Sarthe

Sarthe is a French department in the Pays de la Loire region, in northwestern France. 

It is part of the historic province of Maine. 

Capital/prefecture: Le Mans (famous for the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race). 

Key features: Very green and wooded (one of the most wooded departments in western France). 

Many rivers and hiking trails (including the Sarthe River itself). 

A mix of countryside, forests, valleys, and small towns. 

Tourist highlights: Le Mans' historic city center, La Flèche Zoo, castles, beautiful villages (such as La Ferté-Bernard, Malicorne, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe), nature parks, and gastronomy (rillettes, poultry, dairy). The department is conveniently located between Paris, Brittany, and the Loire Valley, combining rustic countryside with the dynamism of Le Mans. 

Ideal for nature lovers, history buffs, and motorsport enthusiasts.

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Savoie

Savoie is a department in southeastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, nestled in the heart of the French Alps. 

Capital/prefecture: Chambéry. 

Known as one of the most mountainous departments in France (88% mountainous, average altitude ~1,500 m). 

Highest point: Grande Casse (3,855 m) in the Vanoise National Park. 

Major lakes: Lac du Bourget (France's largest natural lake). 

World-famous for winter sports (Val d'Isère, Tignes, La Plagne, Courchevel, Les Arcs, etc.). 

Summer: hiking, cycling, paragliding, beautiful scenery and lakes. 

Typical products: mountain cheeses (including Beaufort and Tomme), Savoie wines, fondue & raclette. Historical: part of the former Duchy of Savoy, only joined France in 1860.  

Savoie = pure Alpine splendor, skiing in winter and outdoor adventure in summer!

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Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie is a beautiful Alpine department in southeastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. 

Capital (préfecture): Annecy (often called the "Venice of the Alps" thanks to its canal and lake). 

Bordered by: Switzerland (Lac Léman/Lake Geneva to the north), Italy, and the department of Savoie. 

Home to the highest mountain in Western Europe: Mont Blanc (4,810 m). 

Known for world-class ski resorts such as Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Portes du Soleil, Grand Massif, La Clusaz, Aravis, and Évian-les-Bains. 

Beautiful lakes: Lac d’Annecy (one of the cleanest in Europe) and the southern end of Lac Léman. 

The highest elevation gain of all French departments: from ~250 m (Rhône Valley) to 4,810 m. 

In short: a mix of spectacular mountains, crystal-clear lakes, top-notch winter sports, and charming villages and towns like Annecy, Chamonix, Thonon-les-Bains, Évian, and Yvoire. 

A top destination in summer and winter for nature, sports, and gastronomy (Reblochon, Tomme, fondue, etc.).

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Paris

Paris is a unique département in France: it is entirely integrated with the city of Paris itself (the commune). Département de Paris (number 75) Region: Île-de-France (capital of Paris) 

Status: Paris is simultaneously a commune, a département, and an arrondissement. 

It is divided into 20 arrondissements (numbered 1st through 20th, spiraling from the center). 

Special feature: Since 2019/2020, Paris has had a special status as a collectivité à statut particulier (metropolitan collectivity). 

The old classic département has been largely abolished, but in practice it still functions largely as département 75. 

Paris is the political, cultural, economic, and tourist heart of France, with icons such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Seine. 

The true metropolis (Grand Paris), however, has over 13 million inhabitants throughout the entire agglomeration. 

In short: Paris = city + department in one, the smallest but most influential department in the country.

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Seine-Maritime

Seine-Maritime is a department in the Normandy region of northern France. 

Capital: Rouen (historic city with cathedral, half-timbered houses, and links to Joan of Arc) 

Main port: Le Havre (modern architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Site) 

Location: at the mouth of the Seine, with a long coastline on the English Channel (La Manche) 

Known for: the spectacular white chalk cliffs of Étretat, the Alabaster Coast (Côte d'Albâtre), impressive cliffs, beautiful seaside resorts (Dieppe, Fécamp, Le Tréport), impressionist landscapes (Monet, etc.), and medieval heritage (e.g., the abbey ruins of Jumièges) 

Character: a mix of industry/port (Le Havre, Rouen), rural countryside, and dramatic coastline 

In short: a department with sea, cliffs, history, cathedrals, and ports – one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Normandy.

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Seine et Marne

Seine-et-Marne is a French department in the Île-de-France region, east of Paris. 

It takes its name from the Seine and Marne rivers. 

Prefecture (capital): Melun. 

Major cities: Meaux, Chelles, Pontault-Combault, Savigny-le-Temple, and Torcy. (Melun is a prefecture, but Meaux and Chelles have more inhabitants.) 

Characteristics: Lots of greenery and countryside (Brie region, forests, agriculture), but also heavily urbanized in the west due to its proximity to Paris. 

Known for: Disneyland Paris (in Marne-la-Vallée) Fontainebleau Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Medieval town of Provins (UNESCO) Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle Nature (Fontainebleau forests, Brie countryside).  

It is a mix of countryside, commuter towns around Paris, and major tourist attractions. 

The department has remained virtually unchanged in its borders since 1790. 

In short: the "green lung" of Île-de-France with plenty of nature, history, and Disneyland.

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Yvelines

Yvelines is a French department in the Île-de-France region, west of Paris (in the "grande couronne"). 

It was created in 1968 from the former department of Seine-et-Oise. 

Prefecture (capital): Versailles, world-famous for the Palace of Versailles (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). 

Characteristics: A mix of urban areas (close to Paris, including Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Poissy, and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), suburbs, and abundant green spaces (forests such as the Forêt de Rambouillet, the Chevreuse Valley, and the banks of the Seine). 

Economy: One of the wealthiest departments in France (high average incomes), with a strong presence in services, industry, and tourism. 

Tourism: Famous for its castles (Versailles, Dampierre, Breteuil, Maisons-Laffitte), nature parks, and hiking and cycling trails. 

In short: a prosperous, green, and historic department near Paris, with a strong combination of royal heritage and modern urban development.

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