- Centre (region)
Infobox French region
native_name = Région Centre
common_name = Centre
image_logo_size = 150px
capital =Orléans
area = 39,151 | area_scale=10
Regional president =François Bonneau (2007-)
population_rank =9thpopulation_census = 2,440,329
population_census_year = 1999
population_estimate = 2,515,000
population_estimate_year = 2007
population_density = 64
population_density_year = 2007
arrondissements = 20
cantons = 198
communes = 1,842
departments = CherEure-et-Loir Indre Indre-et-Loire Loir-et-Cher Loiret 
footnotes=
|Centre is one of the 26 regions of
France , located towards the northwest of the actual centre of the country. Its capital isOrléans , although its largest city isTours .History
Centre is composed of the following former
provinces of France :
*Orléanais
*Touraine
*Berry
*a part ofPerche (the rest of Perche lies in the regions ofLower Normandy andPays-de-la-Loire )Features
The main feature of Centre is the
Loire Valley . It includes the rich, fertile valleys of theLoire River and its tributaries: Cher, Indre, Loiret, etc. It is in Centre that are located the famous "châteaux" of the Loire Valley, which attract many tourists to the region.Name
The name "Centre" was chosen by the French central government based purely on geography, as Centre is composed of too many historical provinces to use a historical name. However, Centre is not in the geographical centre of France, and the name is criticized as being dull and nondescript.
It has been proposed to rename the region "Val de Loire" (i.e. "Valley of the Loire"), which would give more character to the name of the region. "Val de Loire" is a name associated with positive images of the Loire Valley, such as the chateaux, the gentle and refined lifestyle, wine, the mild and temperate climate. The name change has not yet been adopted, but the term is sometimes juxtaposed with the region's name, as in "Centre - Val de Loire".
Major communities
*
Blois
*Bourges
*Chartres
*Châteauroux
*Dreux
*Fleury-les-Aubrais
*Joué-lès-Tours
*Orléans
*Tours
*Vierzon ee also
*
Saint-Benoît-du-Sault External links
* [http://www.regioncentre.fr/ Région Centre] Official website
* ODP|Regional/Europe/France/Regions/Centre|Centre
* [http://www.experienceloire.com A guide to Centre/Loire Valley]
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