City/Region: Poitou-Charentes
General Introduction
Capital of the Poitou-Charentes area and chief town of the department of the Vienne, Greater Poitiers Community, is often called " the smallest of the large cities" with about 130 000 inhabitants. One hour from Paris by TGV, Poitiers benefits from an enviable economic and geographic situation on the Paris-Bordeaux axis. As a regional capital, the city is endowed with the corresponding economic and administrative activities. A true “region-city” and network head, Poitiers organizes economic, cultural and social exchanges between diverse territories both near and far. Greater Poitiers situates its development within extended territorial spaces which range from the heart of the city to international relations.
History
Founded in antiquity on a rocky promontory, the ancient Roman city of Lemonum became the capital of the Pictons. Over the centuries, Poitiers was the victim of several Barbarian invasions. The very famous line of the Counts of Poitou and the Dukes of Aquitaine placed Poitiers as the capital of the country. Their descendant Aliénor of Aquitaine was the mother of two kings: Richard Coeur de Lion and Jean Sans Terre which placed the area under English domination. That was the beginning of a long lasting conflict.
In 2001, the district of Poitiers became a community of agglomeration.
Nowadays , Greater Poitiers is a territory composed of six activity sites: communication – the most famous European attraction park dedicated to the image , the Futuroscope; handcraft, building industry, civil engineering; industrial logistic with companies such as Dassault Aviation and SAFT ; services ; the Biopôle dedicated to biotechnologies ; train station centre. Greater Poitiers, it is also an international pole: MTA pole (mobility and innovating transport) which regroups automotive industrial giants (Valéo ; Autoliv ; Alstom ; Heuliez) and a future Eco industries pole with a regional influence.
Travel to City
Poitiers-Biard airport lies just near Poitiers centre, on the west side of the town. You can reach it as easily from North as from South by the motorway, exiting in Poitiers.
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Population: Greater Poitiers Pop: 130,000
Region Pop: 1,640,068
Area: Region Area: 25 810 km²
Greater Poitiers economic territory: 700 ha
Major Cultural Events:
International festival of cinema schools – Henri Langlois International meetings.
Ten Major Employers and Industry:
| Employer |
Industry |
| University Hospital Centre |
Health |
| France Telecom |
Services |
| Park of the Futuroscope |
Entertainment park |
| Crédit agricole |
Bank |
| Cegetel Service |
Telecommunication |
| SAF |
Electrical engineering factory |
| Brunet |
Electrical manufacturing |
| Sagem |
Electronic components manufacturing |
| E Laser Contact |
Computer |
| Actaris |
Industrial equipment |
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