Topic summary
Normandy (administrative region)
settlement_type. Replace with type.blank_name_sec2. Replace with custom_label_sec2.blank_name_sec1. Replace with custom_label_sec1.blank_info_sec2. Replace with custom_data_sec2.image_caption. Replace with caption.timezone1. Replace with time_zone1.image_skyline. Replace with image.timezone1_DST. Replace with time_zone1_DST.Normandy is the northwesternmost of the eighteen regions of France, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy.
Normandy is divided into five administrative departments: Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne and Seine-Maritime. It covers 29,906 square kilometres (11,547 sq mi), comprising roughly 5% of the territory of metropolitan France. Its population of 3,322,757 accounts for around 5% of the population of France. The inhabitants of Normandy are known as Normans, and the region is the historic homeland of the Norman language. The neighboring regions are Hauts-de-France and Ile-de-France to the east, Centre-Val de Loire to the southeast, Pays de la Loire to the south, and Brittany to the southwest. Its prefecture and largest city is Rouen, although the regional council sits in Caen, making Normandy one of two regions in France (along with Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) in which the prefect does not sit in the same city as the regional council.
Normandy's name comes from the settlement of the territory by Vikings ("Northmen") from the 9th century, and confirmed by treaty in the 10th century between King Charles III of France and the Viking jarlRollo.