Map of France With Cities and Regions

Think of France as a hexagon, almost like a squished stop sign. It’s in Western Europe, and it’s got a bit of everything: mountains, plains, rivers, and coastlines.

Physical map of France

Key geography facts

1. The North European Plain in western and northern France is a highly fertile agricultural region, with the Seine River playing a crucial role in transportation and drainage.

2. The French Alps in southeast France are part of the larger Alpine mountain range in Europe, which extends across eight countries. Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Western Europe, lies at the French-Italian border.

3. The Pyrenees serve as a natural border between France and Spain, with the range divided into three sections: the Atlantic (or Western), the Central, and the Eastern Pyrenees.

4. The Massif Central is a highland region in south-central France, known for its volcanic mountains, forests, and rugged terrain and as the source of major rivers like the Loire and Dordogne.

5. The Loire Valley in central France features fertile plains ideal for agriculture, particularly viticulture— the cultivation of grapevines. It is shaped by sediment deposition from the Loire River over time.

Recommended reading: Interesting Facts About France

France regions

France is divided into regions, departments, and municipalities. The country has 13 metropolitan and five overseas regions. There are 18 administrative divisions in total:

1. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Auvergne-Rhône-Alps)
2. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (Burgundy-Free-County)
3. Bretagne (Brittany)
4. Centre-Val de Loire (Loire Valley)
5. Corsica (Corse)
6. French Guiana (Guyane)
7. Grand Est (Greater East)
8. Guadeloupe
9. Hauts-de-France (Heights-of-France)
10. Île-de-France (Isle-of-France)
11. La Réunion (Réunion)
12. Martinique
13. Mayotte
14. Normandie (Normandy)
15. Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine)
16. Occitanie (Occitania)
17. Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire)
18. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Provence-Alps-Azure Coast)

Overseas regions

An overseas region of France is a part of the country that is located outside of mainland Europe but is still fully integrated into the French Republic.

These regions have the same political powers as the regions in mainland France, meaning they have their own local government and are represented in France’s national government. They use the euro as their currency and elect representatives to the French National Assembly, Senate, and the European Parliament.

The following five administrations are overseas:

1. French Guiana (Guyane)
2. Guadeloupe
3. La Réunion (Réunion)
4. Martinique
5. Mayotte

Map of France in Europe

France is bordered by Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. 

France major cities

Paris – The capital and largest city of France.

Marseille – A major port city on the Mediterranean coast.

Lyon – Known for its historical and architectural landmarks.

Toulouse – A key city in the aerospace industry.

Nice – Located on the French Riviera, known for its beautiful beaches.

Nantes – A major city in western France, near the Loire River.

Strasbourg – Known for its medieval architecture and the European Parliament.

Montpellier – A city near the Mediterranean coast with a large student population.

Bordeaux – Famous for its wine production and historic city center.

Lille – Located near the border with Belgium, known for its cultural scene.

Cannes – Renowned for its annual film festival and luxury lifestyle.

Rennes – The capital of Brittany, known for its historic architecture and vibrant cultural life.

Other major French cities: Aix-en-Provence, Amiens, Angers, Annecy, Avignon, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Metz, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nîmes, Orleans, Poitiers, Reims, Saint-Etienne, Tours, Versailles.