Talk:Southern Europe

FRANCE

Corsica is not French ethnic, it is italian ethnic. There are many problems of independence of Corsica. It is the French colony. The Mistral is a cold wind blowing over the south of France and therefore did not has the same climate as southern Europe. The French population are Celtic from northern europe. Nice and Monaco are in the Italian region. They are populated by Italians and much possess Italian names. The only areas that can be considered as southern europe in France are the Nice region and Corsica today administered by France. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Julio188red (talk • contribs) 05:49, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Turkey is not Europe

Turkey is not Europe and any references must be deleted from the article — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.33.251.173 (talk) 20:23, 16 October 2011 (UTC)

East Thrace (the westernmost province of Turkey) certainly is, and that is shown correctly on the accompanying map. If you are trying to make a political point, this is not the place to do it. --Wally Tharg (talk) 08:38, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

Map called "geo-political southern Europe"

Outside the fact that the name of this map is not in adequation (does not fit with any political border, neither national or not even regional), What is the object of this map? If the criterium is the climate situation (as we ccould understand when seing the strong red in the regions of mediterranean climate in the south-east of France) there is absolutly no reason that south-western France is marqued in light red when northern Spain and northern Italy are in strong red: south-west France has same climate than northern Spain (Atlantic coast) and is situated as much south (if not more) than central and northern Italy. Culturally speaking south-western France is not less "southern European" than south-east France. There is no reason to exclud south-west France (midi-pyrénées, Aquitaine). The logic would be that south west france is dark red like the other European regions situated at the same latitudes. Then in light red we could include Lyon area, Auvergne, Limousin, Poitou-Charentes: these regions are situated at same latitudes than Alpine Italy and shows southern French features (such as roman roofs) but also traditionally Occitan (Auvergne, Limousin) or Franco-provençal languages (Lyon, Savoie, southern Burgondy). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.224.59.166 (talk) 18:12, 27 June 2010 (UTC)

"Outside the fact that the name of this map is not in adequation...there is absolutly no reason that south-western France is marqued in light red when northern Spain and northern Italy are in strong red"

We can discuss for a long time about each criterium and its limits. The southern or northern concepts are very subjective. For a scottish, London is already a southern city. For the spanish, Basque country is a northern region.

"There is no reason to exclud south-west France (midi-pyrénées, Aquitaine). "

There is a climatic reason. The climate of SW France is an oceanic climate (though with hotter summers), while the whole of Spain and Italy have a mediterranean climate.

"Then in light red we could include Lyon area, Auvergne, Limousin, Poitou-Charentes: these regions are situated at same latitudes than Alpine Italy"

Auvergne, Limousin, Poitou and Rhone-Alpes have an oceanic climate like Germany, Netherlands or UK, though it is a "semi-continental" degradation.Nothing to do with the whole of Italy. I don't know what you call "Alpine Italy", but even for Köppen, the regions of Milan and Turin have a subtropical climate due to the regular hot summers (which is a subtropical climatic feature ex : Milan have the same mean temperature in july as Marseille)while summers of Lyon, Berlin, Clermont-Ferrand or Stutgart are less hot, because they often know cooler periods. Once again, if we discuss about limits of the concept, the debate will have never end.

"...southern French features (such as roman roofs)..."

First, "half-rounded tiles" (because the real roman roofs were a little bit different) are a scholarly feature, not a vernacular one, spread only among the rich urban people until modern times. The vernacular rural architecture of the regions of Lyon, Limoges, London or Frankfurt until the 19th century were thatched cottages, cottages which had disappeared in the more developped and urbanized Mediterranean regions at least since the Antiquity. Second, they have become a southern europe feature, but it was not so in high middle age. For example the carolingian palaces seemed to have what you call "roman tiles", as well in northern Germany as southern France. So, it is probably a residue of an ancient scholarly feature which was spread in all Europe before the apparition of flat tiles in low middle age (maybe in parisian basin).

"...but also traditionally Occitan (Auvergne, Limousin) or Franco-provençal languages (Lyon, Savoie, southern Burgondy)."

It is a long debate, but the "franco-provençal" dialects seems to share more features with the "langue d'oil" (phonology and morphology especially). I don't speak obviously about landscapes, climate or rural architecture of Savoy, Jura or Southern Burgondy who have nothing to do with southern Europe, but rather with Switzerland, Austria or Germany.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.213.212.29 (talk) 14:39, 10 July 2010 (UTC)

"We can discuss for a long time about each criterium and its limits. The southern or northern concepts are very subjective. For a scottish, London is already a southern city. For the spanish, Basque country is a northern region. "

We can also apply objective geographical points of views, and try to apply the same criteriums to all the countries. In that point of view there is no géographical reason to assimilate northern Italy in southern Europe concept and not south western France wich is situated at the same latitudes (Milan or Venice are situated at the same latitudes than Charentes, Limousin or Auvergne).

"There is a climatic reason. The climate of SW France is an oceanic climate (though with hotter summers), while the whole of Spain and Italy have a mediterranean climate."

