Normandy

Normandie (French: Normandie, Normand. Normaundia) is a region and historical region in northwestern France. It was formed on January 1, 2016 by the merger of the regions of Upper and Lower Normandy. Known for its history, farms, apple plantations and dairy industry, especially the cheeses: Camembert, Livarot and Pont l'Eveque.

The region, with a total area of 29,906 km², is the tenth largest in metropolitan France. It is located in the north of the country and borders the regions of the Loire and Brittany to the south and southwest, the Loire Valley Center and the Ile-de-France to the southeast, the Hauts-de-France to the east. To the north and west, the region is washed by the English Channel.

One of the five Great Rivers of France, the Seine, flows through the region.

The traditional provincial flag of Normandy, gules, two leopards passant or, is used in the region and its predecessors. The three-leopard version (known in the Norman language as les treis cats, "the three cats") is used by some associations and individuals, especially those who support cultural links with the Channel Islands and England. Jersey and Guernsey use three leopards in their national symbols. The leopards represents the strength and courage Normandy has towards the neighbouring provinces.

The unofficial anthem of the region is the song "Ma Normandie".

Main article: Norman language

Main article: Norman toponymy

The Norman language, including its insular variations Jèrriais and Guernésiais, is a regional language, spoken by a minority of the population on the continent and the islands, with a concentration in the Cotentin Peninsula in the far west (the Cotentinais dialect), and in the Pays de Caux in the East (the Cauchois dialect).