Countries | France | Poitiers | Living in Poitiers

The Location:

Beautiful, storied Poitiers is a cultural and commercial center of western France with a population of about 120,000 people. As one of the most intact medieval cities in Europe, Poitiers boasts a large walled "old city" on the top of the hill at the center of the city's modern expanse. The walls that ring the centre ville today are composed of sections built in different periods, including parts that date from the Roman settlement at the site. Inside the walls, the city is crowned by a variety of well-preserved medieval buildings.

The age of almost any hotel or private dwelling in the centre ville is given in the hundreds of years. One particularly impressive structure is a stone church, Notre-Dame-la Grande, which dates from at least 924, and still contains sections of the original walls, though most of the modern building was erected in the eleventh century. The bas relief sculptures on the church's front exterior today "read" like a comic strip of biblical stories.

In addition, Poitiers was also the ruling seat of the medieval kingdom of Aquitaine, and the impressive medieval palace still stands in the heart of the old city. This palace was once the home of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in medieval Europe, and who was alternately married to the French and English kings. A few centuries later, Joan of Arc's religious visions were declared authentic by religious authorities in this same location. Today, the original medieval hall, its Renaissance additions (added by a descendent of Eleanor), and the neoclassical "Greek temple" face of the building, together serve as the courthouse and law offices for Poitiers.

Poitiers is the capital of the Poitou region and is only a few hours from Paris by TGV (high-speed train). Located in the west of France, Poitiers is in close proximity to the Loire Valley, dozens of charming chateaux, an excellent wine region, and Basque country just to the south. The Futuroscope--part interactive learning center, and part theme park--is located just outside Poitiers and pays tribute to the technologies of multimedia in several wildly imaginative pavilions. Normandy, Brittany, the French Riviera, the Alps, London, northeastern Spain, and northwestern Italy are all within half a day's train travel.

Today, Poitiers is a center for education, agriculture, industry and communications. A university town, it boasts a population of 120,000 and offers students a chance to live in a manageably sized city while still being close to larger metropolitan centers in France. Many in France consider it the smallest of the big cities – une ville à taille humaine.

Accommodations:

The Poitiers program allows students the flexibility to choose from a range of housing options. During the September orientation, students may live with a family or in a residence hall. For the rest of the year, students may choose a homestay family, a residence hall, a room in a boarding house, or a small apartment. Students will have access to cooking facilities and/or inexpensive student restaurants.

Housing Expenses:

Starting September 1 and for each month through June, a room and board allowance in euros will be deposited into a French bank account that you will open during the stage (orientation) period in Lyon. Students are charged a room and board allowance as part of the regular program costs. The allowance is meant to cover meals and lodging in Poitiers and is based on rent costs for a dormitory or a small studio room and modest meals. The amount of money a student actually spends on lodging and meals will depend entirely on their taste, standards and the type of housing selected.

In some cases, students in the Oregon program are also eligible for the French Government Student Housing Subsidy (ALS – Aide au logement social). This subsidy is available after the first month; amounts vary from student to student, anywhere from a very small portion to 1/4 to 1/3 of the monthly rent paid for housing. There are certain conditions that must be met to qualify (you must be under 25 years of age), and not all housing situations meet the requirements. Although there is no way to guarantee that a student will qualify for this housing subsidy, it is something to keep in mind when considering housing options in Poitiers and can potentially make a difference in a student’s on-site expenses.

Note: It is the individual student's responsibility to report any stipends (or other financial awards) to their home campus Financial Aid Office.

On-Site Support:

Oregon students are supported by Site Director Sylvie Brugerolle who works out of the Centre Oregon at the University of Poitiers. Experienced and personable, Sylvie will help you to arrange housing, coordinate your orientation, introduce you to the city, give you guidance regarding the French educational system, and provide other logistical and personal support as needed.