France, the map in your head
A free France geography quiz for people who actually plan to go: cities, régions, and how the TGV network really works. Scored on the page, no signup.
Which city does what?
Fifteen questions on the geography a visitor actually uses: train logic, city reputations, coasts, and the overseas départements. If you can place Bordeaux, Reims, and Gare de Lyon, the rest of the trip plans itself.
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What this France geography quiz covers
This quiz tests the geography that matters when you visit: which cities sit where, which régions people actually name in conversation, and why the TGV map looks like a star centered on Paris. Most learners get this wrong because they picture France as Paris plus a vague south. Then they book a Marseille to Strasbourg train assuming it works like Paris to Lyon, or confuse Bretagne with Normandie in front of someone from Rennes, which does not go over well.
Take it cold first to see your baseline, then retake it as often as you want: it is free and scored on the page every time. Each answer comes with a short explanation, so a wrong guess still teaches you the logic behind it. When you are done, the Learning Center has full guides on travel and regions, and The French Briefing gives you short daily reading to keep the map fresh.
How many régions does France have?
Metropolitan France has 13 régions since the 2016 reform, which merged several older ones. Add the overseas régions like La Réunion and Guadeloupe and you get 18 in total. Locals often still use the old names, like Alsace, which is now part of Grand Est.
Why do most TGV routes go through Paris?
The high-speed network was built radially from Paris, so the fastest lines connect the capital to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille and Strasbourg. Direct province-to-province trains exist but are slower and rarer. Crossing France often means changing in Paris, sometimes switching stations.
What is the difference between a région and a département?
A région is the large administrative unit, like Occitanie. Each région is divided into départements, like Hérault, which are numbered: that number appears in postal codes. There are 13 metropolitan régions and 96 metropolitan départements. The French identify strongly with their département number.
