NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Tours

Tours is a city in France, the préfecture (capital city) of the Indre-et-Loire département, on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the perfection of its local spoken French, and for the famous Battle of Tours in 732. It is also the site of the cycling race Paris-Tours. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 606 KB) Ayuntamiento de Tours (Francia) Town hall of Tours (France) File links The following pages link to this file: Tours Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize... Victor Laloux (1850 - 1937), French Beaux-Arts architect best remembered for the 1900 stone facade of the Paris Gare dOrsay, now the Musée dOrsay. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1804x1689, 163 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This is an alphabetical list of countries of the world, including independent states (both those that are internationally recognised and generally unrecognised), inhabited dependent territories and areas of special sovereignty. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... (Region flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital OrlÃ©ans Regional President Michel Sapin (PS) (1998 to 2000, and since 2004) Departments Cher Eure-et-Loir Indre Indre-et-Loire Loir-et-Cher Loiret Arrondissements 20 Cantons 198 Communes 1,842 Statistics Land area1 39,151 kmÂ² Population (Ranked 9th) - January... Departments (French: dÃ©partements) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... Indre-et-Loire is a dÃ©partement in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ... In France, a prÃ©fecture is the capital city of a dÃ©partement. ... The 100 French dÃ©partements are divided into 342 arrondissements. ... The arrondissement of Tours is an arrondissement of France, located in the Indre-et-Loire dÃ©partement, of the Centre rÃ©gion. ... The cantons of France are administrative divisions subdividing arrondissements and dÃ©partements. ... The commune is an administrative division of France. ... A mayor (from the Latin mÄior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... INSEE is the French abbreviation for the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (French: Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques). ... Postal codes were introduced in France in 1972, when La Poste introduced automated sorting. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits. ... This page lists English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations, such as and . ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... In France, a prÃ©fecture is the capital city of a dÃ©partement. ... Indre-et-Loire is a dÃ©partement in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ... The dÃ©partements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... The Loire River, the longest river in France with a length of just over 1000 km, drains an area of 117,000 km², more than a fifth of France. ... OrlÃ©ans Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Cross, built from 1278 to 1329; after being pillaged by Huguenots in the 1560s, the Bourbon kings restored it in the 17th century. ... â€œAtlanticâ€ redirects here. ... The Touraine is a former province of France. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ... Combatants Carolingian Franks Umayyad Caliphate Commanders Charles Martel â€˜Abd-al-Raá¸¥mÄn al-GhÄfiqÄ«â€ Strength Unknown, possibly 20,000 to 30,000 [1] Unknown, but the earliest Muslim sources, still after the era of the battle[2] mention a figure of 80,000. ... Events October 10 - Battle of Tours: Near Poitiers, France, leader of the Franks Charles Martel and his men, defeat a large army of Moors, stopping the Muslims from spreading into Western Europe. ... Police officer on a bicycle Cycling is a recreation, a sport and a means of transport across land. ... Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... Paris-Tours is a French single day classic cycling race which takes place in October towards the end of the European season. ...

Tours Cathedral, July 1922 National Geographic, larger image This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Tours Cathedral, July 1922 National Geographic, larger image This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ...

