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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a French region. It is located in the south-east of France.
Key points of the sheet
- The region borders Switzerland and Italy. It stretches from the Alps to the Massif central.
- The region has 12 départements, including the Rhône, the Isère and the Savoie.
- Lyon is the prefecture (préfecture). The other main cities are Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy and Chambéry.
- The region has about 8.1 million inhabitants. It is the 2nd most populated region after Île-de-France.
- The key sectors are industry, the food industry, digital, energy, tourism and agriculture.
- The unemployment rate is slightly lower than the national average. The economy is dynamic around Lyon, Grenoble and in the Alps.
Words to know
- départements
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has 12 départements.
- prefecture (préfecture)
- Lyon is the prefecture of the region.
- Massif central
- The region stretches from the Alps to the Massif central.
- food industry (agroalimentaire)
- The food industry is one of the key economic sectors of the region.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In the region, it is slightly lower than the national average.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which countries does Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes border?
In French, the language of the exam: Avec quels pays l'Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes a-t-elle une frontière ?
The region borders Switzerland and Italy.
How many départements does Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de départements compte l'Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ?
The sheet says the region has 12 départements.
What is the unemployment rate like in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
In French, the language of the exam: Comment est le taux de chômage en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ?
The region's unemployment rate is slightly lower than the national average.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- What is the chef-lieu (the préfecture, main administrative town) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region?
- Which French region is known for its ski resorts?
More in this topic (The regions of France)
Source
Sheet “Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.