The whole of Spain and Italy have not a mediterranean climate at all. Both countries have many different climates: http://www.colonialvoyage.com/paesi/it/spagna/images/spagna_clima.png

If the reason is climatic, then all regions of Europe that have not a mediterranean climate must be not considered southern European, not only the french ones. Regions with oceanic climate: Galician coasts, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais vasco... have even more "pure" oceanic climate than south-western France (and get the traditional products of oceanic areas such as cider instead of wine for exemple in the northern coast of Spain, the main dish there is fabada, a spanish version of cassoulet). In this "green Spain" the climate has absolutly nothing mediterranean, the waters are cool, the summers wet and cool, the winters mild and wet... that is Not mediterranean at all. If south-western France is excluded from southern Europe for climatic reasons, then why northern Spain and northern Portugal isn't? Inside Spain, especially the castillan plateau has not a mediterranean climate either, but a semi arid continental one, northern Italy (Po plains and mountains) have not mediterranean climates eit her.

"Auvergne, Limousin, Poitou and Rhone-Alpes have an oceanic climate like Germany, Netherlands or UK, though it is a "semi-continental" degradation."

Rhône-Alpes have not an oceanic climate but a mediterranean climate in its southern part, a semi-continental climate in the north and moutanous climates in the mountains. Auvergne and Limousin climates are largely marqued by mountainous and continental degradations and are far to the be typical oceanic climates that you seem to talk about. That said, oceanic climates are not found only in northern Europe (Germany, Netherlands, UK) as you seem to let thinking but are found in the oceanic areas of the Iberian peninsula (which is in southern Europe, no?) : north Portugal coast, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais vasco also have oceanic climates... Are these regions not in southern Europe because they are not mediterranean?

"Nothing to do with the whole of Italy"

The "whole" of Italy doesn't have one unique climate... mediterranean concerns the coasts, but as a whole Italy has many different climates, including continental and moutainous: http://lnx.ilpolline.it/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/clima.jpg

"I don't know what you call "Alpine Italy" I call Alpine Italy the area of The Alps that are situated in Italy (about 50% of Alps mountains are situated in Italy; that is more than in Austria or Switzerland). This Alpine Italy does obviously doesn't have at all a mediterranean climate.

" Milan and Turin have a subtropical climate due to the regular hot summers (which is a subtropical climatic feature ex : Milan have the same mean temperature in july as Marseille)"

Having a mediterranean climate doesn't mean having hot summers... Summers are often more hot in continental climates. Milan and the whole of the Po Plain has much colder winters than those found Marseille and mediterranean climates. This is not a mediterranean climate at all because the winters are cold and the wet and dry seasons reversed in comparision with mediterranean climate, it is usually classified as continental or sometimes as of a degradated "chinese type".

http://www.tulipworld.com/info/bulbcare/images/xtra-europe.gif

"While summers of Lyon, Berlin, Clermont-Ferrand or Stutgart are less hot, because they often know cooler periods. "

Lyon, Berlin and clermont-ferrand don't have the same climates, there is no logic to lump them in one unique group vs Milan. To let thinking that Lyon climate is supposed to have more in common with Berlin's than with Turin's is somehow absurd. If you compare winter's temperatures you will notice that northern Italian plains and in Alpine areas the winters are often colder than both Lyon's and Clermont-ferrand's... That coldness doesn't seem to bother you to link the Po plain with mild areas of mediterranean Europe, when the winters of south-western France are much milder... Often milder than mediterranean climates... and you have big difficulties to understand they are fully part of southern Europe (and situated at the same latitudes, so geographically as much in southern part of Europe as northern Italy)

" First, "half-rounded tiles" (because the real roman roofs were a little bit different) are a scholarly feature, not a vernacular one, spread only among the rich urban people until modern times. "

I'm sorry but "half-rounded tiles" ("tuiles romanes" or "tuiles canal" in french) are a vernacular feature since much longer time than the modern times in Poitou, charentes, Vendée, most of Aquitaine and midi-pyrénées; and, like it or not it is a typical feature of southern Europe.

" The vernacular rural architecture of the regions of Lyon, Limoges, London or Frankfurt until the 19th century were thatched cottages, cottages which had disappeared in the more developped and urbanized Mediterranean regions at least since the Antiquity."

That's wrong. Lyon's vernacular architecture have nothing to see with London's or Frankfurt ones. In your dreams maybe. vernacular architecture that dates back much farther than the 19th century in Lyon's and Clermont-Ferrand areas: http://thalie.t.h.pic.centerblog.net/5se92cgb.jpg http://s1.hubimg.com/u/85063_f520.jpg http://www.tourinfos.com/collectif/r0022/d0069/m0003/photo/z042164a.jpg http://escotal.voila.net/image_thiers/thiers7.jpg

"Second, they have become a southern europe feature, but it was not so in high middle age. For example the carolingian palaces seemed to have what you call "roman tiles", as well in northern Germany as southern France. So, it is probably a residue of an ancient scholarly feature which was spread in all Europe before the apparition of flat tiles in low middle age (maybe in parisian basin). "

First, "tuiles romanes" are nowadays a tipical feature of southern European vernacular architecture; and most non-montainous south-western France has those roofs, as north as in Vendée. It participates as much (if not more) as a definition of a typical southern European ambiance than a mediterranean vegetation and climate can do it. let's see: http://www.villagesdefrance.free.fr/images/photo_talmont.jpg http://image-photos.linternaute.com/image_photo/550/autres-villes-la-flotte-france-1312524677-16875.jpg http://moniquetdany.numeriblog.fr/photos/charentes/marais_poitevin1.jpg http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/12/fa/5d/st-emilion-plaza.jpg All those exemples in a greater south-western France look north European?

