Poitiers is the capital of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region and the administrative centre of the Vienne department. Situated on a hilltop overlooking two rivers, it is a country town with a unique charm with its Romanesque character. It has a number of historic monuments including the Saint-Hilaire church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the 12th century Notre Dame-la-Grande church. It also offers a wide range of restaurants, bars and shopping facilities to suit all tastes. For the sport enthusiasts there is a choice between swimming, canoeing, kayaking, all athletic sports, ice skating, hiking, mountain biking and golfing (18-hole and 9-hole courses). Just outside of the town, there is the cinema theme park called Futuroscope which is based on 3-D technology. Poitiers has its own airport with low cost flights to the UK.
Access
Poitiers has a railway station on the TGV Atlantique line between Paris and Bordeaux. The station is in the valley to the west of the old town centre. Services run to Angoulême, Limoges and La Rochelle in addition to Paris and Bordeaux. The direct TGV to Poitiers takes 1 hour 40 minutes from Paris’ Montparnasse train station. Poitiers-Biard airport is located 2.4 km west of Poitiers with low cost flights to the UK.
Activities
The Chemins de Notre Dame will guide you through ancient neighbourhoods as you discover the city’s historical treasures at your own pace. Follow the coloured lines on the pavements starting at Notre Dame La Grande church, and read the informative signposts along the way. To relax, take a stroll around Blossac Park, the Botanical gardens and the Promenade du Pré l’Abbesse. Join a guided tour to share the 2000 years of history the city has to offer. There is a market every Saturday in the square by the Notre Dame Church where you will find local produce of the region. Just outside of the town there is a cinema theme park called Futuroscope which is based on 3-D technology and is a real must-see! Visit the caves of Noree, located in Biard and the forest of Mouliere in Montamise, just outside of Poitiers. There are a variety of sports facilities on offer: swimming, canoeing, kayaking, all athletic sports, ice skating, hiking, mountain biking and golf (9-hole and 18-hole courses).
Food and drink
Local specialities include oysters of Marennes-Oléron, Chabichou cheese, cognac, Pineau des Charentes, AOC butter, goat’s cheese, lamb, mojettes, and snails. The list is far from being exhaustive and attests to the extraordinary gastronomic wealth of Poitou-Charentes, where nature is generous and abundantly provides the products necessary for a healthy and authentic cuisine.
Restaurants
- Alain Boutin, 65 Rue Carnot, 86000 Tel: 05 49 88 25 53
- Le Montagnard, 1, Plan de la Celle, 86000 Tel: 05 49 41 37 57
- Le Poitevin , 76 Rue Carnot, 86000 Tel: 05 49 88 35 04
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property near Poitiers. We have a large network of partners in Poitiers. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Poitiers matching your requirements.