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Centre-Val de Loire
The Centre-Val de Loire region is in the north-centre of France. It lies between Île-de-France and the Massif central.
Key points of the sheet
- The river Loire flows through the region. It has 6 départements: Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret.
- The main cities are Orléans, Tours, Bourges, Châteauroux, Chartres and Blois. Orléans is the prefecture (préfecture).
- The region has about 2.6 million inhabitants. It is moderately dense and its population stays stable, with differences between urban and rural areas.
- The economy relies on industry, agriculture, tourism and the food industry. The unemployment rate is close to the national average.
- Rural areas are more fragile. But the hubs around Tours and Orléans are dynamic.
Words to know
- prefecture (préfecture)
- In Centre-Val de Loire, the prefecture is Orléans.
- départements
- Centre-Val de Loire has 6 départements.
- Loire châteaux (châteaux de la Loire)
- The sheet names the Loire châteaux for tourism, a key economic sector of the region.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In the region, the unemployment rate is close to the national average.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which city is the prefecture of Centre-Val de Loire?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle ville est la préfecture du Centre-Val de Loire ?
The sheet says that Orléans is the prefecture of the region.
How many départements does Centre-Val de Loire have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de départements compte le Centre-Val de Loire ?
Centre-Val de Loire has 6 départements.
Which river flows through the Centre-Val de Loire region?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel fleuve traverse la région du Centre-Val de Loire ?
The region is crossed by the river Loire.
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More in this topic (The regions of France)
Source
Sheet “Centre-Val de Loire” 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.