Alsace
Renowned for picturesque villages, churches and castles, the forests and lakes of the Vosges mountains and the towns of Strasbourg, Colmar and Selestat.
Aquitaine
Stretches down the south-west side of France to the Spanish border and includes the vineyards of Bordeaux and the dramatic scenery of the Dordogne.
Auvergne
Mountainous central region, featuring the volcanic landscape of the puys, many forests and gentler farmland.
Burgundy
Central region containing some of France's most famous wine-producing areas and historic towns such as Macon, Beaune and Dijon.
Brittany
Region of rugged coastlines and mystical interior which has retained its proud Celtic identity.
Centre
Region based upon the rich, fertile valleys of the Loire River and its tributaries, the Cher, Indre and Loiret. Centre contains many famous châteaux.
Champagne-Ardenne
A region renowned for its wine but also featuring magnificent forests and lakes, making it ideal for hiking and water sports.
Franche-Comte
Region bordering Switzerland and featuring rolling farmland, dense pine forest and the mountains and picturesque villages of the Jura.
Ile-de-France
Metropolitan region mostly taken up by Paris.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Region dominated by its vineyards but also featuring rugged mountainous areas in the north and the beaches of the Mediterranean in the south.
Limousin
Central uplands region famous for its agriculture, including the renowned Limousin cattle, and its oak orchards, producing wood for wine and brandy barrels.
Lorraine
Once the industrial heartland of France, Lorraine is a land of forests and rolling countryside.
Lower Normandy
Agricultural region famous for its apples, calvados, butter, cream and cheese.
Midi-Pyrenees
Stretching from the Pyrenees to the western edge of the Massif Central, its towns include Lourdes, Toulouse, Cahors and Rodez.
Nord-Pas de Calais
Most northerly of the regions, once an industrial powerhouse but now revived by the Channel Tunnel and featuring charming country and coastal towns.
Pays de la Loire
Region bordering Brittany and featuring both the Atlantic coastline and the charms of the Loire Valley.
Picardy
South of the region is a scenic, hilly and forested area, while the north is a flat and largely agricultural plain. Location of many First World War battlefields.
Poitou-Charentes
The central part of France's Atlantic coastal plain, together with the gently undulating first foothills of the Massif Central. Famous for the production of Cognac.
Provence-Alpes-Cotes d'Azur
Region containing some of France's best-known towns and scenery ranging from the Mediterranean coast to the lavender-scented countryside of Provence and the Alps.
Rhone-Alpes
Region boasting eight natural parks and wonderful and varied landscapes. Famous for its Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône wines.
Upper Normandy
Based around the historic town of Rouen and including a fine coastline and the ports of Le Havre, Dieppe and Fecamp.
