Vitry-sur-Seine, city (1990 pop. 82,820), Val-de-Marne dept., N central France, on the Seine River; an industrial suburb SE of Paris. The chief products are lighting and heating equipment and chemicals. There is some market gardening. In the St. Germain Church (13th-14th cent.) are the tombs of the former lords of Vitry.

Seine-et-Marne, department (1990 pop. 1,078,944), N central France, in Brie. Melun is the capital.

Seine-Saint-Denis, department (1990 pop. 1,388,600), N central France, adjoining Paris. Bobigny is the capital.

Seine-Maritime, formerly Seine-Inférieure, department (1990 pop. 1,226,200), N France, on the English Channel, mainly in Normandy. Cities include Rouen (the capital) and Le Havre (see Havre, Le).

Seine, Lat. Sequana, river, c.480 mi (770 km) long, rising in the Langres Plateau and flowing generally NW through N France. It passes Troyes, Melun, and Paris, whence it meanders in large loops through Normandy, past Rouen, and empties into the English Channel in an estuary between Le Havre and Honfleur. With its tributaries (the Aube, Marne, Oise, Yonne, Loing, and Eure) and connecting canals, it drains the entire Paris basin. One of the most navigable rivers in France, it has been a great commercial artery since Roman times. The channel of the Seine is dredged and oceangoing vessels can dock at Rouen. Much of France's internal and foreign trade moves on the Seine. Paris, Rouen, and Le Havre owe their prosperity to their favorable location on the river.

Neuilly-sur-Seine, city (1991 pop. 62,033), Hauts-de-Seine dept., N central France. One of the wealthiest suburbs of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine also manufactures machines, boilers, and precision instruments. The American Hospital of Paris is there.

Ivry-sur-Seine, industrial and commercial suburb SE of Paris (1990 pop. 54,106), Val-de-Marne dept., N central France. Connected to Paris by subway, its port, on the Seine River, deals in wholesale trade in fuel, timber, barrels, and foodstuffs. Its manufactures include chemicals, metals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and oils. There are churches dating from the 13th, 16th, and 17th cent.

Hauts-de-Seine, department (1990 pop. 1,393,400), N central France, W of Paris. Nanterre is the capital.

Châtillon-sur-Seine, town (1993 est. pop. 7,451), Côte d'Or dept., N central France, in Burgundy, on the Seine River. It was a residence of the early dukes of Burgundy and has a 10th-century church. The town was the site of unsuccessful peace negotiations (1814) between Napoleon I and his opponents.

Asnières-sur-Seine, formerly Asnières, industrial suburb of Paris (1990 pop. 71,850), Hauts-de-Seine dept., N central France, on the Seine River. Boats and perfumes are the major manufactures.