We are going to a small wedding in Poitiers in late October. Looking for insight into what the town is like, what to see (cathedrals I think!), good area to stay, restaurants. Any thoughts much appreciated.
Posted by
Paris 16ème (Auteuil)
1632 posts
Futuroscope the theme park is nearby.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1017 posts
Alienor (Eleanor) of Acquitane was born in Poitiers to the House of Poitiers.
She was one of the most remarkable women of the last millenium. She was an artistic force of her time, wife of Louis VII, and she was perhaps a greater Crusades commander than he during their time in the Levant and the Holy Land.
After their return to France, she prevailed on her husband and the Pope to annul the marriage on grounds of consanguinity - so she could marry Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Normandy, later King Henry II of England. Their children included King John and King Richard the Lionhearted.
She is entombed at Fontevraud Abbey in the Loire near Saumur, together with Henry II and Richard Coeur de Lion.
While we celebrated her on our trip to Bordeaux and at Fontevraud a few years ago, we missed Poitiers.
Fortunately, you can walk in her footsteps in Poitiers. https://poitiershistorywalks.com/?page_id=261
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for the Eleanor history!
Posted by
583 posts
This might wet your whistle hope it loads for you
Brad
https://web.archive.org/web/20111011075750/http://paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/France/West/Poitiers_Poitou_Charentes/Poitiers/Poitiers_Overview.htm
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3645 posts
ranis510,
Just for fun, find and watch the 1968 movie "The Lion in Winter". It is a fictionalized drama about the family of Eleanor of Acquitaine and Henry II, and their sons Richard and John. It is more about the family dynamics and not about the actual historical events. However, it gives a real feeling for the atmosphere in the castle, and some stellar performances by the actors (Katherine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Terry, John Castle and Timothy Dalton).