Poitiers - Ancient City of Art and Culture

By: Antonio Bonito..

The French city of Poitiers is the capital of the Poitou-Charentes region and head of the department of the Vienne. Having only 130000 inhabitants it is often called "the smallest of the big towns". However Poitiers is only an hour from Paris by TGV and it benefits from an enviable economic and geographical environment.

Poitiers is also famous for several battles which bear its illustrious name. In the first battle, the Visigoths under Alaric II were vanquished by King Clovis I of France in AD 507. In the second battle of Poitiers, Charles Martel in his turn defeated the Moors in 732 AD. But perhaps the most well-known Battle of Poitiers was in 1356, when the Black Prince of England defeated the French army under King John.

Poitiers is also well-known as an ancient university city. In fact the University of Poitiers was founded as early as 1431, and has been the destination of many of the greatest European philosophers and academics for centuries. Indeed the University of Poitiers, with its faculties of science, history, geography, languages and school of engineering, is one of the major university cities of France, with students making up about 14% of the entire population.

During the summer months, you will encounter spectacles on the corner of every street and in every square. These are often free and, most of the time, are in the open air, in public gardens, on the monumental esplanade or on caf terraces. It is a real opportunity to meet the locals - from theatre, the Musette ball in the old style, to exhibitions or debates in the "philosophical cafs". In this way, it's plain to see that art and culture are alive and well throughout Poitiers.

As for museums, Poitiers also houses several major collections in its large range of museums, galleries and exhibition centers. Of these, particular mention must be given to the St John Baptistry which houses a fascinating collection of sculptures and also sarcophagi from the Merovingian and Carolingian dynastic periods of French history.

Dance also plays a major part in the cultural life of the city of Poitiers. Dance in all its forms and guises takes place throughout the year in a range of interesting and exciting spectacles, including various festivals of Dance. But this is not limited to classical dance - contemporary dance is also well represented, resulting in a full programme which generates much interest with citizens, students and tourists alike.

As for theatre, Poitiers and the theatre are a real love story, whether your interest is amateur or professional. With more than twenty theatre companies, a rich and diverse programming, festivals, meetings between the public, artists actors and directors, theatrical creations in Poitiers always play a major role in the life of the city. And for all this artistic activity, a large and appreciative audience is always guaranteed.

To visit Poitiers and not visit the internationally renowned Futuroscope Park, would be a great error, since Futuroscope is one of the major attraction of France as a whole. It is certainly an ideal venue for short-duration holidays if you have children in-tow. Not only is this European Park of the Image fascinating as an entertainment spectacle, but also from an educational perspective, with much of the latest imaging technology making its first appearance at the park before being deployed elsewhere in the world.

As for history, not for nothing is Poitiers also known as the "city of a hundred bells". The city is home to approaching a hundred monuments in the city center alone. From the attractive medieval streets to Roman-style churches, from imposing Parisian-style boulevards to contemporary edifices, every historical period has left its stamp on the city, making the city a veritable architectural treasure-trove.

With regard to food, or should we say gastronomy, Poitiers is a veritable meeting between the town and the countryside. At the heart of a region still green and very rural, each citizen of Poitiers knows the "real recipe for the real Poitiers farci"! But a warning to enthusiasts: the region is a real French microcosm with all the ingredients potentially repugnant to outsiders, such as snails, frogs, eels, etc.

And here ends our little tour of the famous historical city of Poitiers. The city is an ideal place either to spend a few days surrounded by culture and history, or as a base and setting off point for western France and the Atlantic coast. Whatever your intentions, Poitiers has something for all tastes, young and old. Enjoy your visit!

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

For further information on France, the French lifestyle and Bretagne in French, please visit Rencontres Bretagne at Antonio Bonito's QuePourToi.com rencontres libertines web site.

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