History

The name of the city comes from the ancient Gallic tribe called the Turones. In Roman times it was known as Turonensis or Caesarodunum. The modern name, Tours, coincidentally corresponds to the French word tours, "towers". In the mid-3rd century Gatianus (Saint Gatien) was sent from Rome to reorganize a small Christian community. Saint Martin of Tours was bishop of Tours at the end of the 4th century, and his tomb became a major pilgrimage site; the church of Saint-Martin was one of the great Romanesque pilgrimage churches, like Saint-Sernin in Toulouse and Santiago de Compostela, and the powerful bishops of Tours, such as Gregory of Tours, were personages to be reckoned with for the Merovingian kings. A map of Gaul showing the relative position of the tribes. ... The Turones were a Celtic tribe of pre-Roman Gaul. ... History - Ancient history - Ancient Rome This is a List of Ancient Rome-related topics, that aims to include aspects of both the Ancient Roman Republic and Roman Empire. ... Gatianus or Saint Gatien (3rd century AD) was the founding bishop of the see of Tours. ... Saint Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus), (316/317 â€“ November 11, 397 in Candes) was a bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. ... This is a list of the bishops and archbishops of Tours: 1 Gatianus ca 249-301 vacant 301-338 2 Lidorius 338-370 3 St. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... For other uses, see Pilgrimage (disambiguation). ... Saint Saturnin (in Latin Saturninus, now Sernin in France and in Navarra Cernin), with a feast day entered for November 29, was one of the apostles to the Gauls sent out (probably under the direction of Pope Fabian, 236 - 250) during the consulate of Decius and Gratus (250-251 AD... New city flag (Occitan cross) Traditional coat of arms Motto: (Occitan: For Toulouse, always more) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Midi-PyrÃ©nÃ©es Department Haute-Garonne (31) Intercommunality Community of Agglomeration of Greater Toulouse Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc (UMP) (since 2004) City Statistics... Location map of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia Santiago de Compostela (also Saint James of Compostela) is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. ... This is a list of the bishops and archbishops of Tours: 1 Gatianus ca 249-301 vacant 301-338 2 Lidorius 338-370 3 St. ... Saint Gregory of Tours (c. ...

The Battle of Tours was fought on October 10, 732 between forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel and an Islamic force led by Abd-al-Raḥmân . Martel was able to defeat the Islamic army decisively and the battle has been remembered as the point in which Western Christians were able to turn the tide against the Muslim conquests in Europe. The Touraine was a county at the time of the Carolingian rulers (AD 751 to 987). The Vikings pillaged the town in 853 and 903. By 1044 it was held by the counts of Anjou. During the reign of Philip II, the Livre Tournois (Tours Pound) was adopted as the international currency of France. Combatants Carolingian Franks Umayyad Caliphate Commanders Charles Martel â€˜Abd-al-Raá¸¥mÄn al-GhÄfiqÄ«â€ Strength Unknown, possibly 20,000 to 30,000 [1] Unknown, but the earliest Muslim sources, still after the era of the battle[2] mention a figure of 80,000. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... Events October 10 - Battle of Tours: Near Poitiers, France, leader of the Franks Charles Martel and his men, defeat a large army of Moors, stopping the Muslims from spreading into Western Europe. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... For the 13th century titular King of Hungary, see Charles Martel dAnjou. ... Islam (Arabic: ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... The Carolingians were a dynasty of rulers that eventually controlled the Frankish realm and its successors from the 8th to the 10th century, officially taking over the kingdom from the Merovingian dynasty in 751. ... Events Pippin the Short is elected as king of the Franks by the Frankish nobility, marking the end of the Merovingian and beginning of the Carolingian dynasty. ... Events Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, crowned King of France Kukulcan conquers Chichen Itza Births Deaths May 21 King Louis V of France Categories: 987 ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Events A Byzantine fleet destroys Damiette (in Egypt) Births Deaths Categories: 853 ... Events Vikings invade England. ... Events King Anawrahta seizes the throne of Pagan, Myanmar Births Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as The Cid (d. ... Counts of Anjou, c. ... Philip II Augustus (French: Philippe II Auguste) (August 21, 1165 â€“ July 14, 1223), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. ... The livre tournois (or Tournoise pound) was a currency used in France, named after the town of Tours, in which it was minted. ...

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Tours had a significant Huguenot population, many of which had been responsible for the building of a huge silk industry. With the Edict of Nantes rescinded in 1685 and the resulting slaughter of thousands of Protestants, the Huguenots fled the country and the once flourishing silk industry of Tours, vanished forever. Some of the Huguenots settled in Ireland where their weaving skills saw them establish some of the great Irish linen factories. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Huguenot was applied to a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, historically known as the French Calvinists. ... Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... The Edict of Nantes was issued on April 13, 1598 by Henry IV of France to grant French Calvinists (also known as Huguenots) substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax plant. ...

From October 7, 1870 to February 6, 1871, Tours served as the provincial capital of the Government of National Defense, conducting French affairs during the Franco-Prussian War. Léon Gambetta chose Tours to act as a secondary capital, as Paris at the time was under siege by the Prussian Army. October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... La Gouvernement de la DÃ©fense Nationale, or The Government of National Defence, was the official Government of the Third Republic of France from September 4th 1870 to February 13th 1871. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III # Otto Von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at the beginning of the war 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian... Painting of LÃ©on Gambetta by LÃ©on Bonnat LÃ©on Gambetta (April 2, 1838 - December 31, 1882), French statesman, was born at Cahors. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du TrocadÃ©ro. ... Flag of Prussia (1894 - 1918) The Kingdom of Prussia existed from 1701 until 1918, and from 1871 was the leading kingdom of the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the area of the Empire. ...

Main sights

Cathedral of Tours

Main article: Cathedral of Tours Tours Cathedral: 15th century Flamboyante Gothic west front with Renaissance pinnacles, 1547 The cathedral of Tours, dedicated to Saint Gatien, its canonized first bishop, was begun about 1170 to replace the just-started cathedral that was burnt out in 1166, during the quarrel between Louis VII of France and Henry...

The cathedral of Tours, dedicated to Saint Gatien, its canonized first bishop, was begun about 1170 to replace the just-started cathedral that was burnt out in 1166, during the quarrel between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. The lowermost stages of the west towers (illustration, right) belong to the 12th century, but the rest of the west end is in the profusely detailed Flamboyant Gothic of the 15th century, completed just as the Renaissance was affecting less traditional patrons than bishops, in the pleasure châteaux of Touraine. These towers were being constructed at the same time as, for example, Château de Chenonceau. A cathedral is a religious building for worship, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches, which serves as a bishops seat, and thus as the central church of a diocese. ... Gatianus or Saint Gatien (3rd century AD) was the founding bishop of the see of Tours. ... This article discusses the process of declaring saints. ... This is a list of the bishops and archbishops of Tours: 1 Gatianus ca 249-301 vacant 301-338 2 Lidorius 338-370 3 St. ... Events December 29: Assassination of Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury cathedral City of Dublin captured by the Normans According to folklore, the Welsh prince Madoc sailed to North America and founded a colony. ... // Events Marko III succeeds Yoannis V as patriarch of Alexandria. ... Louis VII the Younger (French: Louis VII le Jeune) (1120 â€“ September 18, 1180) was King of France from 1137 to 1180. ... Henry II of England (5 March 1133-6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154â€“1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland[], eastern Ireland, and western France. ... Gothic architecture characterizes any of the styles of European architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, in use throughout Europe during the high and late medieval period, from the 12th century onwards. ... Raphael was famous for depicting illustrious figures of the Classical past with the features of his Renaissance contemporaries. ... A chÃ¢teau (French for castle; plural chÃ¢teaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of gentry, usually French, with or without fortifications. ... ChÃ¢teau de Chenonceau as seen from Diane de Poitiers gardens The ChÃ¢teau de Chenonceau, near the small village of Chenonceaux, in the Indre-et-Loire dÃ©partement of the Loire Valley in France, was built on the site of an old mill on the River Cher, sometime before...

When the 15th century illuminator Jean Fouquet was set the task of illumninating Josephus's Jewish Antiquities, his depiction of Solomon's Temple was modeled after the nearly-complete Cathedral of Tours. The atmosphere of the Gothic cathedral close permeates Honoré de Balzac's dark short novel of jealousy and provincial intrigues, Le Curé de Tours (The Curate of Tours) and his medieval story Maitre Cornelius opens within the cathedral itself. Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels (c. ... A fanciful representation of Flavius Josephus, in an engraving in William Whistons translation of his works Josephus (years 37 â€“ shortly after 100 AD)[1], who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Flavius Josephus[2], was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and... Solomons Temple (Hebrew: ×‘×™×ª ×”×ž×§×“×©, transliterated Beit HaMikdash), also known as the First Temple, was, according to the Bible, the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. ... Balzac redirects here. ...

Language

The inhabitants of Tours (Tourangeaux) are renowned for speaking the "purest" form of French in the entire country. The pronunciation of Touraine is widely regarded as the most standard pronunciation of the French language, devoid of any perceived accent (unlike that of most other regions of France, including Paris). Gregory of Tours wrote in the 6th century that some people in his area could still speak Gaulish. French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Dialects of the French language are dialects of the French language, which is one of the Oïl languages. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du TrocadÃ©ro. ... Saint Gregory of Tours (c. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Gaulish is the name given to the Celtic language that was spoken in Gaul before the Vulgar Latin of the late Roman Empire became dominant in Roman Gaul. ...

City

The center of Tours has a population of 137,000. Tours is called "Le Jardin de la France" ("The Garden of France"). There are several parks located within the city. Tours is located between two rivers, the Loire on the north and the Cher on the south. The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate (called Ardoise) roofs; this style is common in the north of France (in the south of France, most buildings have terra cotta roofs). Slate Thick slate fragment Slate roof Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low grade regional metamorphism. ... Terra cotta is a hard semifired waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and building construction. ...

Tours is famous for the old part of the city, called Le Vieux Tours, with medieval half-timbered houses, and Place Plumereau, a square with busy pubs and restaurants, whose open-air tables fill the center of the square. Boulevard Beranger crosses Rue Nationale at Place Jean-Jaures, and is the location of weekly markets and fairs. Timber framing is the modern term for the traditional half-timbered construction in which timber provides a visible skeletal frame that supports the whole building. ...

Near the cathedral, in the garden of the ancient Palais des Archevêques (now Musée des Beaux-Arts), is a huge cedar tree, planted by Napoleon. Species Cedrus deodara Cedrus libani var. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ...

Transportation

Today, with its extensive rail (including TGV) and autoroute links to the rest of the country, Tours is a jumping off point for tourist visits to the Loire Valley and the chateaux of the kings. For the group of heart conditions referred to as TGV, see transposition of the great vessels. ... An autoroute. ... Loire Valley (French: VallÃ©e de la Loire) is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. ... A château ( French for castle; plural châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of gentry, usually French, with or without fortifications. ...

Tours is on one of the main lines of the TGV. You can travel down the Western coast to Bordeaux in two hours and a half, or to the Mediterranean coast via Avignon and from there to Spain and Barcelona. It takes one hour by train from Tours to Paris by TGV. Tours has two main stations, a central station and St Pierre Des Corps, which is just outside the center, and is the station which trains that don't terminate in Tours go through. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... City flag City coat of arms Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France RÃ©gion Provence-Alpes-CÃ´te dAzur DÃ©partement Vaucluse (prÃ©fecture) Arrondissement Avignon Canton Chief town of 4 cantons Intercommunality CommunautÃ© dagglomÃ©ration du Grand Avignon Mayor Marie-JosÃ©e Roig... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (Catalan) Ciudad Condal (Spanish) Postal code 08001â€“08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ...

Tours Loire Valley Airport connects the Loire Valley to London Stansted Airport. This link is provided by the Irish airline Ryanair. National connection to Figari on Corsica is available during the summer, too. Tours Loire Valley Airport (IATA: TUF, ICAO: LFOT) is an airport near Tours, France. ... Stansted Airport (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) is a large passenger airport with a single runway and hub for a number of major European low-cost airlines. ... Ryanair (ISEQ: RYA, LSE: RYA, NASDAQ: RYAAY) is an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin. ... (Territorial collectivity flag) (Territorial collectivity logo) Location Administration Capital Ajaccio President of the Executive Council Ange Santini (UMP) (since 2004) Departments Corse-du-Sud Haute-Corse Arrondissements 5 Cantons 52 Communes 360 Statistics Land area1 8,680 kmÂ² Population (Ranked 25th) - January 1, 2006 est. ...

Tours doesn't have a metro rail system, instead there is a very efficient bus service, the main central stop being Jean Jaures, which is next to the Hôtel de Ville, and rue Nationale, the high street of Tours. A tram is planned to be built in the next few years. A rapid transit, underground, subway, tube, elevated, or metro(politan) system is a railway â€” usually in an urban area â€” with a high capacity and frequency of service, and grade separation from other traffic. ... In French, a hÃ´tel de ville or mairie is a town hall (and not a hotel). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Main Street. ...

Miscellaneous

Births

See also

This is a list of the bishops and archbishops of Tours: 1 Gatianus ca 249-301 vacant 301-338 2 Lidorius 338-370 3 St. ... Tours FC is a French football club based in Tours. ...

External links

Préfectures of Départements of France

Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain) • Laon (Aisne) • Moulins (Allier) • Digne-les-Bains (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) • Gap (Hautes-Alpes) • Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) • Privas (Ardeche) • Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes) • Foix (Ariège) • Troyes (Aube) • Carcassonne (Aude) • Rodez (Aveyron) • Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) • Caen (Calvados) • Aurillac (Cantal) • Angoulême (Charente) • La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime) • Bourges (Cher) • Tulle (Corrèze) • Ajaccio (corse-du-Sud) • Bastia (Haute-Corse) • Dijon (Côte-d'Or) • Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d'Armor) • Guéret (Creuse) • Périgueux (Dordogne) • Besançon (Doubs) • Valence (Drôme) • Évreux (Eure) • Chartres (Eure-et-Loir) • Quimper (Finistère) • Nîmes (Gard) • Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) • Auch (Gers) • Bordeaux (Gironde) • Montpellier (Hérault) • Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) • Châteauroux (Indre) • Tours (Indre-et-Loire) • Grenoble (Isère) • Lons-le-Saunier (Jura) • Mont-de-Marsan (Landes) • Blois (Loir-et-Cher) • Saint-Étienne (Loire) • Le Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire) • Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) - Orléans (Loiret) • Cahors (Lot) • Agen (Lot-et-Garonne) • Mende (Lozère) • Angers (Maine-et-Loire) • Saint-Lô (Manche) • Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne) • Chaumont (Haute-Marne) - Laval (Mayenne) • Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle) • Bar-le-Duc (Meuse) • Vannes (Morbihan) • Metz (Moselle) • Nevers (Nièvre) • Lille (Nord) • Beauvais (Oise) • Alençon (Orne) • Calais (Pas-de-Calais) • Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme) • Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) • Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées) • Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales) • Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) • Colmar (Haut-Rhin) • Lyon (Rhône) • Vesoul (Haute-Saône) • Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire) • Le Mans (Sarthe) • Chambéry (Savoie) • Annecy (Haute-Savoie) • Paris (Paris) • Rouen (Seine-Maritime) • Melun (Seine-et-Marne) • Versailles (Yvelines) • Niort (Deux-Sèvres) • Amiens (Somme) • Albi (Tarn) • Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne) • Toulon (Var) • Avignon (Vaucluse) • La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée) • Poitiers (Vienne) • Limoges (Haute-Vienne) • Épinal (Vosges) • Auxerre (Yonne) • Belfort (Territoire de Belfort) - Évry (Essonne) - Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine) • Bobigny (Seine-Saint-Denis) • Créteil (Val-de-Marne) • Cergy (Val-d'Oise)

