métropole

Métropole is a French term with several related meanings. Derived from the Greek metropolis, meaning “mother city,” it can denote the central city of a country or region and the wider urban area that surrounds it. In historical and political contexts, métropole also refers to the homeland of a state in relation to its colonies or overseas territories.

In modern France, métropole is also a formal administrative designation for a form of intercommunal governance. Large urban areas are organized into métropoles that pool responsibilities such as urban planning, transport, housing, and economic development for the core city and its suburbs. The Métropole du Grand Paris is the most prominent example; other metropolitan authorities exist in several regions, including the Lyon area and the Aix-Marseille-Provence area.

Beyond France, the term is used in many Francophone contexts to describe major urban centers or regional cores. In geography and urban planning, the concept corresponds to the metropolitan area or metropolis, while in a historical sense métropole can denote the sovereign state as distinct from its colonies. In English-language writing, metropolis is the common cognate and captures similar ideas, though usage can vary by country and historical period. Overall, métropole communicates the idea of a leading city and its extended urban influence within a larger political or geographic frame.