Population: 132,000

Principal city: Ajaccio

The answer to the question "Which département is also a region?" is Corsica, département no 20, or more precisely, 2A and 2B: Haute-Corse (the north of the island) and Corse-du-Sud respectively.

Also known as the Île de Beauté, Corsica is a mountainous island — Monte Cinto is 2710m high. Its geographic situation means that it has swung between independence, Italian domination or being part of France. It was finally sold to France in 1768. The fact that Napoléon was born there helped to cement the union. Despite concessions made by the French government, the militant separatist movement is very strong.