Arrondissements of France
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Administrative divisions of France |
|---|
 |
| Administrative divisions |
| Intercommunality |
| Communes |
| Overseas France |
| Geocodesof France |
|
|
 France portal |
Anarrondissement(French pronunciation:[aʁɔ̃dismɑ̃])[1]is the third level ofadministrative division in Francegenerally corresponding to the territory overseen by asubprefect.As of 2023, the 101 Frenchdepartmentsare divided into 333 arrondissements (including 13 overseas).[2]
The capital of an arrondissement is called asubprefecture.When an arrondissement contains theprefecture(capital) of the department, that prefecture is the capital of the arrondissement, acting both as a prefecture and as a subprefecture. Arrondissements are further divided intocantonsandcommunes.
The termarrondissementcan be roughly translated into English as district.[3]
Arrondissement are used by somesome municipalitiesinQuebecgiven the province’s historical link toNew France.
Role and administration[edit]
The administration of an arrondissement is assigned to a subprefect (French:sous-préfet) who assists the departmental prefect (préfet).
Unlike Frenchregions,departments and communes, arrondissements do not have the status oflegal entityinpublic law.In addition, unlike those other administrative divisions, they are not run by elected officials, but by political appointees, officials appointed by theFrench president.
History[edit]
The concept of arrondissements was proposed several times as an administrative reform during theAncien Régime,notably by theintendantof thegénéralitéofBrittany,Caze de La Bove,in hisMémoire concernant les subdélégués de l'intendance de Bretagnein 1775.
The arrondissements were created after theFrench Revolutionby theLoi du 28pluviôsein the year VIII of theRepublican Calendar(17 February 1800) and replaced "districts". In certain periods in French history, they have served a role in legislative elections, especially during theThird Republic.In 1926, 106 arrondissements were suppressed by the government.[4][5]While it claimed it was to achieve fiscal savings, some political analysts considered the results electoral manipulation. Some of these suppressed arrondissements were restored in 1942.
Changes[edit]
The most recent creations and disestablishments of arrondissements are listed in the table below.
| Year | Department | Created arrondissement(s) | Disbanded arrondissement(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Moselle | Forbach-Boulay-Moselle | Forbach,Boulay-Moselle |
| 2015 | Moselle | Metz | Metz-Campagne,Metz-Ville |
| 2015 | Moselle | Sarrebourg-Château-Salins | Château-Salins,Sarrebourg |
| 2015 | Moselle | Thionville | Thionville-Est,Thionville-Ouest |
| 2015 | Bas-Rhin | Haguenau-Wissembourg | Haguenau,Wissembourg |
| 2015 | Bas-Rhin | Strasbourg | Strasbourg-Campagne,Strasbourg-Ville |
| 2015 | Haut-Rhin | Colmar-Ribeauvillé | Colmar,Ribeauvillé |
| 2015 | Haut-Rhin | Thann-Guebwiller | Guebwiller,Thann |
| 2017 | Loire-Atlantique | Châteaubriant-Ancenis | Ancenis,Châteaubriant |
| 2017 | Marne | – | Sainte-Menehould |
Statistics[edit]
Most departments have three or four arrondissements. The departments ofParisand of theTerritoire de Belforthave only one, while the department ofPas-de-Calaishas seven.Mayottehas none.
See also[edit]
- Administrative divisions of France
- Arrondissement
- Arrondissements of Paris
- List of arrondissements of France
- Municipal arrondissements of France
References[edit]
- ^"Circonscriptions administratives au 1er janvier 2015: comparaisons départementales"[Administrative constituencies of 1 January 2015: departmental comparisons] (in French).INSEE.Retrieved5 July2015.
- ^Téléchargement - Année 2019: Liste des arrondissements
- ^André de Laubadère, Jean-Claude Vénézia, Yves Gaudemet,Traité de droit administratif,12th edition, LGDJ, 1992, vol. 1, nr. 168–169.
- ^Nicolas Verdier,La réforme des arrondissements de 1926: un choix d'intervention entre espace et territoire,online
- ^List of the arrondissements suppressed in 1926