Regions of France

France is divided into 18 administrative regions — 13 in metropolitan France () and 5 overseas (). A sweeping reform in 2016 merged several historical regions, creating larger entities designed for economic efficiency. But the old identities persist: ask a Breton, a Basque, or an Alsatian where they're from, and the answer predates any administrative map.

This guide covers all 13 metropolitan regions, summarising their geography, character, and top attractions for visitors.

Île-de-France

Capital: Paris | Population: 12.3 million | Character: The heart of everything

France's smallest region by area but largest by population, Île-de-France is dominated by Paris and its commuter belt. Beyond the capital, the region holds Versailles, Fontainebleau, Disneyland Paris, and the great medieval cathedrals of Chartres and Senlis. The are a world unto themselves — diverse, dynamic, and increasingly drawing visitors to street art, markets, and multicultural food scenes.

Don't miss: The Palace of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Provins (medieval UNESCO town), Giverny (Monet's garden — technically in Normandy but a day trip from Paris).

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA)

Capital: Marseille | Population: 5.1 million | Character: Sun, lavender, and la dolce vita

The south of France as the world imagines it. PACA spans from the lavender fields and hilltop villages of Provence through the dramatic gorges of the Verdon to the glamorous coastline of the Côte d'Azur. The Alps rise in the north, offering world-class skiing. Marseille, France's second city, is a raw, multicultural port city undergoing a renaissance.

Don't miss: Aix-en-Provence, the Calanques, Avignon's Papal Palace, the Gorges du Verdon, Saint-Tropez, Èze village, the Camargue wetlands.

Côte d'Azur Coastline — Explore the French Riviera's natural beauty — from Nice to Menton — on La Terre.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Capital: Lyon | Population: 8.1 million | Character: Mountains, gastronomy, and outdoor adventure

France's most geographically dramatic region combines the dormant volcanoes of the Auvergne (the Chaîne des Puys is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the towering peaks of the French Alps — including Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest summit at 4,808 metres. Lyon, at its heart, is France's undisputed gastronomic capital.

Don't miss: Mont Blanc and Chamonix, the Vanoise and Écrins national parks, Lyon's Vieux Lyon and , Annecy's lake, the Chaîne des Puys, Grenoble.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Capital: Bordeaux | Population: 6.0 million | Character: Wine, countryside, and Atlantic surf

France's largest region by area stretches from the Dordogne's prehistoric caves and fairy-tale castles through Bordeaux's world-famous vineyards to the surf beaches of Biarritz and the vast pine forests of the Landes. This is France at its most rural and most rewarding — a land of , , and unhurried living.

Don't miss: Bordeaux and the Cité du Vin, Saint-Émilion, the Dordogne Valley (Sarlat, Lascaux, Rocamadour), Biarritz and the Basque Coast, Cognac, La Rochelle, the Dune du Pilat (Europe's tallest sand dune).

Bordeaux Wine — The complete guide to Bordeaux's vineyards, classifications, and tastings — on La Table.

Occitanie

Capital: Toulouse | Population: 5.9 million | Character: Cathar history, Mediterranean warmth, and the Canal du Midi

Stretching from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, Occitanie is a sun-drenched region of Roman ruins, medieval fortresses, and vibrant university cities. Toulouse — — is the home of Airbus and a thriving cultural hub. The UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi, the walled citadel of Carcassonne, and the wild Cévennes mountains are among its highlights.

Don't miss: Carcassonne, the Canal du Midi (by bike or boat), Toulouse, Albi (Toulouse-Lautrec museum), the Pont du Gard, Collioure, the Pic du Midi, Nîmes.

Bretagne (Brittany)

Capital: Rennes | Population: 3.4 million | Character: Celtic identity, wild coastline, and crêpes

Brittany juts into the Atlantic like a granite fist, its coast battered by waves and lined with some of France's most spectacular scenery — the Pink Granite Coast, the cliffs of Finistère, and the emerald islands of Belle-Île and Ouessant. The interior is green, quiet, and steeped in Celtic legend. Breton culture — its language, music, and festivals — is proudly distinct from the rest of France.

Don't miss: Saint-Malo, Dinan, the Pink Granite Coast, Carnac's standing stones, Quimper, Belle-Île-en-Mer, the Pointe du Raz, Rennes' medieval centre.

Normandie (Normandy)

Capital: Rouen | Population: 3.3 million | Character: History, cliffs, cheese, and cider

Normandy's name is recognised worldwide, yet the region continues to surprise. Beyond the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel, this is a land of dramatic chalk cliffs (Étretat), lush dairy country (Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l'Évêque), timbered market towns, and an Impressionist heritage that stretches from Honfleur to Giverny.

