNCF). The fare for the second class varies from 45-53 EUR. From Poitiers, you can get to La Rochelle (1 hour 20 minutes), Bordeaux (1 hour 45 minutes), Lyon (3 hours 50 minutes) and Lille (3 hours 15 minutes).
The railway station (Gare de Poitiers) is located in the west of the historic city center, about 1, 5 km from St. Peter's Cathedral and 1 km from the Great Church of Our Lady.
By car
From Paris to Poitiers on the A10 motorway, go about 350 km. The distance from Bordeaux (the same A10 autobahn) is about 250 km.
How to orient yourself in the city
For those who like to explore the sights themselves, special routes are invented ("Chemins de Notre Dame" or "Notre Dame Roads"), marked on the sidewalk with lines of different colors. In total there are three routes and a walk in each of them takes no more than an hour. The starting point is the Charles de Gaulle square before the Église Notre-Dame la Grande.
The blue line leads to the very heart of the Bishops' quarter, towards the church the Église Sainte-Radegonde and the main medieval street of the city, the so-called Grand Rue, where there are now numerous galleries, bookstores and shops of hereditary artisans .For example, here you can find a candle dealer who produces his goods using the technique of the 18th century, or the seller of umbrellas in the fifth generation .The yellow line leads to the church of St. John in Montierneuf (Église St-Jean-de-Montierneuf) .This route passes through the medieval shopping streets of the city .The red line connects the church of Saint Elaria (Église Saint-Hilaire le Grand), a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a park created in the 18th century (parc de Blossac) .
You can travel around the city by bus. Poitiers is served by the transport company Vitalis. The cost of one trip for an hour (no more than two transplants) is 1.30 EUR. The ticket can be bought at the bus itself.
Kitchen and restaurants
The cuisine of the region to which Poitiers belongs, as well as other regional cuisine of France, is based, above all, on high-quality products. Among them we should mention: cheese from goat milk (Chabichou du Poitou), melon du Haut Poitou, which appeared in this area in the 19th century, and butter of Charentes-Poitou, produced in 5 departments.
The list of traditional recipes includes farsi poatevin (farci poitevin), a mixture of cabbage, various herbs and bacon, a puatinum pie with chicken, a goat with garlic, a pumpkin in wine. As a dessert are especially famous broyé poitevin, sweet, broken into pieces, flat cake, and poissin cookies (casse-museaux).
Shopping and shopping
Most of the shops with souvenir products are concentrated on the Grand Rue. Music lovers are advised to visit the musical instruments store on Liberty Square (place de La Liberte).
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Entertainments, sightseeing and sightseeing Poitiers
First of all, it is worth paying attention to the famous churches in the Romanesque style: the church of Our Lady of Poitiers, the oldest part of which dates back to the 11th century, the baptistery of Saint John the Baptistère, Saint Elias Church, Hilaire le Grand), the church of the Holy Radegund (Église Sainte-Radegonde) and the cathedral of St. Peter (cathédrale Saint-Pierre), a rare example of the so-called "Anjou Gothic".
The St. Croix Museum
The Museum of Saint-Croix (Musée Sainte-Croix) exhibits works of art from ancient times to the present.
The schedule of work: from October 1 to May 31 - from Wednesday to Friday, from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 13.15 to 17.00, Saturday and Sunday - from 14.00 to 18.00. On Tuesdays the museum works without interruption, from 10.00 to 17.00.
From June 1 to September 30 - Wednesday to Friday, from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 13.15 to 18.00, Saturday and Sunday - from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00. On Tuesdays the museum is open until 20.00.
On Mondays the museum is closed. Ticket price: 4 EUR. Photos of Poitiers (10)