Poitiers (population 85,000) is a city in central France, préfecture (capital) of the Vienne département. Located on the Clain river, it was founded before Roman influence by the Pictones tribe. Here the Battle of Poitiers was fought on September 19, 1356, during the Hundred Years' War.

King Charles VII established the University of Poitiers in 1432.

Poitiers was the capital of Poitou, the region governed by the Counts of Poitiers.