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     Places to visit - Poitiers    Article posted on 20 April by Rodney Sabine

Poitiers is a major university city in Poitou-Charentes. It has one of the youngest populations in France. Set on a vast promontory between the valleys of the Boivre and the Clain, the old town occupies the slopes and summit of a plateau which rises 130 feet (40 m) above the streams which surround it on three sides.

During most of the Early Middle Ages, the town of Poitiers took advantage of its defensive site and of its location, which was far from the centre of Frankish power. As the seat for a bishop since the 4th century, the town was the capital of Poitou. The Counts of Poitiers governed a large domain, including both Aquitaine and Poitou.

The first decisive Christian victory over Muslims—the Battle of Tours— was fought by Charles Martel's men in the vicinity of Poitiers on October 10, 732. It was one of the world's pivotal moments. The Battle of Poitiers was fought at Poitiers on September 19, 1356, during the Hundred Years' War. Edward 1, the Black Prince, defeated the French this important battle by using the same military techniques that had succeeded at the Battle of Crécy. In 1418, the royal parliament moved from Paris to Poitiers, where it remained in exile until the English withdrew from Paris in 1436.

In the 1500s, Poitiers impressed visitors because of its large size, and important features, including "royal courts, university, prolific printing shops, wealthy religious institutions and cathedral. During the 19th century, many army bases were built in Poitiers because of its central and strategic location. Poitiers became a garrison town, despite its distance from France's borders.

Poitiers' tourist industry has greatly benefited from the opening of the Futuroscope in nearby Chasseneuil-du-Poitou.  Futuroscope, or Parc du Futuroscope is a French theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. It is located 10 kilometres north of Poitiers. The park had 1.6 million visitors in 2007. In total, 35 million visitors have been to the park since it opened in 1987.

The city centre is also popular with visitors and benefits from a large proportion of European tourists, notably from the United Kingdom. The 12^th century Poitiers Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers) was begun in 1162 by Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine on the ruins of a Roman basilica, and work was well advanced by the end of the 12th century. It is the largest medieval monument in the city of Poitiers. Most of the windows of the choir and the transepts preserve their stained glass of the 12th and 13th centuries. The Baptistère Saint-Jean (Baptistery of St. John) is reputed to be the oldest existing Christian building in France and one of the most prominent examples of Merovingian architecture.

The central part of the building was constructed around 360, the substructures of Roman buildings that were demolished in 276. A baptismal tank was added in the 6th century, as at that time baptism was conducted by total immersion.

Other attractions include the Musée Sainte-Croix, the largest museum in Poitiers,  Église Sainte-Radegonde-de-Poitiers ,the  Église Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand (11th century), the Hypogée des Dunes (underground chapel) and the Jardin des Plantes de Poitiers, a park and botanical garden.