Secondly, It is a southern European vernacular feature linked with the roman empire. While it was more common in official buildings during the roman times; it is now a vernacular feature in many places that were included in the roman empire. For quite simple reasons: when the empire collapsed many buildings were made with roman roofs (imbrex (half-rounded tile)+tegula) were destroyed and since then there have bee reclyclings of roman imbrex that became to be re-used in building vernacular houses in a more simple fashion; and then it became the main roof feature in vernacular architecture in many of these regions. The regions of northern Europe (north and east of the Rhine) were roman didn't had long lasting occupations never had this feature that still was tipically southern European. http://www.salvoweb.com/images/userimgs/2/BCA-tuiles-canal-Detail-1_23273_1.jpg Since centuries this kind of roofings is the dominant kind in vernacular architecture in most of southern European places, from Vendée to Andalucia and to Balkans and doesn't exist more northern than Lorraine. Inversely it rarely has been seen as a scholar feature; In South-western France and in many places of Spain the official, aristocratic and bourgeoise architecture often prefered the slate roofs, while rounded tiles were seen as the "normal" and popular housing feature.

" It is a long debate, but the "franco-provençal" dialects seems to share more features with the "langue d'oil" (phonology and morphology especially). '""

Franco-provençal is not closer to langue d'oil, it is considered to be in-between Oil and Oc languages; by the way both are Romance languages, like Spanish and Italian are... Concerning Auvergne and Limousin, their dialects are fully part of the Occitan family.

" I don't speak obviously about landscapes, climate or rural architecture of Savoy, Jura or Southern Burgondy who have nothing to do with southern Europe, but rather with Switzerland, Austria or Germany. "

You can't get out of your mind that southern Europe is not only the extreme and caricatural regions of Andalucia or Sicily. Landscapes and rural architecture of southern Burgondy is very similar to Piemonte region of Italy, Savoy has much more in common also with the neiboring Alpine Italian regions than anything else, including rural architecture. Italy has more Alpine architecture than Germany does by the way, and those Italian mountains have similar landscapes than its neiboring french regions. Concerning Auvergne and Limousin, their landscapes are not less southern European than the landscapes of the northern coast of Spain: Green valleys, dark forests, cows, fresh rivers, low skies, etc... but this is Spain, and it is at the same latitudes than Tuscany: http://www.jorgetutor.com/spain/asturias/asturias1.jpg http://bastian.blog.lemonde.fr/files/2007/07/asturias.1183711393.jpg http://www.notesfromspain.com/wp-content/uploads2/asturias11.jpg http://www.walking-holidays-spain.com/images/pasAsturiasCoast350.jpg http://maxalvarez.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/castropol.jpg

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.213.212.29 (talk) 14:39, 10 July 2010 (UTC)

"Regions with oceanic climate: Galician coasts, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais vasco... have even more "pure" oceanic climate than south-western France...that is Not mediterranean at all."

Completely wrong. According to Köppen classification, Galician coasts have a mediterranean climate (Csb). It is established that Galician coasts have dry summers (see the diagrams of A Coruna), though the hinterland is wetter. That's all. And Pais vasco or Asturias have the same climate as French Basque country  : mild winters and hotter summers - same temperatures in july in Biarritz and Santander -, but not hot enough to be classified in the subtropical zone. Do you want a link to the official weather websites, or are you able to see it alone ?

"and get the traditional products of oceanic areas such as cider instead of wine for exemple in the northern coast of Spain, the main dish there is fabada, a spanish version of cassoulet"

Who cares about cider or cassoulet ? They are not a feature to be classified as southern or northern.

"Inside Spain, especially the castillan plateau has not a mediterranean climate either, but a semi arid continental one"

Wrong. Madrid has the same climate as Orange in France (mean temperature 6° in january, 25° in july, and both are dry in summer).See the Köppen classification which confirms it.

"northern Italy (Po plains and mountains) have not mediterranean climates eit her."

Not mediterranean northern of the Po river, but subropical anywhay, due to the very hot summers (same temperature in july in Marseille and Milan), Cfa in Köppen classification.

"Rhône-Alpes have not an oceanic climate but a mediterranean climate in its southern part"

The whole of Rhône-Alpes has essentially an oceanic climate (semi-continental degradation). There is only a southern-thiny part which can be considered as mediterranean. The mountainous climate has not to be taken in count (there are mountainous climates in tropical areas too...).

"Auvergne and Limousin climates are largely marqued by mountainous and continental degradations and are far to the be typical oceanic climates that you seem to talk about."

Wrong. These areas (Limoges, Clermont-Ferrand, Le Puy...) have all a oceanic climate with a semi-continental degradation, excepted the mountainous areas.

"That said, oceanic climates are not found only in northern Europe (Germany, Netherlands, UK) as you seem to let thinking but are found in the oceanic areas of the Iberian peninsula (which is in southern Europe, no?)"