Overseas departments
Cayenne (French Guiana) • Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) • Fort-de-France (Martinique) • Saint-Denis (Réunion) Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... In France, a prÃ©fecture is the administrative town of a dÃ©partement. ... The dÃ©partements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas rÃ©gions. ... Bourg-en-Bresse is a city in eastern France, préfecture (capital) of the Ain département, and was capital of the former province of Bresse. ... PrÃ©fecture building of the Ain dÃ©partement, in Bourg-en-Bresse Ain is a dÃ©partement named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France bordering Switzerland. ... Laon is a city and commune of France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Aisne dÃ©partement. ... Aisne is a dÃ©partement in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River. ... Moulins is a city and commune in central France, préfecture (capital) of the Allier département. ... Allier is a dÃ©partement in south-central France named after the Allier River. ... Digne-les-Bains or simply Digne is a commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département. ... Alpes_de_Haute_Provence is a French département in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence. ... View overlooking the town of Gap. ... Hautes-Alpes is a dÃ©partement in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range. ... For the Unix program, see nice_(Unix) This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Alpes_Maritimes is a département in the extreme southeast corner of France. ... Privas is a commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Ardèche département. ... Ard che is a d partement in south-central France named after the Ard che River. ... Location within France Charleville-MÃ©ziÃ¨res is a town and commune in northeastern France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Ardennes dÃ©partement which is itself part of the Champagne-Ardenne rÃ©gion. ... The Ardennes (pronounced ar-DEN) (Dutch: Ardennen) is a region of extensive forests and rolling hill country, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes dÃ©partement and the Champagne-Ardenne rÃ©gion). ... ChÃ¢teau des Comtes de Foix Foix river Foix is a small town and commune, the prÃ©fecture (capital) of the AriÃ¨ge dÃ©partement in France. ... AriÃ¨ge is a dÃ©partement in southwestern France named after the AriÃ¨ge River. ... Troyes is a town in northeastern France. ... Aube is a dÃ©partement in the northeastern part of France named after the Aube River. ... Carcassonne (Carcassona in Occitan) is a fortified French town, in the Aude dÃ©partement of which it is the prÃ©fecture, in the former province of Languedoc. ... Aude is a dÃ©partement in south-central France named after the Aude River. ... Rodez is a city in southern France in département of Aveyron. ... Aveyron (Occitan: Avairon) is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River. ... City flag Coat of arms Motto: By her great deeds, the city of Massilia shines Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-CÃ´te dAzur Department Bouches-du-RhÃ´ne (13) Subdivisions 16 arrondissements (in 8 secteurs) Intercommunality Urban Community of Marseille Provence... Bouches-du-RhÃ´ne is a dÃ©partement in the south of France named after the mouth of the RhÃ´ne River. ... Caen (pronounced /kÉ‘Ìƒ/) is a commune of northwestern France. ... For the apple brandy produced in the region, see Calvados (spirit). ... Aurillac is a town and commune in the Auvergne région of France, préfecture (capital) of the Cantal département, at 44° 55′ 44″ N 2° 26′ 38″ E. Population (1999) 30,551. ... For the cheese, see Cantal. ... AngoulÃªme is a town and commune in southwestern France, prÃ©fecture (capital city) of the Charente dÃ©partement. ... Charente is a dÃ©partement in central France named after the Charente River. ... La Rochelle is a city and commune of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean (population 76,584 in 1999). ... Charente-Maritime is a dÃ©partement on the west coast of France named after the Charente River. ... Bourges is a town and commune in central France. ... Cher is a dÃ©partement in the center of France. ... Tulle is a netting, which is often starched, made of various fibers, including silk, nylon, and rayon, that is often used for veils or gowns. ... CorrÃ¨ze is a dÃ©partement in the center of France, named after the CorrÃ¨ze River. ... Location within France Ajaccio (French: Ajaccio; Corsican: Aiacciu) is a city (commune) of France. ... Corse-du-Sud is a French dÃ©partement. ... Location within France Bastia (French & Corsican: Bastia), is a town and commune of northern Corsica, in France. ... Haute-Corse is a French dÃ©partement. ... Street in the center of Dijon Arc de triomphe known as the Porte Guillaume, on Place Darcy in the center of Dijon Dijon and suburbs CathÃ©drale St BÃ©nigne - Dijon Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dijon Dijon ( ) is a city in eastern France, the prÃ©fecture (administrative capital... For other uses, see CÃ´te dOr (disambiguation). ... Saint-Brieuc (Breton: Sant-Brieg) is a commune France, situated in CÃ´tes-dArmor and in the Brittany rÃ©gion. ... CÃ´tes-dArmor (French) / AodoÃ¹-an-Arvor (Breton) is a dÃ©partement in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France. ... GuÃ©ret is a commune of France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Creuse dÃ©partement. ... Creuse is a dÃ©partement in central France named after the Creuse River. ... PÃ©rigueux ( (helpÂ· info)) is a commune of France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Dordogne dÃ©partement and capital of the PÃ©rigord area. ... Dordogne (Occitan: Dordonha) is a department in central France named after the Dordogne River. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Utinam (Latin: If God wills) Citadel Vauban of BesanÃ§on Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Franche-ComtÃ© Department Doubs (25) Intercommunality Grand BesanÃ§on Mayor Jean-Louis Fousseret (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land areaÂ¹ 65. ... Doubs is a dÃ©partement in eastern France named after the Doubs River. ... Location within France Champs de Mars and Kiosque Peynet in Valence A World War I memorial in Valence ville Valence is a commune in south-eastern France, the capital of the dÃ©partement of DrÃ´me, situated on the left bank of the RhÃ´ne, 65 miles south of Lyon... DrÃ´me is a dÃ©partement in southeastern France named after the DrÃ´me River. ... Ã‰vreux is a commune of Normandy, France, in the Eure dÃ©partement, of which it is the prÃ©fecture (capital). ... Eure is a dÃ©partement in the north of France named after the Eure River. ... Chartres is a town and commune of France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Eure-et-Loir dÃ©partement. ... Eure-et-Loir is a French département, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. ... Quimper (Kemper in Breton, Corspotium in Latin) is a commune of Brittany in northwestern France. ... Flinstones (Penn-ar-Bed in Breton) is a dÃ©partement of France, located in Brittany (Bretagne in French). ... NÃ®mes (ProvenÃ§al Occitan: Nimes in both classical and Mistralian norms) is a city and commune of southern France. ... Gard is a dÃ©partement located in le midi, the south of France, named after the river Gardon (or Gard). ... New city flag (Occitan cross) Traditional coat of arms Motto: (Occitan: For Toulouse, always more) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Midi-PyrÃ©nÃ©es Department Haute-Garonne (31) Intercommunality Community of Agglomeration of Greater Toulouse Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc (UMP) (since 2004) City Statistics... Haute-Garonne is a département in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. ... Auch is a town and commune in southwestern France. ... Gers is a dÃ©partement in the southwest of France named after the Gers River. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Gironde is a dÃ©partement in the southwest of France named after the Gironde Estuary. ... Montpellier (Occitan MontpelhiÃ¨r) is a city in the south of France. ... HÃ©rault is a dÃ©partement in the southwest of France named after the HÃ©rault River. ... Some medieval houses, such as these at Champ-Jacquet, can still be found in the center of Rennes. ... Ille-et-Vilaine is a dÃ©partement of France, located in Brittany (Bretagne in French) in the northwest corner of France. ... ChÃ¢teauroux is a commune of central France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Indre dÃ©partement. ... Indre is a dÃ©partement in the center of France named after the Indre River. ... Indre-et-Loire is a dÃ©partement in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ... Grenoble (Arpitan: GrasanÃ²bol) is a city and commune in south-east France, situated at the foot of the Alps, at the confluence of the Drac into the IsÃ¨re River. ... IsÃ¨re is a dÃ©partement in the east of France named after the IsÃ¨re River. ... Lons-le-Saunier is a commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Jura département. ... Jura is a department in the east of France named after the Jura mountains (not be confused with the Swiss canton of Jura). ... Mont-de-Marsan is a commune of France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Landes dÃ©partement. ... Landes is a dÃ©partement in southern France. ... Blois is a city in France, the prÃ©fecture (capital) city of the Loir-et-Cher dÃ©partement, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between OrlÃ©ans and Tours. ... Loir-et-Cher is a dÃ©partement in north-central France named after its two principal rivers. ... This article is about the French commune. ... Loire is a dÃ©partement in the east-central part of France occupying the Loire Rivers upper reaches. ... Saint Michel dAiguilhe Chapel Le Puy-en-Velay (Lo PuÃ¨i de Velai in the Auvergnat dialect of the Occitan language, pronounced [lu/lÉ™ ËˆpÅ“j dÉ™ ËˆvÉ™laj]) is a commune of south-central France, prÃ©fecture (capital) of the Haute-Loire dÃ©partement. ... Haute-Loire is a département in south-central France named after the Loire River. ... Traditional ci

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