Bonjour and welcome back to the second of the three part ‘Knowing France’ series. Get to know seven more provinces of France — some well known, and some unheard of. Have fun…
Corsica
Capital: Ajjacio
- An island by itself.
- Excellent coastline and exceptional natural beauty makes for a great tourist destination.
- Fabulous, mild climate.
Franche-Comte
Capital: Besancon
- This region is the capital of France’s watch and clock-making industry and of high precision engineering.
- Montbéliard-Sochaux is home to the Peugeot car firm.
- Several traditional activities like cheese-making, woodwork, etc., make this region very popular.
Ile-de-France
Capital: Paris
- Includes about 18 per cent of France’s population.
- Highest concentration of economic activities, including industry and services. Also, all government departments, national headquarters of public authorities and the head offices of the main companies are located there.
- Paris houses a number of international organizations including UNESCO and the OECD.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Capital: Montpellier
- Important University centre.
- Currently in a revival mode thanks to the diversification of its agriculture, the expansion of tourism, the establishment of advanced technology industries and research.
Limousin
Capital: Limoges
- Main activities are the agri-foodstuffs industry and the production of leather.
- Famous for the ‘Porcelaine de Limoges’ which produces luxury wares of world-wide renown.
- A special effort is being made to open up the region.
Lorraine
Capital: Metz
- This region was once known for the iron and Steel industry as well as the coal mines, on which its wealth was built.
- With the dwindling status of the industry, the region has faces a great amount of economic problems, but is now undergoing some far-reaching programs of industrial reconversion and diversification of activities.
- Nancy, in this region is a university centre.
Midi-Pyrenees
Capital: Toulouse
- Largest of metropolitan France’s 22 regions.
- Toulouse is the main centre of France’s aerospace industry (the Airbus is assembled there).
- It is the second in importance for advanced technological activities in France (research, data-processing, computers, robotics).
Look out for the last part. Watch this space again.
