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What is the chef-lieu (the préfecture, main administrative town) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Lyon. The chef-lieu of the region is Lyon. The sheet gives Lyon as the préfecture. Grenoble, Saint-Étienne and Clermont-Ferrand are other big cities. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes” (in French). The other three choices are explained below.
Sources: Sheet “Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ GrenobleGrenobleIt is a big city in the region, but not the préfecture.
- ✗ Clermont-FerrandClermont-FerrandIt is a big city in the region, but not the préfecture.
- ✗ Saint-ÉtienneSaint-ÉtienneIt is a big city in the region, but not the préfecture.
- ✓ LyonLyonCorrect answer. The chef-lieu of the region is Lyon. The sheet gives Lyon as the préfecture. Grenoble, Saint-Étienne and Clermont-Ferrand are other big cities.
What the source says
« Ses principales villes sont Lyon (préfecture), Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy et Chambéry. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Quel est le chef-lieu (la préfecture) de la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question comes from the list of the naturalisation version of the exam (PDF relayed by Le Français des affaires, read on 14 October 2026; the Ministry's own page for this list did not answer). The list's wording: “Quel est le chef-lieu de la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes” (French).
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