Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECTION (2): CONTRASTING EUROPEAN REGIONS I: THE PARIS BASIN

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PHYSICAL PROCESSES Climate Cool temperate oceanic climate Moderate temperatures of 5ºC during the winter and about 16ºC during the summer Rainfall – around 800 mm per annum Influence of Atlantic depressions Cool temperate continental type climate Colder winters - 2ºC, and summer temperatures tend to be warmer - approximately 19ºC Rainfall – slightly lower at 700 mm per annum Convectional rainfall

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PHYSICAL PROCESSES Soils Varied Chalk soils in Champagne to clay soils in Brie Different farming areas – ‘pays’ in France Thick layer of fertile stoneless limon (loess) soils Windblown soils from a periglacial environment Fertile, easily worked soils

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PHYSICAL PROCESSES Relief and drainage Sedimentary rocks Downwarp or syncline in the Earth’s crust Escarpments forming a rim outside of this to the east and west River Seine and its tributaries, the river Somme and Loire

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Agriculture Farming in the Paris Basin is specialised

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Beauce Mechanisation of cereal production of wheat and barley Sugar beet Long growing season Well dispersed rainfall Long hours of sunshine for the ripening of crops EEC in 1957 guaranteed prices for farm produce Called the ‘Granary of France’

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Brie Damper climate and clay soils that encourage growth of pastures Dairy products are sold to the large urban market of the nearby city of Paris – cheese and butter Stocking rates are high Profitable and intensive Market gardening High value crops Excellent communication links

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Normandy Concentration of dairy production, e.g. Danone Famous Camembert cheese Maritime influences Apple industry – ‘Golden Delicious’ Soil is rich in calcium Thriving bloodstock industry

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES The dry Champagne region High summer temperatures Falaise d’Ile de France and Cote de Meuse Viticulture Reims Developed by the Benedictine monks

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES The dry Champagne region (continued) Farm size is large compared to EU average with most farms over 400 hectares Competition from other land uses, e.g. industry Farmers are young and well educated Raw materials for a variety of food processing industries Fertile alluvial soils close to the river Seine

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Energy Production Oil and gas imported through Le Havre port France imports 95 per cent of its oil and is the third largest consumer in Europe No natural gas In 2004 coal production ceased in France and it is now imported 1975 oil crisis: France reduced its dependency on oil and invested in nuclear energy

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Energy Production (continued) Main energy supply:  75 per cent of French electricity is nuclear generated  cleaner than fossil fuels  nuclear waste is highly toxic  secure storage is a big challenge in France

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Manufacturing activities Paris Basin contains over 20 per cent of the national workforce Long tradition of manufacturing extending back to the seventeenth century River Seine is a navigable river Deep-water ports have allowed heavy industries to import and export goods Steel, oil refining, petrochemical and textiles Access to sea through the port of Le Havre

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Manufacturing activities Low-lying nature of the region has allowed ease of construction Nodal point with excellent communications links The Paris metro, the TGV (Trans Grand Vitesse) a high- speed train that links London via the Channel Tunnel and French roads Two international airports, e.g. Charles de Gaulle and Orly Large, well-educated workforce with 12 million people, 21 million when its suburbs are included Affluent market – can afford luxury goods such as Chanel

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Types of activities Fashion industry Niche market for ‘haute couture’ Cosmetic Valley in Chartres Decentralisation of French industry away from Paris Food processing Is a major industry Rich availability of fresh agricultural products

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Types of activities Car manufacturing Citroen Printing and publishing Books, magazines and newspapers are printed in the Latin Quarter

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Types of activities High tech industries  Seventeen universities and many high quality research colleges in Paris are attractive to high tech industries  Located in the newer suburbs of Marne-La-Vallée as industrial estates and technological parks  85 per cent of all French research is carried out in the Paris Basin

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin SECONDARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Deindustrialisation has affected the region since the 1970s and employment in the manufacturing sector has halved between 1975 and 2005 Most French manufacturing industries have their headquarters in Paris Unemployment is a problem for the Paris Basin and in 2006 it stood at 9 per cent

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Tourism Long tradition of tourism Highly developed Easily accessible by all modes of transport both national and international Rich variety of cultural attractions, famous buildings, museums and galleries Normandy beaches used during WW2

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Tourism (continued) Norman castles Religious sites such as Reims Cathedral and Notre Dame – 13 million visitors annually Eiffel Tower – more than 6 million visitors annually Louvre gallery home to the Mona Lisa

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Tourism (continued) French presidents:  The Pompidou centre was the responsibility of President George Pompidou in 1977  The transformation of the Les Halles in 1971 was the legacy of President Giscard d’Estaing  President Francois Mitterrand’s introduction of a glass pyramid in front of the Louvre gallery in 1984

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Tourism (continued) Theme parks – Parc Asterix and Disneyland Paris Marne-La-Vallée nearby – shopping and is the fashion capital of the world Champs-Elysée and Boulevard Haussmann 30 million visitors a year and 7 per cent of the workforce of Paris are involved in the tourist industry

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Transport Paris is a primate city Transport network is radial TGV trains travel at speeds of 250 km/hr and connects Paris with European cities such as London and Brussels TGV line was opened in 1981 Double-decker carriages Efficient and environmentally friendly

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin TERTIARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Transport (continued) The underground metro used daily by Parisian commuters SNCF and RER International airports, roads and river taxis Motorways Canals – used by tourists and industry

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin The Growth of Paris – The Schéma Directeur Paris has a population of over 11 million people and is the largest city in France Developed in medieval times Bridging point and a defensive settlement on the river Seine Island in the middle of the river called Ile-de-France Developed as a food processing centre for the rich agricultural lands City is a major employer with mills, dairy processing and viticulture

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin The Growth of Paris – The Schéma Directeur (continued) Centre of government and most civil service jobs Vast migrant population with 1.3 million migrants living there Urban sprawl to accommodate its growing population 14 million by 2050 Traffic congestion Urban decay and inner city decline

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin The Growth of Paris – The Schéma Directeur (continued) Schéma Directeur - an urban plan adopted in 1964 to control the growth of Paris and to improve poorer suburbs and employment opportunities Renewed by the French government from 1994 to 2015 Setting up of listed buildings Investment in public transport, e.g. TGV Development of suburban nodes or growth centres – La Défense Urban renewal and regeneration projects

Chapter 25: The Dynamics of European Regions I: The Paris Basin The Growth of Paris – The Schéma Directeur (continued) Developed new towns or satellite towns around Paris, e.g. Marne-La-Vallée Areas for recreational land use were designated along the River Seine, e.g. boating activities Les Halles food market moved to the Rungis on the edge of the city to reduce traffic congestion Schéma Directeur has been successful Paris Basin region will become a metropolitan area