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► The first approach divides France into six tourist areas, combining similar neighbouring regions into larger and coherent units
► The
second approach offers a more detailed region by region presentation of
the 22 official administrative "regions" of modern France : including their main sites and tourist attractions.
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Part 1
The six areas of France. |
Select
a tourist area for a general overview:
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FRANCE
is
Europe's
no.1 holiday destination, and tourism is one of France's major
industries....
nationwide, representing about 7% of the national economy. The most
famous areas, such as the Alps, the Riviera,
Brittany
and Provence need little introduction; but they are just four out of
dozens
of regions and areas each of which has plenty to discover, and plenty
to
offer.
◄
Select one of the six areas from the list on the left, for a
general overview of this particular area of France. For more
detailed information within an area, go to part 2 and click on one of
the regional links
below.
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Part 2
The 22 regions of France in greater detail, with their main tourist
attractions and features. |
 For administrative purposes, metropolitan France
is currently divided into 22 Régions.
The historic region of Normandy is currently two modern regions. 21
regions are in continental france; the 22nd is the Mediterranean island
of Corsica.
Click on one of the links on the right for an overview of a region and
its main tourist attractions.
Regional
reform:
However, the regional structure of France is going to change as a
result of an impending major overhaul of local government. The new
structure, which should be in place by 2014, will probably see the
number of regions reduced to 18, with the amalgamation of contiguous
small regions (the two Normandy regions, Franche Comté and
Burgundy, Auvergne and Limousin), and the disappearance of either Pays
de la Loire and/or Picardy as regional entities.
The reform of the regions will not be easy, as strong
local interests will frequently defend the status-quo. Each region has
its regional council, presided over by a regional president, and a full
local administration to go with it. Regions have extensive powers in
the fields of transport and infrastructure, economic development,
tourism and education, and since these powers were devolved to them
from 1981 onwards they have often worked hard over the years to develop
a regional identity.
Click for a larger regional map of France (physical).
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