Bed and breakfast accommodation in Poitiers Monasteries

Poitiers is a true crossroads of history and culture.

The Futuroscope is France’s third most popular theme park located near Poitiers, the amusement park attracts many visitors for its rides and breathtaking presentations in IMAX 3D and 4D theatres.  It owes its success to a unique positioning in the entertainment market by offering the most amazing parks with a mixture of fun, fantastic, magical and futuristic. In total, more than 30 experiences that await visitors Futuroscope for an unforgettable stay with family or friends.

Poitiers' main museum is the Musée Sainte Croix, close to the town centre. Housed in a modern building from the 1970s, the museum has a collection of historic and archaeological artefacts, as well as an art gallery with a collection of mostly French paintings and sculpture from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Rodin, Bonnard and Sisley.

The current courthouse was in its time the palace of the counts of Poitou-dukes of Aquitaine. Its large ceremonial hall called "Salle des Pas Perdus" is remarkable and testifies to medieval architecture of the 12th century.

How to get around ? 

Given the small size of the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. All the main attractions, apart from Futuroscope, are within reasonable walking distance of each other. Poitiers' train and bus stations are next to each other.

The journey from Paris (Montparnasse station) to Poitiers takes 90 min on the TGV high speed train. Upon arrival, the city centre is straight ahead out of the station, on the top of the hill.

Direct TGV services from Lille will take 3 hours 20minutes, and Bordeaux 1 hour 50 minutes.

Poitiers-Biard Airport offers daily international connections from London Stansted Airport with Ryanair, to the following destinations : Stansted Airport (England), Lyon Airport (France) and Ajaccio Airport (Corsica).

Events

Light show : At Christmas and on summer evenings, the church features a colorful light show. 

Jazz music concert : During July and August with musicians performing in some abbeys and churches.

Poitiers is a French city on the Clain river in west-central France.

The history of Poitier goes back to 2.000 years ago, starting in the antiquity between the rivers Boivre and Clain, the ancient Lemonum soon became the capital of the Pictones. After being invaded several times, the city surrounded itself with fortifications.

During the Middle Ages, the city was formed around its religious function. The construction of a baptistery in the 5th century was the beginning of Christianity. During the Romanesque period in architecture, the city saw many new churches built: the churches of Notre-Dame-la-Grande, Saint-Porchaire and Saint-Germain, the collegial churches of Sainte-Radegonde and Saint-Hilaire, the cathedral of Saint-Pierre, and the Abbey of Saint-Jean de Montierneuf. Therefore Poitiers is probably one of the most representative cities of Romanesque art in France.

Poitiers is one of the stopover towns on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Therefore Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand is a place of pilgrimage. This church has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 as part of the "Way of St James in France". Rebuilt in the 11th century over the tomb of Saint Hilaire, the first bishop of Poitiers who died in 368. An unusually vast choir, four absidioles surrounding the chevet, and traces of wall paintings. This church is a must if you are a lover of Romanesque art and fascinated by history.

The 18th and 19th century gave the city its present configuration. But the Romanesque and medieval past still remain very much present. Two examples are the remains of the arena and the walls of a Crusader monastery that you will come across on your stroll.