The ancient capital of Poitou, the northern part of Aquitaine, Poitiers is a town filled with history. It is a fascinating town for those interested in antiquity. The great artistic wealth of Poitiers comprises: the Notre-Dame-la-Grande church with Romanesque architecture, the Saint-Pierre cathedral, built in the Gothic style, the 4th-century rectangular Baptistère Saint-Jean, probably the oldest Christian edifice in France; the 12th-century former ducal palace has been incorporated into the 19th-century Hôtel de Ville.