France's 18 administrative regions — 13 in metropolitan Europe and 5 overseas — represent the highest administrative subdivisions of the French Republic. Understanding these regions provides valuable insight into France's geographic and cultural diversity.
The 2016 Territorial Reform
Prior to January 1, 2016, metropolitan France was divided into 22 smaller administrative regions. The French parliament enacted a major territorial reform that merged many historic entities, reducing the total to 13 larger and economically competitive regions designed to compete with the German Bundesländer and Spanish autonomous communities.
The Northern and Atlantic Regions
The northwest is dominated by Normandy and Brittany, known for dramatic tidal coastlines, maritime heritage, and dairy agriculture. Along the northern border, Hauts-de-France encompasses historic industrial corridors and key English Channel shipping routes.
The Central and Wine Growing Basins
Île-de-France surrounds Paris and forms the economic engine of France, generating nearly a third of the nation's GDP. Surrounding it are Centre-Val de Loire with its Renaissance royal châteaux, and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, internationally celebrated for viticulture and historic monasteries.
The Southern Sun and Mountains
In the south, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region by area, extending from the Bordeaux vineyards to the Basque Pyrenees. Occitanie features Mediterranean lagoons, the Canal du Midi, and Toulouse's aerospace hub. To the southeast, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur borders Italy with azure Mediterranean beaches and rugged Alpine peaks.
The Mountainous Borderlands
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes contains Lyon, France's second-largest metropolitan economy, and Mont Blanc (4,809 m), the highest peak in the European Union. In the east, Grand Est borders Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium, preserving unique Franco-Germanic architecture, cuisine, and the Champagne vineyards.
Overseas Regions (DROM)
Beyond the European continent, France includes 5 overseas departments with full regional status: Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean, French Guiana in South America, and Réunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.