French Departments

Allier (department in central France) Allier Allier is a department in central France, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, named for the Allier river. Its prefecture is Moulins. The area combines Bourbonnais heritage, oak forests, spa t…

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: geography, history and cultural highlights Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is a sparsely populated department in southeastern France known for alpine foothills, river gorges, Provençal culture, lavender landscapes and the prefectur…

Alpes-Maritimes: department in southeastern France Alpes-Maritimes Alpes-Maritimes is a coastal and mountainous French department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, known for Nice, the French Riviera, alpine parks, and a history stretching back to Rom…

Arrondissements of the Allier department Overview of the three arrondissements in Allier, their role in French administration, current divisions, history and functions, and how they relate to communes and prefectures.

Arrondissements of the Aude department Overview of the three arrondissements of the Aude department: their role, capitals, history, administrative functions and distinctions within France’s territorial organisation.

Arrondissements of Eure-et-Loir Arrondissements of the Eure-et-Loir department Overview of the four arrondissements in the Eure-et-Loir department of France, their roles, capitals, and administrative organisation.

Arrondissements of the Gard department Overview of the three arrondissements in France’s Gard department: their role, capitals, history, administrative function, and how they relate to departments, cantons and communes.

Arrondissements of the Gers department Overview of the three arrondissements in Gers, southwestern France: their seats, functions, historical background, administrative role, and relationship with cantons and communes.

Arrondissements of the Gironde department Administrative subdivisions of Gironde (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France): role, structure, history and the six arrondissements with brief notes on location and function.

Arrondissements of the Hérault department Overview of the three arrondissements in France's Hérault department: their roles, capitals, historical context, relationship to communes and cantons, and notable administrative fa…

Arrondissements of the Indre‑et‑Loire department Arrondissements of the Indre-et-Loire department Overview of the three arrondissements in Indre‑et‑Loire (Centre‑Val de Loire), their role, capitals (subprefectures), history, and how they relate to communes and other administrat…

Arrondissements of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department Administrative subdivisions of Meurthe-et-Moselle, France: their role, history, and the four arrondissements that organise local state services and group communes.

Arrondissements of the Var department Overview of the three arrondissements of Var (Provence‑Alpes‑Côte d'Azur, France): their organization, capitals, history, and role within French local administration.

Arrondissements of the Yonne department Overview of the three arrondissements in the Yonne department (Bourgogne‑Franche‑Comté, France): roles, structure, current seats, relation to communes and cantons, and historical d…

Aveyron — department in Occitanie, southern France Aveyron Aveyron is a rural department in Occitanie, southern France, named for the Aveyron river. It is known for plateaus, deep gorges, medieval villages, Roquefort cheese and the town of…

Communes of the Ariège department, France Communes of the Ariège department Overview of the communes in the Ariège department: administrative role, geography, history, notable towns and uses, with pointers to alphabetical and administrative listings.

Communes of the Aude department Overview of the 438 communes in France's Aude department: administrative role, geography, history, notable towns and intercommunal organization.

Departments of France: structure, history, and role in local administration Departments of France An overview of France's départements: their origin, structure, functions, relationship to regions, and notable features including prefectures and overseas departments.