Châtellerault, Administrative center in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
Châtellerault is a town in the Vienne department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, extending along the Vienne river. The administrative unit encompasses three cantons and sits in the northeastern part of the historic Poitou province.
At the start of the 10th century, the Count of Poitiers established a fortress here as a northern border post and appointed local representatives to administer it. The arms factory opened in 1819 and produced military equipment for French forces until 1968.
The Vienne river shapes the townscape, with historic bridges and riverside paths connecting the center to surrounding neighborhoods. Weekly markets regularly animate the squares and draw visitors from across the region.
The town is accessible via several roads and rail connections, with the center easily explored on foot. Parking areas near main sites provide convenient access for visitors with reduced mobility.
The name derives from the Latin Castellum Eraldi, referring to an early medieval castle. The former factory site now houses a museum displaying original tools and machinery from the arms production era.
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