Don't miss: Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches and memorials, Étretat, Rouen (Monet's cathedral, Joan of Arc), Honfleur, Bayeux (and its Tapestry), Deauville.

D-Day & World War II — The Normandy landings, the Liberation, and France in the Second World War — on L'Esprit.

Hauts-de-France

Capital: Lille | Population: 6.0 million | Character: Flemish-French crossroads, WWI memory, and warmth

France's northernmost region blends Flemish and French cultures along the Belgian border. Lille, its capital, is one of France's most underrated cities — vibrant, architecturally rich, and home to a world-class art museum (Palais des Beaux-Arts). The Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge draw visitors from around the world. The coastline — the Opal Coast — offers wide sandy beaches and the dramatic cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez.

Don't miss: Lille (Vieux-Lille, the Grand'Place), the Somme and WWI battlefields, Amiens cathedral (France's largest), the Opal Coast, Chantilly, Laon.

Grand Est

Capital: Strasbourg | Population: 5.6 million | Character: Wine, Christmas, and Franco-German heritage

The meeting point of French and Germanic cultures, Grand Est stretches from Champagne country through the forested Vosges mountains to the Rhine border with Germany. Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament, is a city of canals and half-timbered houses. The Alsace Wine Route is one of France's most beautiful drives. And in December, the Christmas markets are legendary.

Don't miss: Strasbourg (Petite France, the cathedral), the Alsace Wine Route (Colmar, Riquewihr, Eguisheim), Reims (Champagne houses, Gothic cathedral), the Vosges Route des Crêtes, Verdun.

Pays de la Loire

Capital: Nantes | Population: 3.8 million | Character: Loire châteaux, Atlantic coast, and creativity

The gateway to the Loire Valley's fairy-tale châteaux, this region also holds one of France's most creative cities in Nantes — home to the extraordinary Machines de l'Île, a giant mechanical elephant, and a thriving arts scene. The Atlantic coast offers family-friendly beaches and the salt marshes of Guérande.

Don't miss: Nantes and Les Machines de l'Île, the Loire châteaux (Chambord, Chenonceau — technically over the regional border but accessed from here), the Guérande salt marshes, Le Mans (24 Hours race), Angers.

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (Burgundy)

Capital: Dijon | Population: 2.8 million | Character: Wine, mustard, and medieval heritage

Burgundy is synonymous with some of the world's finest wines — the of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits are UNESCO-listed. But there's much more: Romanesque abbeys (Cluny, Vézelay), canal boat journeys through rolling countryside, and the Jura mountains on the Swiss border. Dijon's medieval centre is a delight.

Don't miss: Beaune and the Hospices de Beaune, the Burgundy wine route, Dijon, Vézelay, Cluny Abbey, the Canal de Bourgogne, the Jura (Arbois, comté cheese).

Burgundy Wine — Grand Cru vineyards, Pinot Noir, and the climats of the Côte d'Or — on La Table.

Centre-Val de Loire

Capital: Orléans | Population: 2.6 million | Character: Châteaux, gardens, and Joan of Arc

The Loire Valley is France's royal heartland — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape where Renaissance kings built their most extravagant palaces. Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau: the châteaux here read like a Greatest Hits of European architecture. Orléans honours Joan of Arc, and Tours makes an excellent base for exploring the valley.

Don't miss: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, Amboise (Leonardo da Vinci's last home), Villandry's gardens, Tours, Orléans, Bourges cathedral.

Corse (Corsica)

Capital: Ajaccio | Population: 350,000 | Character: Mountains meet Mediterranean

The "Island of Beauty" () is a world apart. Rising dramatically from the Mediterranean, Corsica offers mountains exceeding 2,700 metres, pristine beaches, ancient hill villages, and the legendary GR20 — widely considered Europe's toughest long-distance hiking trail. Napoleon was born in Ajaccio in 1769, and the island retains a fierce cultural identity distinct from mainland France.

Don't miss: The GR20 trail (or sections of it), Bonifacio's clifftop citadel, the Scandola Nature Reserve, the Calanques de Piana, Ajaccio, Corte, Porto-Vecchio beaches.

Corsican Coast — GR20, Scandola, Bonifacio, and Corsica's extraordinary natural landscapes — on La Terre.

Overseas Regions

France extends far beyond Europe. Five overseas regions () are fully integrated parts of France — and of the European Union:

Guadeloupe — Caribbean archipelago, tropical forests, rum
Martinique — Caribbean island, volcanic Mount Pelée, Créole culture
French Guiana — South American territory, Amazonian rainforest, Kourou space centre
Réunion — Indian Ocean island, active volcano (Piton de la Fournaise), UNESCO cirques
Mayotte — Indian Ocean, one of the world's largest enclosed lagoons