last edited Dec 11, 2019
Regions of France
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Administrative Regions
Since January 1, 2016, metropolitan France has had 12 regions, plus Corsica with its special status, compared to 22 previously. Several have indeed merged.
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: created from the former regions of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes, totaling 12 departments.
- Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: formed from the former regions of Bourgogne and Franche-Comté, totaling 12 departments.
- Brittany: unchanged, with 4 departments.
- Centre-Val de Loire: unchanged, with 6 departments.
- Corsica: unchanged but without its two departments since early 2018.
- Grand-Est: formed from the former regions of Alsace, Lorraine, and Champagne-Ardenne, totaling 10 departments.
- Hauts-de-France: formed from the former regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy, totaling 5 departments.
- Île-de-France: unchanged, including Paris and 7 other departments.
- Normandy: formed from the former regions of Upper Normandy and Lower Normandy, totaling 5 departments.
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine: formed from the former regions of Aquitaine, Limousin, and Poitou-Charentes, totaling 12 departments.
- Occitanie: formed from the former regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, totaling 13 departments.
- Pays-de-la-Loire: unchanged, with 5 departments.
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: unchanged, with 6 departments.
Departments
Of the 101 departments in France, 96 are located in metropolitan France. Since 2016, the department of Rhône (69) has been divided into 69D for Rhône and 69M for the Lyon Metropolis.
01 Ain - 02 Aisne - 03 Allier - 04 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence - 05 Hautes-Alpes - 06 Alpes-Maritimes - 07 Ardèche - 08 Ardennes - 09 Ariège
10 Aube - 11 Aude - 12 Aveyron - 13 Bouches-du-Rhône - 14 Calvados - 15 Cantal - 16 Charente - 17 Charente-Maritime - 18 Cher - 19 Corrèze
2A Corse-du-Sud - 2B Haute-Corse - 21 Côte-d'Or - 22 Côtes-d'Armor - 23 Creuse - 24 Dordogne - 25 Doubs - 26 Drôme - 27 Eure - 28 Eure-et-Loir - 29 Finistère
30 Gard - 31 Haute-Garonne - 32 Gers - 33 Gironde - 34 Hérault - 35 Ille-et-Vilaine - 36 Indre - 37 Indre-et-Loire - 38 Isère - 39 Jura
40 Landes - 41 Loir-et-Cher - 42 Loire - 43 Haute-Loire - 44 Loire-Atlantique - 45 Loiret - 46 Lot - 47 Lot-et-Garonne - 48 Lozère - 49 Maine-et-Loire
50 Manche - 51 Marne - 52 Haute-Marne - 53 Mayenne - 54 Meurthe-et-Moselle - 55 Meuse - 56 Morbihan - 57 Moselle - 58 Nièvre - 59 Nord
60 Oise - 61 Orne - 62 Pas-de-Calais - 63 Puy-de-Dôme - 64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques - 65 Hautes-Pyrénées - 66 Pyrénées-Orientales - 67 Bas-Rhin - 68 Haut-Rhin - 69D Rhône - 69M Lyon Metropolis
70 Haute-Saône - 71 Saône-et-Loire - 72 Sarthe - 73 Savoie - 74 Haute-Savoie - 75 Paris - 76 Seine-Maritime - 77 Seine-et-Marne - 78 Yvelines - 79 Deux-Sèvres
80 Somme - 81 Tarn - 82 Tarn-et-Garonne - 83 Var - 84 Vaucluse - 85 Vendée - 86 Vienne - 87 Haute-Vienne - 88 Vosges - 89 Yonne
90 Territoire de Belfort - 91 Essonne - 92 Hauts-de-Seine - 93 Seine-Saint-Denis - 94 Val-de-Marne - 95 Val-d'Oise.
Tourist Regions
Tourist France in thirteen non-administrative regions.
