NL LIEW's Blog: Poitiers, after more than a year

Thursday 7 January 2010

Poitiers, after more than a year

It has been more than a year since I took these following pictures back in January to February 2008. On weekends, when I did not have to attend classes, I used to stroll along the city in the early morning before the streets started to get populated or in the evening just before dusk.

Poitiers was a fortified medieval city that survived the onslaught of the Arab invasion in medieval times. Today, it is the university with one of the largest student population (about 28000), making it the city with the highest proportionate of students to inhabitants ratio in France. Its university was founded in 1428, making it one of the oldest university in France too. Poitiers is recognized in France as a city of arts and history and every cobbled street tells a fascinating story from the past. Churches dates as far back to 4th century and Poitiers was once the religious center of France.

Winter sales at Burton's

Interesting window display at Jules's. By the way, 'jules' in familiar French means man (someone's). It is interesting to see the extend of English used in promoting products that targets the younger demography group eventhough it is still a widely accepted fact that on average, French don't like to speak English to outsiders eventhough they're capable of it.

Lights went on in the construction site of the city's new business district at the train station

Sunset on the walls of the medieval city of Poitiers.

The new and futuristic office building of the new business district adjacent to the train station.

As the city is practically constructed on a small hill, sceneries like these are common and I find them arresting...rows and rows of geometrical forms lined up horizontally and vertically, playing with the changing of lights.

The Cordeliers, a shopping complex constructed inside a beautiful historical building in town center.

Rue de la cathedrale...at the end of this medieval cobbled street is the impressive Cathedrale St. Pierre erected by Alienor d'Aquitaine (mother of Richard Lionheart) and her English consort Henry II. This cathedral was erected over a Roman ruins.

Back view of the Eglise de Notre Dame le Grand.

A series of photos taken at the construction site of the new theatre:

A marble plaque outside the building that pays hommage to Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) on her receiving the blessings of the committee of Charles VII to head the army against the English. She was examined at Poitiers on 6 March 1429.