You always want to challenge the general by using the exception. So, I repeat more clearly : the whole of France, UK, Germany, Benelux...have an oceanic climate, while the whole of Southern Europe has a subropical climate, like it or not.

"north Portugal coast, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais vasco also have oceanic climates"

You can repeat the same things, it won't give you right : Portugal has a mediterrean climate, idem for Galician coasts. Asturias or Pais vasco are less than 5 % in the Iberic peninsula.

"The "whole" of Italy doesn't have one unique climate"

The whole of Italy has a subtropical climate : dry subtropical in the 3/4 (mediterranean), and humid sutropical in the Po plain. Your link does not give any source, in the contrary of the academical and most recognized one in the encyclopedias : Köppen (http://www.uwmc.uwc.edu/geography/100/koppen_web/kop-map-bit.bmp).

"I call Alpine Italy the area of The Alps that are situated in Italy"

Mountainous climate is not a criterium to distinguish the areas of the world : once again, you can find mountainous climate in tropical areas, simply because this climate does not depend of spatial conditions, but of altitude.

"Having a mediterranean climate doesn't mean having hot summers... Summers are often more hot in continental climates."

Completely wrong. In almost all mediterranean regions, the mean temperature of the summer are far hotter than any continental climate.

"Milan and the whole of the Po Plain has much colder winters than those found Marseille and mediterranean climates...it is usually classified as continental or sometimes as of a degradated "chinese type". "

The winters are not a criterium to separate subtropical zones and temperate zones. This is essentially the summer temperatures which counts in this aim. For Milan, certainly not continental. The winters are too mild, nothing to do whith the climates of Moscow or Montreal. And for the "chinese type", you have to know that it is the expression used to design the south-eastern chinese climate, a subtropical one...Just see the Köppen classification.

And like I have said, you want always to challenge the general by the exceptions. Milan does not represent all the northern Italy, and it is at the limit of the subtropical zone. Tuscany, Venitia or Liguria are in Northern Italy too.

"Lyon, Berlin and clermont-ferrand don't have the same climates"

They have all an oceanic climate (semi-continental degradation).

"If you compare winter's temperatures you will notice that northern Italian plains and in Alpine areas the winters are often colder than both Lyon's and Clermont-ferrand's"

Once for all : Lyon, Berlin or Clermont-Ferrand have an oceanic climate. The "semi-continental" degradation is just a nuance which does not challenge the two main oceanic temperature features : the mild winters (compared to continental zone) and the mild summers (compared to subtropical zone) + no dryness of course. Milan has the first (a mild winter), but not the second, because the summers are very hot. That's why Köppen (with probably other reasons) has decided to put the Po plain in subtropical zone.

"and you have big difficulties to understand they are fully part of southern Europe"

And you, you have big difficulties to understand that climatology does not exist to match to your desires, but to establish facts : Milan region (and not all the northern Italy) has colder winters than Provence, but the same summers temperatures. There is more difference between the climate of Clermont-Fd and Tuscany and even Milan, than between the climate of Clermont-Fd and Berlin. Just because of the summers. This is confirmed by Köppen, and you can put all your stereotypes, it won't change anything.

""half-rounded tiles" ("tuiles romanes" or "tuiles canal" in french) are a vernacular feature since much longer time than the modern times in Poitou, charentes, Vendée, most of Aquitaine and midi-pyrénées; and, like it or not it is a typical feature of southern Europe."

Completely false. The vernacular roofs of the whole of France (even SW France, Limousin or Charentes) were thatched roofs until the 18-19th centuries in the country-lands. In the towns or the cities, the tiles have been generalized in the late middle-age. So, you can't say that tiles are a vernacular feature.

"That's wrong. Lyon's vernacular architecture have nothing to see with London's or Frankfurt ones. In your dreams maybe. vernacular architecture that dates back much farther than the 19th century in Lyon's and Clermont-Ferrand areas"

You can't multiply your modern and chosen photos, but it does not change the following facts :

1. Vernacular architecture can be qualified by a lot of features. You have decided to make an obscession on the half-rounded tiles, because it corresponds to your desires, but there are many other features (the material of contruction, the structure of the farm, the style of the gables...).
2. You seem unable to understand what is diachrony : it is not because you see nowadays a feature, that this feature has been here since centuries. There are modern evolutions (by modern, I mean even one or two centuries).
3. I won't make a speech, but in contrary of what you said, the rural houses of Auvergne, Dauphiné, Limousin or even south-western France were essentially thatched cottages for centuries, like it or not. And they had - and have still in numerous areas - the same general structure in the whole of France, in England, Holland or Germany (often longhouses with an more or less archaic structure - I don't give details). We can even find archaic shapes in both France and Germany, or other common architectural features. Nothing to do with Mediterranean areas, and even your "Northern Italy".

"First, "tuiles romanes" are nowadays a tipical feature of southern European vernacular architecture"

Like you have said, it is a "nowadays" feature, not vernacular. Ancient low-classes had not the means to build with tiles. Like I have already said, tiles will be generalized in the country-lands only in the 19th century. I have sources, but I don't think it is necessary. It is a recognized fact by the professionals of architecture.

