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Bird's-eye view of Verdun in 1638 Map of the city and citadel of Verdun (c. 1770) Verdun (Verodunum, a latinisation of a place name meaning "strong fort" in Gaulish) was founded by the Gauls. [citation needed] It has been the seat of the bishop of Verdun since the 4th century, with interruptions. [6]
To a large extent, modern France lies within clear limits of physical geography.Roughly half of its margin lies on sea coasts: one continuous coastline along "La Manche" ("the sleeve" or English Channel) and the Atlantic Ocean forming the country's north-western and western edge, and a shorter, separate coastline along the Mediterranean Sea forming its south-eastern edge.
The Franco-Spanish border runs for 656.3 kilometres (407.8 mi) between southwestern France and northeastern Spain. It begins in the west on the Bay of Biscay at the French city of Hendaye and the Spanish city of Irun ( 43°22′32″N 01°47′31″W / 43.37556°N 1.79194°W / 43.37556; -1.79194
Map showing France and its neighbours. Metropolitan France is bordered by: Belgium; Luxembourg; Germany; Switzerland; Italy; Monaco; Andorra; Spain; France is also linked to: United Kingdom (by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel) France's overseas departments share borders with: Brazil (borders French Guiana ...
A topographic map of the Republic, excluding all the overseas departments and territories Simplified physical map. The geography of France consists of a terrain that is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in the north and the west and mountainous in the south (including the Massif Central and the Pyrenees) and the east (the country's highest points being in the Alps).
This has meant that the heads of wealthy regions such as Île-de-France or Rhône-Alpes can be high-profile positions. Proposals to give regions limited legislative autonomy have met with considerable resistance; others propose transferring certain powers from the departments to their respective regions, leaving the former with limited authority.
From the 5th century, the area formed part of the Frankish Empire and, in the feudal period, it encompassed the six countships of Boulogne, Montreuil, Ponthieu, Amiénois, Vermandois and Laonnois. [4] In accordance with the provisions of the 843 Treaty of Verdun, the region became part of West Francia, the later Kingdom of France.
From about 500 AD, the Franks controlled this part of northeastern France, and the Carolingian Empire was the last stage of their rule. The Carolingian territories were divided into three sections in 843 at the Treaty of Verdun, and the area that is now the department of Meuse became part of Middle Francia.