As the capital of Vienne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Poitiers is a lively, modern city built on historical foundations.
The medieval city centre reflects this, with a modern covered market slap bang in the middle of the square beside the Eglise Notre-Dame-la Grande. Currently it is only possible to admire the exterior due to extensive restoration works, which are expected to continue until 2027.
Walk through the Cordeliers shopping centre and Zara has been built around the remains of a church.
L'Archive restaurant and Mercure Hotel have gone even further; the modern building has swallowed an entire church. Inside, the stonework of the Chapelle du Gesù arches over the restaurant tables and erupts into the hotel rooms.
Rue de PoitiersAgence Zebrelle Thomas JELINEK
Walk down the Rue de la Cathédrale to the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre where Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of England.
4th Century churches
Nicknamed the ‘City of 100 Spires’, it is easy to believe that a hundred churches have been built here, albeit not all at the same time. The oldest of them is the 4th Century Baptistry, one of the oldest churches in Europe, which is very close to the cathedral.
Hotel de VilleEl Gusano
Head south along the pedestrianised Rue des Grandes Ecoles to the Place du Maréchal-Leclerc to admire the Second Empire Hôtel de Ville, which is also the Mairie de Poitiers. The maire, Léonore Moncond'huy, is a member of the Ecology party and the first female mayor of Poitiers.
Ad
The large square is a top spot for relaxing on a café terrace, and people-watching.
Lively nightlife scene
With a student population of 24,000, the city has a range of lively bars, cafés and restaurants.
The most popular, especially when evenings are warm, is the Guinguette Pictave on the Ilot Tison beside the river Clain featuring self-service beer, food trucks, bar games and board games, a beach and a swimming pool in the summer, live music, cocktails, deck chairs and fairy lights.
