Perched on the banks of the Clain River in the Poitou-Charentes region of west-central France, the city of Poitiers boasts many examples of charming late-Medieval era architecture. The city features a variety of structures from the Romanesque period (6th through 12th centuries) and it is the capital of the Vienne department.

Today, Poitiers is a popular tourist destination that offers visitors a wide variety of attractions, including the 4th century Baptistere Saint-Jean, which is the second oldest church in the entire country, and the Palace of Poitiers, which is the former seat of the Dukes of Aquitaine. Also of interest, the Eglise Notre-Dame-la-Grande is the oldest Romanesque church in all of Europe, while the Hypogee des Dunes is a magnificent example of a hypogeum (underground) chapel. In addition, the Jardin des Plantes de Poitiers is a free public park that boasts more than 100 species of plants, lovely walking paths, a waterfall, pond and grotto.