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Grand Est
Grand Est is a region in the east of France. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. It is a European crossroads.
Key points of the sheet
- Grand Est has 10 départements: Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhin, Haute-Marne, Haut-Rhin, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges.
- The main cities are Strasbourg, Reims, Metz, Nancy, Mulhouse and Troyes. Strasbourg is the prefecture (préfecture).
- The region has about 5.6 million inhabitants. People live mostly around the big cities. The population is falling in some rural or industrial areas.
- The key sectors are industry (cars, chemicals, metalworking), vineyards, farming and logistics. Champagne and Alsace wines come from this region.
- Tourism is also important: heritage tourism and remembrance tourism. It is linked to the First and Second World Wars.
- The unemployment rate is close to the national average, but it varies by area. It is higher in industrial areas undergoing restructuring and lower around Strasbourg.
Words to know
- European crossroads (carrefour européen)
- Grand Est is a European crossroads. It borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland.
- départements
- Grand Est has 10 départements, for example Marne, Moselle and Vosges.
- prefecture (préfecture)
- Strasbourg is the prefecture (préfecture) of the Grand Est region.
- heritage and remembrance tourism (tourisme patrimonial et de mémoire)
- It is a key sector of Grand Est. It is linked to the First and Second World Wars.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In Grand Est, it is close to the national average, but it varies by area. It is higher in industrial areas undergoing restructuring and lower around Strasbourg.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which city is the prefecture (préfecture) of Grand Est?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle ville est la préfecture du Grand Est ?
The sheet says that Strasbourg is the prefecture of Grand Est.
About how many inhabitants does Grand Est have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien d'habitants compte environ le Grand Est ?
Grand Est has about 5.6 million inhabitants.
Which wines are produced in Grand Est?
In French, the language of the exam: Quels vins sont produits dans le Grand Est ?
Among the key sectors, the sheet lists vineyards: Champagne and Alsace wines.
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More in this topic (The regions of France)
Source
Sheet “Grand Est” 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.