In this article it's discussed the particularities of the foundation and development of the cities of France from the ancient times till the First World War. Here are presented those principal indexes that provides the foundation of the cities in the country and their specific function.

By their economical-geographical location, functional property production profile and historical development it is researched and grouped the following types of cities: antique, roman, feudal and bourgeois epoch. According to the number of historical-geographical factors, they became the huge port, military, resort, religion, financial and political citadels.