Haute Normandie (Upper Normandy),is
one of the 26 regions of France. It was created in 1956 from
two départements: Seine-Maritime and Eure, when Normandy was
divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy. This
division continues to provoke controversy, and some continue
to call for regrouping of the two. However, the name Upper
Normandy existed prior to 1956 and referred by tradition to
territories currently included within the administrative
region: the Pays de Caux, the Pays de Bray (not that of
Picardy), the Roumois, the Campagne of Le Neubourg, the
Plaine de Saint André and the Norman Vexin. Today, most of
the Pays d'Auge, as well as a small portion of the Pays
d'Ouche, are located in Lower Normandy.
Rouen is the regional capital, historically important with
many fine churches and buildings, including the tallest
cathedral tower in France. The region's largest city, in
terms of metropolitan population, is Le Havre. The region is
twinned with the London Borough of Redbridge in the United
Kingdom. Its economy is centred around agriculture,
industry, petrochemicals and tourism.


