This article is part of the series on
Administrative divisions of France |
(incl. overseas regions) |
(incl. overseas departments) |
Urban communities |
Others in Overseas France
Overseas collectivities |
(incl. overseas regions)
(incl. overseas departments)
Urban communities
Agglomeration communities
Commune communities
Syndicates of New Agglomeration
Associated communes
Municipal arrondissements
Overseas collectivities
Sui generis collectivity
Overseas country
Overseas territory
Clipperton Island
The commune (French pronunciation: [kɔmyn]) is a level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to civil townships and incorporated municipalities in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany. The United Kingdom has no exact equivalent, as communes resemble districts in urban areas, but are closer to parishes in rural areas where districts are much larger. Communes are based on historical geographic communities or villages and have received significant powers of governance to manage the populations and land of the geographic area covered. The communes are the fourth-level administrative divisions of France.