Ile de France, the original kernel of the state round Paris (Departments—Seine, Seine et Oise, Seine et Marne, Oise, Aisne).
Champagne (part of France since 1285) to the east of the former (Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, Aube).
Lorraine (since 1766), east of Champagne (Meuse, Meurthe et Moselle, Vosges, and territory of Belfort).
Flanders (since 1677), on the border of Belgium (Nord).
Artois (since 1640), on the Channel (Pas de Calais).
Picardy (original), adjoining Ile de France on N. (Somme).
Normandy (since 1203), along the Channel (Seine-inferieure, Eure, Calvados, La Manche, Orne).
Brittany (since 1532), the western peninsula (Finistere, Morbihan, Cotes-du-Nord, Ille et Vilaine, Loire-inferieure).
Poitou (since 1375), southeast of Brittany (Vendee, Deux-Sevres, Vienne).
Anjou (since 1202) north of Poitou, across the Loire (Maine et Loire).