"Secondly, It is a southern European vernacular feature linked with the roman empire. While it was more common in official buildings during the roman times"

No. Roman tiles were a complex "assemblage" of imbrex and tegula (if I don't mistake, they still exist in some old italian cities). The half-rounded tiles are different and date from the early-middle age.

"it is now a vernacular feature in many places that were included in the roman empire...and since then there have bee reclyclings of roman imbrex that became to be re-used in building vernacular houses in a more simple fashion; and then it became the main roof feature in vernacular architecture in many of these regions."

Once again, no : first, like you have said, Roman tiles were different (imbrex + tegula). Second, it was not vernacular, but scholarly. And third, the half-rounded tiles existed too in the scholarly architecture of early-medieval Germany (even in the non-roman occupied areas), Holland and even England (I have sources and pictures, if you want).

And once for all :

• these tiles were used not for all the inhabitants, but only for monumental buildings until late middle age in the cities, and 19th century in the country lands.
• vernacular architecture has a lot of characteristics. Don't make an obsession with the half-rounded tiles which were not spread by the roman, but far later in the scholarly architecture of the romanic era. In fact, it is more a romanic feature than a romance one. Not the same thing.

"Inversely it rarely has been seen as a scholar feature; In South-western France and in many places of Spain the official, aristocratic and bourgeoise architecture often prefered the slate roofs, while rounded tiles were seen as the "normal" and popular housing feature."

Completely false and free assertions. Once again, the average inhabitant of the country land of temperate Europe had not the means to buy with tiles (in Mediterranean zones and "Northern Italy", it is a different schema for other reasons) : they live in what we call in french "CHAUMIERES". This last was THE REAL VERNACULAR FEATURE in France, even in SW France until the 19th century in the country-lands. And in contrary of what you say, in the 15th century, the half-rounded tiles were spread in the buildings of Toulouse or Le Puy, rich houses or poor houses. Not due to the Roman empire, but due to more recent phenomenons (you have problems of diachrony, I have already said it).

"Franco-provençal is not closer to langue d'oil, it is considered to be in-between Oil and Oc languages"

It is debatable. In the french wiki, it is considered in the same branche as the langues d'oil :

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langues_gallo-romanes

By the way, the inhabitants of Savoy or Lyon have not a southern accent, which can be a mean to distinguish occitan areas and the others.

"Landscapes and rural architecture of southern Burgondy is very similar to Piemonte region of Italy"

No. The whole of landscape of Southern Burgundy, due to the geology, is similar to Central Germany, a region of "low-old mountains" - I have not the exactly translation. For example, the Morvan, the Charolais or the Beaujolais regions "look alike" with regions of Hessland or Thuringe.

And for Southern-Burgundy architecture, you are completely wrong : in the whole of Southern Burgundy, the structure and the appearance of the farms are the same as the rest of Western Europe. And in the Burgundian Bresse, the farms have almost the same archaic structures and appearance as the Frisian ones in Northern Germany or Holland. There has been modifications in the material of the constructions and the functionnal disposition of the new building in the 19th century, but Southern Burgundy has nothing to do with Northern Italy.

"Savoy has much more in common also with the neiboring Alpine Italian regions than anything else"

Not really. In the middle-altitude, wood is far more spread in the traditionnal houses than in the Northern Italy regions (excepted in the very high altitude, where forest disappears). And in the low countries of Savoy, the structure of the farms (ancient or actual) presents almost the same schema as Germany or the whole of France.

"Concerning Auvergne and Limousin, their landscapes are not less southern European than the landscapes of the northern coast of Spain: Green valleys, dark forests, cows, fresh rivers, low skies, etc... but this is Spain, and it is at the same latitudes than Tuscany"

Once again, you use the exception to make a general assertion, by comparing a thiny part of Spain. Auvergne or Limousin landscapes are closer to German mittelgebirge, like it or not. It is like saying that the landscapes of the whole of France should be mediterranean just because there is a thiny mediterranean part. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.161.136.39 (talk) 17:38, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Why so many bad modifications?? prejudice against France?

I notice that this article has changed towards views that exclude France in the definitions where that country abviously belongs, in both culture, language and geography. I try to bring new addings to correct that obviously volontary prejudice. Also, the climatic definition seemed to be rather selective: some areas without mediterranean climate (romania, bulgaria, bigs parts of Spain or Northern Italy are included in this "climatic" definition of southern Europe... but once again the person who has modified the article erase the references areas of similar climate in France, just because they are located in France... (even when they still are located clearly in the southern half of Europe: Rhone Valley, Midi-Pyrénnées, Auvergne, Limousin, south-west, etc...), in line with Italy. On one side of the Alps (because it is Italy the areas are included in the concept, when its transalpine areas, often with milder climate are excluded. Just because the author thinks that France, for obscure reasons shouln't be in any way southern European. I'll try to correct this unfair (and probably politically-oriented) bias. Also, there were once a serie of very good and instructive illustrations that showed about how can be defined teh concept following each point of view (geographic, mediterranean climate, moutains/relief, wine culture, Romance languages, relief, southern European roofings, etc). I can see that the person that removed all the illustrations that didn't followed his own biaised views (all the definitions that showed that France fully of in great part belong to southern Europe, and that seems to bother him.) - I'll try to find them again, they were very instructive and clear to understand. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.174.127.3 (talk) 11:44, 14 October 2011 (UTC)

France in the definitions where that country abviously belongs, in both culture, language and geography

Obviously not, neither culture nor geography. And for the linguistic group (and not the "language"), it concerns only the origin of the vocabulary, French phonology having much more in common with the German or the Dutch languages.

similar climate in France...Rhone Valley, Midi-Pyrénnées, Auvergne, Limousin, south-west

Climatically, southern Europe is characterized by subtropical climates, ie the mediterranean and the humid subtropical one. Neither SW France nor Auvergne and Limousin belong to those climatic areas.

