Poitou, Historical province in west-central France
Poitou is a former province in west-central France, now covering mainly the departments of Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, and Vienne, with Poitiers serving as its historic center. The area stretches from Atlantic coastal plains in the west to gentle hills and river valleys further east, showing a varied landscape of fields, woods, and wetlands.
Charles Martel defeated Muslim forces near Poitiers in 732, stopping their advance northward and making the region a turning point in European history. Later, the area became a battleground between English and French kings until it finally joined France permanently in the 15th century.
The name comes from the Pictones, a Gallic tribe who lived here before Roman times. Churches and villages still show how northern and southern building styles meet, visible in the stone colors and roof shapes used across the area.
Travelers find many Romanesque churches and medieval villages here, easily reached by smaller roads and suitable for day trips. The landscape is flat to gently rolling, making cycling and walking easy without much effort.
The Marais Poitevin north of La Rochelle forms one of the largest wetlands in France, where you can travel by flat-bottomed boat through green water channels. The area is often called Green Venice because the canals are lined with poplars and ash trees that reflect in the water.
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