Brief Summary
This video explores the impact of metropolisation on France, focusing on the dominance of Paris, the rise of regional metropolises, and the challenges faced by smaller cities. It examines how Paris's macrocephaly influences the national urban hierarchy, the increasing attractiveness of regional hubs, and the struggles of medium-sized towns in adapting to a changing economic landscape.
- Paris's dominance is reinforced by its global city status and historical centralisation.
- Regional metropolises are becoming more attractive and competitive through strategic development.
- Smaller cities face challenges due to deindustrialisation and the pull of larger urban centres, but also present unique opportunities.
Paris: A Global City
Paris functions as a global city with worldwide influence, historically built around a centralised network. The city has benefited from centuries of centralisation, concentrating metropolitan command functions and remaining attractive for tourism and foreign investment. Hosting international events, such as the 2024 Olympics, solidifies its status as a global city. The Paris urban area houses approximately 12 million residents and includes research spaces like Paris-Saclay, logistics hubs like Roissy, and the La Défense business district, which ranks as the fourth most attractive globally.
Spatial Recomposition in Paris
Despite limited vertical development, Paris is undergoing architectural transformations with projects like the Musée du Quai Branly and the Philharmonie de Paris. The city attracts significant tourism, hosting 28 million visitors in 2018, and 40 million including the broader urban area. To maintain its global competitiveness, the Métropole du Grand Paris was established in 2016, comprising 131 communes, to enhance transport policies and economic specialisation. The Grand Paris Express project, featuring 200 km of new metro lines and 68 stations, aims to improve mobility.
Parisian Macrocephaly
Paris's dominance is evident through its primacy index, with the city and the Île-de-France region accounting for 20% of the population and 30% of France's GDP. La Défense alone hosts 20% of the headquarters of major French companies. Macrocephaly, the disproportionate development of the largest city, limits the growth of nearby cities like Amiens and Rouen, despite decentralisation efforts since the 1980s. However, Paris experiences a negative net migration rate of -0.9%, as people seek better living conditions, affordable housing, and reduced commuting times elsewhere.
The Rise of Regional Metropolises
France has 22 designated metropolises, a status defined since 2010 and reinforced by the 2014 MAPTAM law (Modernisation of Public Territorial Action and Affirmation of Metropolises). These metropolises have increased powers to counterbalance Paris and compete with other European cities. They develop high-level amenities such as business districts (Euralille, Lyon Part-Dieu), international airports (Lyon, Nice), and technology hubs (Nice Sophia Antipolis, Grenoble). These metropolises organise local urban networks, concentrate research and growth dynamics, and are interconnected by transport networks like the TGV.
Hierarchy Among French Metropolises
A hierarchy exists among French metropolises, with Lyon, Strasbourg, and Lille considered European-level cities with international influence and comprehensive facilities. Strasbourg hosts European institutions like the Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights. Aix-Marseille, Nantes, and Bordeaux are national-level metropolises, benefiting from heliotropism (attraction to sunny climates) and coastal locations, but their influence is primarily domestic. Montpellier, Rennes, Nancy, Metz, Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand, and Dijon are regional-level metropolises, driving regional economic activity and hosting regional command institutions. Toulouse is a unique case, functioning as both a European metropolis with Airbus headquarters and a regional centre competing with Bordeaux and Montpellier.
Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Cities
Small cities (5,000-50,000 residents) and medium-sized cities (50,000-200,000 residents) are numerous in France, housing a significant portion of the population. These cities are often excluded from metropolisation, which favours high-level service jobs, while they are primarily industrial and impacted by deindustrialisation. They depend on public services like the military, hospitals, and tax centres, and are affected by their reorganisation. City centres are declining as commercial areas and housing estates proliferate in suburban areas. The "Gilets Jaunes" crisis highlighted their struggles, prompting the state to implement measures to boost their dynamism, including increasing universities and the "Action Coeur de Ville" plan to rehabilitate housing and revitalise city centre commerce.
Unequal Dynamics in Smaller Cities
Some small and medium-sized cities benefit from good transport links and proximity to metropolises, profiting from the residential economy, which includes activities that meet the needs of local populations, such as commerce, personal services, and public services. Cities on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts benefit from tourism, such as Les Sables-d'Olonne and Arles. The quality of life attracts retirees and associated jobs. Others benefit from cultural events or heritage, such as Avignon. Cities facing difficulties are concentrated in the centre and north-east, marked by decline. Local authorities are working to change their image and leverage their strengths. For example, Nevers, where over 20% of city centre shops are closed, is using its proximity to Paris and its natural environment to attract businesses and residents.
