Poitou-Charentes - Definition and Overview

Région Poitou-Charentes
Détails
Information
Capital:	Poitiers
Population  - Total  - Density	1 640 068 (1999) 64 /km²
Area	25 810 km²
Arrondissements	14
Cantons	157
Communes	1 464
President of the regional council	Ségolène Royal
Départements
Charente (16) Charente-Maritime (17) Deux-Sèvres (79) Vienne (86)
Location

Poitou-Charentes is a region in central western France comprising four départments : Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. In French its residents are known as Picto-Charentais. The regional capital is Poitiers.

In 1999, the region ranked 15th out of 26 in population. In area it ranked 12th in size.

The regional council (conseil régional) is composed of 55 members.

• Site du Conseil regional (http://www.cr-poitou-charentes.fr/)

A regional language, Poitevin-Saintongeais, is spoken by a minority of people in the region.