Poitiers tourism and travel guide

Poitiers Hotels & holiday rentals

Places to visit nearby

Poitiers Excursions & Activities

Car hire in France

Poitiers Hotels & holiday rentals

Poitiers Excursions & Activities

Visit Poitiers: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: Poitiers is a nice town with lots of interesting sites, including the 12th century cathedral

Poitiers is situated in the Vienne department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Attractions in Poitiers

Futuroscope is one of the most popular attractions in France!: Futuroscope

Tourist classifications for Poitiers include "town of art and history" and "secteur sauvegarde".

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Poitiers in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include Nouaille-Maupertuis at 10 km and Chauvigny at 24 km.

Poitiers, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Futuroscope

Theme Park at 10 km (direction north-north-east)

Futuroscope is one of the most popular attractions in France!...

See Futuroscope guide

Nouaille-Maupertuis

at 10 km (direction south-east)

Visit Nouaille-Maupertuis to see the substantial Abbey of Saint Junien...

See Nouaille-Maupertuis guide

Chauvigny

at 24 km (direction east)

We especially enjoyed exploring the castles along the hilltop when visiting Chauvigny...

See Chauvigny guide

Chatellerault

at 31 km (direction north-east)

The quiet regional town of Chatellerault has some notable 18th century townhouses...

See Chatellerault guide

Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe

Heritage Site at 41 km (direction east)

The highlight here is of course the Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, certainly the best example...

See Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe guide

Moncontour, Vienne

at 42 km (direction north-west)

As well as the castle in Moncontour, you will also enjoy the town's leisure...

See Moncontour, Vienne guide

La Roche-Posay

at 43 km (direction east-north-east)

The castle donjon and the medieval gateway are the main historical monuments in the...

See La Roche-Posay guide

Angles-sur-l'Anglin

Most Beautiful Village at 44 km (direction east-north-east)

The pretty village of Angles sur l'Anglin and the river setting make this one...

See Angles-sur-l'Anglin guide

Parthenay

at 45 km (direction west), in the Deux-Sevres department

Parthenay is a quiet town, with historic monuments that hint at its importance iver...

See Parthenay guide

Montmorillon

at 45 km (direction east-south-east)

Although it is quite a small town, there is a lot to discover in...

See Montmorillon guide

Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire

Church at 54 km (direction south-west), in the Deux-Sevres department

The church of Saint-Hilare in Melle is a very impressive example of 12th century...

See Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire guide

Melle

at 54 km (direction south-west), in the Deux-Sevres department

The town of Melle is best known for its three roman style churches, built...

See Melle guide

Thouars

at 60 km (direction north-west), in the Deux-Sevres department

Best known for its 17th century castle, in Thouars you can also see several...

See Thouars guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Vienne

Find Poitiers hotels & holiday rentals

Reserve excursions near Poitiers

Map of places to visit near Poitiers

Markets in and near Poitiers

Market days in Poitiers: weekly market: Wednesday & Thursday & Sunday & Saturday all day & Friday;

• Poitiers: market Wednesday & Thursday & Sunday & Saturday all day & Friday (0km)
• Jaunay-Clan: market Friday (12km)
• Neuville-de-Poitou: market Thursday & Sunday (13km)
• Vouille: market Saturday (14km)
• Vivonne: market Saturday (18km)
• Naintre: market Sunday (23km)
• Mirebeau: market Wednesday & Saturday (25km)
• Rouille: market Friday (28km)
• Chatellerault: market Wednesday & Thursday all day & Saturday (31km)
• Thenezay: market Sunday (31km)

More information about Poitiers, Poitou-Charentes

Tourist attractions near Poitiers, France

What to do at Poitiers? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Poitiers.

Heritage sites

• Poitiers église Saint-Hilaire le Grand (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (1km)
• Melle église St Hilaire (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (55km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Angles-sur-l'Anglin (44km)

National Monuments

• Sanxay (27km)
• Oiron Chateau (51km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Chauvigny (24km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Abbaye de Nouaillé-Mauperthuis (Nouaille-Maupertuis) (10km)
• Eglise de Notre-Dame (Lusignan) (23km)
• Eglise de Saint Maurice (Saint-Maurice-la-Clouere) (24km)
• Eglise de Saint Pierre (Chauvigny) (24km)
• Eglise de Saint Gervais et Saint Protais (Civaux) (30km)
• Eglise d'Usson de Poitou (Usson-du-Poitou) (37km)
• Abbaye de Saint Savin sur Gartempe (Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe) (41km)
• Eglise Abbatial de Saint Jouin (Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes) (44km)
• Eglise de Notre-Dame (Montmorillon) (45km)
• Eglise abbatiale de Saint Pierre (Airvault) (45km)
• Abbaye de la Réau (Saint-Martin-l'Ars) (46km)
• Eglise de Saint Généroux (Saint-Generoux) (49km)

Remarkable gardens

• Laverré (15km)
• Touffou (20km)
• Jardin du château de La Mothe (27km)
• La Guyonnière (43km)
• Arboretum du chemin de la découverte (54km)

Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé)

(see also historical French towns)

• Chatillon-sur-Thouet (45km)

Amusement park / theme park

• Futuroscope (10km)

Towns of Art and history

• Parthenay (45km)
• Montmorillon (45km)
• Thouars (60km)

Villages d'etape

(recommended place to break a long journey)

• Vivonne (18km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Vallée des singes (monkeys) (38km)

Geography and distances

Poitiers is in the west of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Vienne department (general information: Poitiers is 294 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors arrive here by car - the ferry ports such as Caen, Saint Malo and Cherbourg are convenient at around 4-5 hours drive. For driving distances to Poitiers from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 6 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Biard, Buxerolles, Croutelle, Fontaine-le-Comte, Migne-Auxances and Vouneuil-sous-Biard.

This page in French: Visiter Poitiers