Romandy

Romandy, also known as La Romandie in French, is the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It designates a cultural and linguistic region in the southwest of the country where French is the dominant language. The core cantons are Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura. The term also covers French-speaking pockets within other cantons, notably the Francophone districts of Fribourg, Bern (the Jura Bernois) and Valais, as well as smaller francophone communities in surrounding areas.

Major urban centers in Romandy include Geneva, Lausanne (the capital of Vaud), Neuchâtel, and the city of Sion in Valais. The region encompasses diverse geographies, from the shores of Lake Geneva to the Jura mountains and western Alps, with landscapes ranging from urban zones to alpine valleys.

Language and culture: Swiss French is the standard language used in education, media, and public life, while regional Swiss-French dialects are spoken in everyday speech. Romandy maintains distinctive cultural institutions, media, and traditions, and it sustains close cross-border ties with France and other Francophone regions.

Economy and institutions: Romandy hosts major research and higher education centers, including the University of Lausanne and EPFL in Lausanne, and the University of Geneva. Its economy is diversified, with strengths in finance, watchmaking, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and services. Geneva in particular hosts numerous international organizations, contributing to its global profile.

History and nomenclature: The term Romandy derives from the historic designation of French-speaking Swiss people as Romands. The region’s boundaries are informal and language-based rather than strictly defined by administrative borders.