Poitiers is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. With more than 29,000 students, Poitiers has been a major university city since the creation of its university in 1431, having hosted René Descartes, Joachim du Bellay and François Rabelais, among others.
