a city in western France, on the Clain River (Loire Basin), in the valley between the Massif Central and Gâtine Hills. It is the capital of the department of Vienne; population, 75,000 (1968). Industries include machine building, food processing, the production of chemicals, and the manufacture of leather. There is a university.
Poitiers, one of France’s oldest cities, was founded by the Gauls. From the ninth to the 18th centuries the city was the capital of the county and province of Poitou, which was the site of major battles. In 507 the Frankish king Clovis defeated the Visigoths near Poitiers, thereby securing the conquest of southern Gaul for the Franks. In October 732 the Frankish heavy cavalry, under the command of Charles Martel, surrounded and defeated invading Arab forces from Spain near Poitiers. The cavalry blocked the Arab advance into Europe. This was the first battle in which heavy cavalry played a decisive role. During the Hundred Years’ War, a battle took place near Poitiers (Nouallé-Maupertuis) on Sept. 19, 1356. The English army of the Black Prince defeated the French forces of King John II the Good, who was himself taken prisoner. The result of the battle was determined by the superiority of the English archers over the heavily armed French knights. The French defeat was one of the causes of the Paris Uprising of 1357–58 and of the Jacquerie.
Fragments of the city walls of the 12th and 16th centuries have survived. The most noteworthy architectural landmarks are the Baptistry of St. Jean (fourth century; with additions from the seventh and 11th centuries), which presently serves as a museum of Merovingian art, and the Romanesque cathedral of St. Pierre (1166–1271, with additions from the 13th to 15th centuries). Other significant churches are St. Radegonde (11th to 14th centuries), St. Hilarius (11th and 12th centuries), Notre Dame la Grande (11th to 16th centuries), and St. Porchaire (mainly 16th century; Gothic style). There are also remains of the ducal palace (12th to 15th centuries), which is now part of the Palace of Justice (19th century). Poitiers has a neo-Renaissance town hall (1869–76), which houses a museum of fine arts (mainly French school).