On one side of the Alps (because it is Italy the areas are included in the concept, when its transalpine areas, often with milder climate are excluded.

They are not obscure reasons. On "one side", the climate is humid subtropical (Cfa), and on the other side, it is oceanic (Cfb). See the academic sources.

geographic, mediterranean climate, moutains/relief, wine culture, Romance languages, relief, southern European roofings, etc

You have already posted above your same and never-ending arguments, and answers have been given. You can check them again.

For some personal reasons, you absolutely want to connect France with southern Europe by drawing up a list of chosen criteria, and without real knowledge of the subjects that you talk about. But WP is not a forum for each personal POV pushing. According to the sources, geographically, historically, sociologically and culturally, France is simply not a southern european country.--92.161.41.202 (talk) 17:44, 18 October 2011 (UTC)

• That can be said about other countries. Portugal, Spain, France and Italy are a group though. It is not acceptable to put Portugal, Spain with the Balkans. I bet the reason for this mess is Greece, that has been grouped with the Southern Latin countries due to isolation in the Balkans, but all these countries... In which way Iberia is related to the Balkan countries? geographically? historically? sociologically? culturally? The issue here is not Southern Europe but the list of countries, which includes countries that have little relation with each other ---Pedro (talk) 11:01, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

France in the definitions where that country abviously belongs, in both culture, language and geography Obviously not, neither culture nor geography. And for the linguistic group (and not the "language"), it concerns only the origin of the vocabulary, French phonology having much more in common with the German or the Dutch languages.

Please look at "romance languages". French and the various other romance dialects that are or were traditionnally spoken in France are as much Romance language. It is far to refer only to the vocabulary, the whole french language and culture is an evolution of the vulgar roman culture and language as well as in Spain, Italy or Portugal. You could inform yourself, I'm sorry. French as nothing to do with Dutch and German. Not even speaking about other romance language of France such as Franco-Provençal, The different occitan dialects, Catalan...

similar climate in France...Rhone Valley, Midi-Pyrénnées, Auvergne, Limousin, south-west Climatically, southern Europe is characterized by subtropical climates, ie the mediterranean and the humid subtropical one. Neither SW France nor Auvergne and Limousin belong to those climatic areas. "

Inform yourself once again: Lyon (2nd/3rd french city), Toulouse (4th french city) are both classifyed as humid subtropical following Koppen classification. Marseille (2nd/3rd french city), Nice (5th french city), Toulon (10th french city) are of pure mediterranean climate. How a country which has 5 of its 10 biggest cities in a subtropical zone being completly excluded from "your" climatic definition. What is problematic in your vision is that this ultra-selective attitude applies only to France... It doesn't seem to bother you that Serbia or Bulgaria (which are not concerned at all by by any mediterranean cliamte would be included in the concept... If we shoose to apply restrictive criteriums we should apply them to all the countries, not only to France...

" On one side of the Alps (because it is Italy the areas are included in the concept, when its transalpine areas, often with milder climate are excluded. They are not obscure reasons. On "one side", the climate is humid subtropical (Cfa), and on the other side, it is oceanic (Cfb). See the academic sources. "

The academic sources are clear: Lyon has the same climate as the Italian cities situated at the same latitudes on the other side of the Pyrennes, please inform yourself better. Lyon has the exact same climate as Venice, and lie at the same latitude, and like Venice has a latin-based culture. There is no reason one to be in southern Europe and not the other... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon#Climate

For some personal reasons, you absolutely want to connect France with southern Europe by drawing up a list of chosen criteria, and without real knowledge of the subjects that you talk about. But WP is not a forum for each personal POV pushing. According to the sources, geographically, historically, sociologically and culturally, France is simply not a southern european country.

That's simply wrong. Northern half of France is not in geographical southern Europe that's sure, but the southern half definitly is. Wikipedia can simply not ignore a whole half of a country just because it doesn't please one person. I thought Wikipedia was not a place to have agendas... France is not only Paris and its surroundings (for your information); 60% of the country lie at similar latitudes than Italy (if you don't agree with that, look at maps). If Those areas are not in southern Europe most of Italy (everthing that is north of Campania) is not eiter. you canno't have two weights: One for any country, and one for France and another for the other European countries. If not having all the areas under climates classified as sub-tropical is something that must exclude a whole country, even the area that does have these climate, then you should apply this extreme criterium to the rest of the countries, and exclude Spain, Italy, All Balkans, maybe even Greece to southern Europe. I remind you that an ecnyclopedia is supposed to be scientific, and not made with the goal to please one point of view, whatever it is. A good part of France is without any doubt in southern Europe all criteriums, You just can't do as if half of a country did not existed. I'm sorry but denying this is leading a very un-encyclopedic process. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.140.141.200 (talk) 16:39, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

A biological problem

Most of the above (maybe all ... I lost the will to wade through all of it) is political and cultural, sensu lato (e.g. building styles). The problem is that the article also has biological and ecological importance. Many articles discussing the distribution of species (e.g. the Jersey tiger moth) link to this one, and the person who follows the link will be misled when they are told "definitively" that southern France (for example) is not included. All of France south of the Massif Central is biologically Southern Europe.

To cut a long story short, the definition of Southern Europe depends on the purposes for which it is being discussed. For ecology, France is part Southern and part Northern. Why cannot a country be split? --Wally Tharg (talk) 08:52, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

response from the UN

Seeing all the spats about European sub-divisions (Europe is quite small for dividing!), I have decided to contact the UN and as what they think abou the fact that their geoscheme is so extensively used on Wiki. This is what I received:

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for your email.

The geographical groupings used by the United Nations Statistics Division follow the M49 Standard for Area Codes for Statistical use, details of which can be found here: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm

The designations employed and the presentation of material at this site do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The assignment of countries or areas to specific groupings is for statistical convenience and does not imply any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories by the United Nations.

"Regions" are so drawn as to obtain greater homogeneity in sizes of population, demographic circumstances and accuracy of demographic statistics (another example is Russia -- it is in the continent of Asia but it belongs in the Eastern Europe "region"). This nomenclature is widely used in international statistics but it is by no means universal.

I hope this is useful.

Best regards,

The UN Demographic Yearbook Team.

It seems Wikipedia abuses the geoscheme, while there is actually an openly proposed geoscheme by the Geographical sub-division: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn/docs/23-gegn/wp/gegn23wp48.pdf --131.251.133.25 (talk) 11:47, 4 July 2013 (UTC)

Excellent email response, in my opinion. I also think the UN statistical division of Europe should not be used in Wikipedia as it is simple not a barometer of defining the boundaries of Europe. If nobody responds to this in the next couple of days, I'll have the UN section removed from this article. --Nadia (Kutsuit) (talk) 10:00, 4 July 2014 (UTC)

kosovo is listed as a country, which is a dubious claim

listing kosovo as a 'country' of southern europe is dubious at best

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recognition_of_Kosovo — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.135.108.254 (talk) 11:04, 16 November 2013 (UTC)

turkey is not in europe

so since my last message was removed for being too "vulgar" and attacking wally tharg. i'll say this as nicely as i can. turkey is not in europe so please get it right. it is definitely! not in southern europe. turkey is in the middle east(asia) or west asia, only 3% is further than west asia but no way is it in europe. you could however say, it is NEAR east europe — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.74.199.31 (talk)

First of all, please sign your comments next time. Secondly, please don't insult other Wikipedia members next time or you may be blocked from editing. Don't insult anyone or anything, for that matter. Thirdly, your view regarding Turkey is your personal opinion and has no place in an encyclopedia. --Nadia (Kutsuit) (talk) 14:22, 9 July 2014 (UTC)

November 30 edit request

Can someone add Bulgaria to the 'Turkic Languages' list, under 'Small Communities'? Thanks. AuditoreEzio (talk) 01:37, 30 November 2014 (UTC)

Some questions about Turkey

Why did you guys omit Turkey and Turkish people in almost every part of this article? What I mean:
Why didn't you add the population of European Turkey in the population section?
Why did you exclude Istanbul in the largest urban areas section?
Why doesn't Ataturk International Airport exist in the busiest airports list?
Why didn't you add Turkish language in the languages list? Turkish language has about 12 million speakers in European Turkey alone. In addition to that, there are significant numbers of Turkish speakers in the other Southeastern European countries too. Such as Turks of Western Thrace, Turks of Bulgaria, Turks of Romania, Turks of Kosovo, Turks of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turks of Croatia, Turks of Montenegro and also Turkish Cypriots (Even though Cyprus isn't geographically Europe at all, the article refers to it as a Southern European country, and you added the Greek Cypriots to the total number of Greek speakers in Southern Europe. So then, you have to consider the Turkish Cypriots as a South European population as well.)
"Additionally, there are countries in the eastern part of Southern Europe (e.g., Bosnia, Albania), where Islam is widely practiced." Again, no mentioning of Turkey. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 159.146.21.232 (talk) 01:28, 17 August 2015 (UTC)

Sub-Loirean France is definitely Southern Europe

Weather you like it or not (:

OK lets talk about this here. I agree with you, partially. The current version is ok to me: Since France is fully within Western europe, it is ok to indicate South France (Only southern France) within SouthWestern Europe. This is a common point of view: just look at this page: Northwestern Europe .

