a town of France, capital of the department of Vienne, on the Clain, an affluent of the Vienne, 58 miles S.S.W. of Tours, and 78 N.E. of Rochelle. It stands on the rounded extremity of a chain of hills surrounded on all sides but the S.W. by narrow ravines, through which flow the Clain and its affluent the Boivre. The ancient walls, which skirted the banks of the rivers, are now almost entirely removed; and that part of them which crossed the high ground on the landward side is now a public walk, commanding a fine view of the rivers as they wind through their deep valleys. The town covers a very large space of ground, but it includes within its circuit gardens and fields, as well as houses, streets, and squares. The streets are generally steep, narrow, and crooked, lined with mean-looking houses, and the town in general has a dull and desolate appearance, were it not for the market-place, which is crowded and bustling. Many fine old buildings, especially churches, combine with the natural beauty of its position in giving Poitiers a very picturesque aspect. Some remains of a vast Roman amphitheatre still exist at Poitiers; the oval interior, now converted into a garden, and the tiers of seats for the spectators, replaced in some places by modern houses. Some of the vaults and corridors, and portions of the solid regular masonry, are still entire. Another very ancient building is now used as a museum, but was formerly a church, and seems to have been originally a baptistery. It is probably as old as the sixth or seventh century. The cathedral, said to have been founded by Henry II. of England, has two low and unequal towers, and is very elegant in the interior. The other churches are of much interest to the antiquary and the architect. On the highest part of the town stand the prefecture and court-house. Poitiers has an episcopal palace, a public library with 25,000 volumes and numerous MSS., a theatre, barracks, university academy, faculty of law, school of medicine, botanic garden, various scientific societies, &c. The manufactures comprise coarse woollen cloth, blankets, hosiery, lace, leather, playing-cards, vinegar, &c. Some trade is carried on in these articles, as well as in agricultural produce of various kinds. Poitiers is one of the most ancient towns in France. It existed, under the name of Limogum, in the time of the Romans, but it afterwards took the name of its inhabitants, the Pictari or Pictones. After the fall of the Roman empire, it was possessed successively by the Vandals, Visigoths, and Franks. The last of these nations gained possession of it in consequence of the defeat of the Visigoths under Alaric by Clovis, in 507, not far from the town. In 732 Poitiers was the scene of another great battle, in which Charles Martel defeated the Saracens; and in 1356 the English, under the Black Prince, gained a victory over the French under John II., who was taken prisoner. It was the capital of the province of Poitou, which came into the possession of England by the marriage of Henry Plantagenet, afterwards Henry II., to Eleanor of Guineve in 1153; but it was taken from them by Philip II. in 1204. It was again in the possession of the English from 1360 to 1372. During the civil wars Poitiers, which was at first held by the Huguenots, was taken by the Catholics, and Coligny in vain attempted to recover it. Pop. (1856) 26,233.