Châtellerault | ||
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An aerial view of the centre of Châtellerault
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Coordinates: 46°49′04″N 0°32′46″E / 46.8178°N 0.5461°ECoordinates: 46°49′04″N 0°32′46″E / 46.8178°N 0.5461°E | ||
Country | France | |
Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
Department | Vienne | |
Arrondissement | Châtellerault | |
Intercommunality | Pays Châtelleraudais | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2014–2020) | Jean-Pierre Abelin (NC) | |
Area1 | 51.96 km2 (20.06 sq mi) | |
Population (2014)2 | 31,537 | |
• Density | 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 86066 / 86100 | |
Elevation | 42–134 m (138–440 ft) (avg. 60 m or 200 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Châtellerault (pronounced: [ʃa.tɛl.ʁo]) is a commune in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. It is located in the northeast of the former province Poitou, and the residents are called Châtelleraudais.
Châtellerault lies on the river Vienne, a few km downstream from its confluence with the Clain in Cenon-sur-Vienne.
Châtellerault was an important stronghold on the northern march of Poitou, established by the Count of Poitiers to secure his borders in the early 10th century. The count's local representative, the Vicomte de Châtellerault was established as a hereditary appointment by the time of Airaud who was probably a kinsman of the counts of Auvergne and dukes of Aquitaine; his heirs were vicomtes (viscounts) until the mid-11th century.
The daughter of Aymeric I, Ænor of Châtellerault (ca 1103 - ca 1130), whose mother had been the "mistress" in the new courtly love poetry of the troubadour lord William, sixth Count of Poitiers and ninth Duke of Aquitaine, who lodged in his tower the "Dangereuse de Châtellerault", married his son, William X of Aquitaine, and was mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine.