Ile-de-France

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Region of northern France; area 12,012 sq km/4,638 sq mi; population (1999 est) 10,952,000. It includes the French capital, Paris, and the towns of Versailles, Sèvres, and St-Cloud, and comprises the départements of Essonne, Val-de-Marne, Val-d'Oise, Ville de Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-St-Denis, and Yvelines; the region contains about 20% of the population of France. From here the early French kings extended their authority over the whole country. It has thus become the core of the French state and comprises its geopolitical heartland.

Blue stands for peace. The tassel is a symbol of the monarchy. Yellow represents mineral wealth. Red symbolizes battle. Effective date: 30 October 1967. >>