Aquitaine
From the Atlantic beaches to the Pyrenees massif, including the charms of Périgord and the Basque Country, not to mention the riches of Bordeaux and its surrounding area, Aquitaine is one of the most interesting and varied regions in France for tourism. Every year, summer and winter alike, it attracts millions of visitors.
Brittany
Beyond a few persistent clichés, Brittany remains a region with a strong culture and wild landscapes often born from the meeting of land and sea. It’s a destination made for nature lovers and those seeking a certain "tranquility"...
Centre
This is the France of castles. Those rather medieval in Burgundy near Auxerre, but above all the famous and magnificent Loire châteaux built in the purest Renaissance style. Whether world-renowned like Chambord, Chenonceau, or Azay-le-Rideau, or more "confidential" like many others, they alone justify a visit to the region.
Corsica
Completely different from the mainland in many ways, Corsica, with its strong and still very present culture and traditions, its grand landscapes of sea and mountains, its coastline, and its beaches inviting relaxation, is a destination in its own right that will delight all audiences.
Grand Est
While Alsace is known for its beautiful traditional half-timbered houses, the Vosges forest, and the Champagne vineyards and cellars, the entire eastern part of France has other "treasures" to discover, including some beautiful cities, often medieval castles, historical testimonies from the last two wars, and above all a certain natural heritage that, while not necessarily spectacular, remains pleasant for outdoor enthusiasts in both summer and winter.
Hauts-de-France
What was not so long ago still called the regions of Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais is not necessarily synonymous with a "holiday destination" for many. However, the area is not without charm, especially when it comes to the coastline, which, from the Bay of Somme to the Opal Coast, has plenty to offer. Add to that dynamic cities like Amiens or Lille, as well as everything related to "remembrance tourism," and the Hauts-de-France are well worth a visit.
Massif Central
In the heart of the country, Limousin and Auvergne offer their forests, countryside, and old mountain ranges for discovery. Far from the summer bustle of the seaside or big cities, this is a quiet and rural France that will appeal to nature lovers and those seeking restful holidays.
Normandy
Sought after by Parisians for weekend getaways to the countryside or the sea, Normandy also boasts many other points of interest that can easily enhance much longer stays. From the famous Mont Saint-Michel to the D-Day landing beaches, passing through pleasant towns (Rouen, Honfleur...) or the Norman countryside where numerous abbeys and castles are hidden, the region has plenty to offer...
Occitanie
Languedoc and Midi-Pyrénées have formed this new region, adding even more to the pleasures of the sea and mountains, with the bonus of a rich cultural heritage thanks to cities like Toulouse, Carcassonne, Montpellier, countless villages labeled "most beautiful villages in France," the Cathar castles, and the Catalan country.
West
From the Gironde Estuary to the borders with Brittany, this part of France primarily attracts visitors for its many beaches, seaside resorts, several beautiful islands near the coast (Noirmoutier, Oléron, Ré, etc.), and two major theme parks: Futuroscope and Puy du Fou. In short, the West is first and foremost a relaxation-holiday destination, though culturally, cities like Nantes, La Rochelle, or Angers are also worth a visit.
Paris-Île de France
Even if for many the Paris region is limited to visits to Paris and Versailles, it still has much more to offer. The outskirts of the capital boast numerous cultural riches and even some natural sites perfect for outdoor activities.
Provence-Côte d'Azur
Marseille, Nice, Avignon, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Provence, the Luberon, etc.—the entire region is synonymous with holidays and relaxation for many. Between the Mediterranean and the first Alpine massifs, it is also rich in natural and cultural discoveries.
Rhône-Alpes
Gorges de l'Ardèche, Vanoise, Vercors, Mont Blanc Massif, and several other remarkable sites: the region is rich in natural heritage and has everything to delight "nature-adventure" enthusiasts in both summer and winter. On a more cultural level, there’s the city of Lyon with its UNESCO-listed historic center, as well as the charming medieval villages of the Ardèche department, which are also worth discovering.