Poitiers: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Poitiers (population 85,000) is a city in central France, préfecture (capital) of the Vienne département. Located on the Clain river.

Geography and Location

Aerial map

History

Poitiers was founded before Roman influence by the Pictones tribe. The Battle of Poitiers was fought at Poitiers on September 19, 1356, during the Hundred Years' War. An earlier battle, the first decisive Christian victory over Moslems was also fought here on October 10, 732 — this battle is better known as Battle of Tours.

King Charles VII established the University of Poitiers in 1432.

Poitiers was the capital of Poitou, the region governed by the Counts of Poitiers.

Site

The site of Poitiers is a vast promontery between the valleys of Boive and Clain.

Location

Antiquity

From the 16th century to the present