Page 398 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

EXPERIENCE Poitou and Aquitaine

1
POITIERS

! C4 ⌂ Vienne k 5 km (3 miles) W of Poitiers £ A beautiful statue
n 45 pl Charles de Gaulle; www.ot-poitiers.fr gracing a side altar in
Notre-Dame-La-Grande
Three of the greatest battles in French history were
fought around Poitiers, the most famous in 732, when
Charles Martel halted the Arab invasion. The town Angevin kings, Henry II and
thrived during the reign of Jean de Berry (1369–1416) Richard the Lionheart. This
and became a major centre of learning with the found­ is thought to be the scene of
Joan of Arc’s examin ation by a
ing of its university in 1431. Today, Poitiers is a council of theologians in 1429.
dynamic city with a rich architectural heritage.
1 amazingly well-preserved wall 3
paintings dating from the
Cathédrale St-Pierre cathedral’s earliest days were Notre-Dame-
discovered; they depict Christ la-Grande
⌂ 1 rue Sainte-Croix § 05
49 41 23 76 # Summer: in Majesty among other scenes. ⌂ 53, place Charles de
The organ (1787–91), made by
9am–7:30pm daily; winter: Gaulle § 05 49 41 23 76
9am–5pm daily François-Henri Cliquot, is one # 9am–7pm daily
of the finest in Europe.
Poitier’s impressive Gothic Notre-Dame-la-Grande is not
cathedral dates from the a large church, despite its
12th century. The 13th-century name. One of Poitiers’s great
carved choir stalls are among 2 ' pilgrim churches, it is most
the oldest in France. Note the Palais de Justice celebrated as a master piece
huge 12th-century east win- ⌂ Pl Alphonse Lepetit of lively 12th-century Poitevin
dow showing the Crucifixion; § 05 49 50 22 00 # 9am– sculpture, notably its richly
tiny figures of the cathe dral’s noon & 1:30–5pm Mon–Fri detailed façade. In the choir
patrons (Henry II and Eleanor is a Roman esque fresco of
of Aquitaine) are crouched at Behind the bland Renaissance Christ and the Virgin. Most
the foot of the window. During façade is the 12th-century of the chapels were added
renovation work in 2015 four great hall of the palace of the in the Renaissance.
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