Barjimoa (talk) 09:33, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

For me, the whole of France south of the river Loire should be considered within Southern Europe. Indeed, the Loire river is recognised (in many learned fields) as acting as a natrual geographical border in many sundry ways. Another telling point to weigh up, is that the borders of France (relatively recently) sat a good deal further south. Mindseye the borders of French without Brittany, Flanders spreading down to the Somme, and Elsass-Lothringen and bits annexed from Walloonia/Luxembourg/Ardennes. Anyway, thanks for chipping in Barjioma and hope you find use for the term: "Sub-Loirean France" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.121.254.236 (talk) 16:38, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

France

@Julio188red What are you doing? Did you really need to mass revert several edits to remove one line of text? Regardless, it has been included for a long time. Discuss before making changes. Rob984 (talk) 16:33, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Hello i am french of southern france and we are not south european boy and we don't have the same climate of southerne europe i know what is the southern europe and south france isn't southern europe it is the occidental europe. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Julio188red (talk • contribs) 18:18, 9 October 2015 (UTC) South france is not the same climate of italy (north o south) o spain o greece. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Julio188red (talk • contribs) 18:22, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

The point is that Southern France can actually be considered part of Southern Europe. There are a lot ot countries listed both within Western Europe and Southern Europe. Please stop reverting cause you are making disruptive edits (putting Malta and Monaco in the Italian peninsula, or listing Corse twice etc. etc.) Barjimoa (talk) 18:28, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict)Julio188red a procedural note: I have reverted your changes until a consensus is reached here on the talk page per WP:BRD. This gives everyone a chance to comment on the proposed changes. Vrac (talk) 18:31, 9 October 2015 (UTC)z

Comment on the content issue: the Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology, a well-cited source, includes southern France in the definition of southern Europe. Vrac (talk) 18:54, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

OECD, UN, CIA, Eurovoc and all international organisations are ranking France as a western country and not a southern one. It can't be allowed to divide a country into different section, otherwise, that would lead to a massive redesigning of the European map. Shall we cut Italy into a Central European country for the north, and a southern one, same for Germany, northern or central or western, let's cut it in three parts... All the map included in the article are furthermore placing France the same category. One cannot change the classification without real sourcing from a neutral and reliable source. In all the international classifications France is not a southern.country, not is is divided in different parts.--Gabriel HM (talk) 01:06, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

I confess that I don't understand your argument. Southern Europe is not an administrative division; as the article explains it is a grouping made on different levels, none of which are official. Splitting up a country makes no difference in this context, it is a grouping made for intellectual purposes. Note that the article splits northern and southern Italy. As for OECD or CIA ranking France as a western country, those classifications aren't relevant to this grouping. Isn't Spain considered a western country by the OECD? Isn't Spain considered part of southern Europe? As for your comment on sourcing, I cited one above but you appear to have missed it so here it is again: [1]. Vrac (talk) 01:52, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Gabriel, I dont see the problem. Not all of France is listed. I agree with Vrac (talk): Southern Europe is not an administrative division. It is already allowed to divide a country into different sections. Germany is listed both in Western Europe and Central Europe. Northern Germany is included in Northern Europe. Central Europe and North Italy. Russia is clearly both in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia despite what the UN map says. It is full of examples. Barjimoa (talk) 06:47, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Barjimoa, please name several recognised sources such as OECD, UN, CIA, etc to justify your assertion. I just need real sourcing.--Gabriel HM (talk) 11:29, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

The source Vrac provided is enough. Those classification (CIA UN OECD) are not the only relevant to this grouping. For what concerns cultural regions, for example, just look at the European regions as proposed by Ständiger Ausschuss für geographische Namen (StAGN). BTW why did you change the article before the discussion ended?

Barjimoa (talk) 11:56, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Oh and isn't Southern Europe also known as Mediterranean Europe? And It is pretty obvious that Southern France is part of Mediterranean Europe. Barjimoa (talk) 13:01, 10 October 2015 (UTC)

Why one can only find maps of Europe with overly spaced-out latitude lines...

I think there is some rigged built-in clauses where lots of UN buildings/HQs/confrenses HAVE TO be conducted within France!

I think there is also something like a (guideline/law) about the use of the wording: "Northern" anent describing and showing Europe nations. Done to make France not seem so 'Southern'

Another weird thing I have come up against (to do with the aforesaid), is finding maps of Europe with decent amount of latitude lines. The spaces between latitude lines on maps of Europe are far to much spaced-out. Again, I believe this is engineered to make France seem somehow just to the west of Germany when in fact it lies (as a whole) much further to the south of Germany. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.121.254.236 (talk) 16:58, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Most are based on equal area polar stereographic projections (such a this) which have had their longitude–latitude lines removed. Because they are centered on Germany, they make countries such as France and England look further north than they are. I'm pretty such this has caused misconceptions, which are now deeply engraved unfortunately. I'm trying to replace them with orthographic projections, for example File:Europe orthographic Caucasus Urals boundary (with borders).svg and File:EU-France.svg. These hopefully show the curvature of the Earth, thus not misleading the viewer. Rob984 (talk) 17:18, 16 October 2015 (UTC)

Hullo there. I thought England/Britain looked less north than it actually is compared to Europe. Indeed, most would think Berlin is way more northern than London but in fact Berlin would sit somewhere betwixt London and Luton.

What noone will be able to find on the whole wide internet is a map of Europe bearing 'near-set' spaced latitude lines - say something useful like 20 or even 40 mile gaps between each latitude line. What there is, is so far overly spaced-out it doesn't do justest to how much further south the bulk of France sits. All by design folks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.121.254.236 (talk) 18:27, 16 October 2015 (UTC)