Maps

[Patf]

Does anyone know if there's another series of maps similar to the Serie Bleue? The one we have for our area is out of date ie 1985, 2nd edition. Scale 1:25000. There are lots of new paths and cleared spaces now which don't appear on it. I like to look at maps and plan where to go then check up afterwards.

[Clair]

French maps are produced by the IGN (Institut Géographique National).

Their website is not loading at the moment, but you can find out which are the most recent maps available for your area.

Maps can take years to update. For instance, the man-made lake 10km away was officially opened in 1996, but the new blue map showing it only became available in 2003...

[Jonzjob]

You could also look at www.geoportail.fr and on the small windows that appear on the left of the map window you will find the option for 'Ma Selection' on the lower window. Expand that and there's a heading for 'Cartes' with a cross in the box on the left. Expand the and it will give 'Carte IGN' click that and a tick will appear. Now you will have a slider in the top window marked 'Cart IGN'. Slide to the right and you have all the IGN maps for France at your finger tips. Fairly small, but you will be able to see what is available and if you're anything like me you will have the odd 1/2 hour looking at it. Slide to the left and you have the same sort of thing as Google Earth.

[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Image1.jpg[/IMG]

[Deimos]

I have found some Series Blue "Carte de

Randonnee". They look pretty much like the normal blue ones

except they cover both the E and O maps (i.e double the size in an

E/W direction). My one has the same number as the normal Blue one

with ET (rather than E or O). The bit on the back with the grid

showing the coverage of the map and neighbouring maps is the normal

Blue series grid but with the E and O sections covered shaded. I got

it from the same rack as the normal blue series ones.

It is pretty

much the same as the Blue ones except it marks a load of footpaths

and bridleways not on the normal ones. Plus they are marked really

clearly - with both thick lines !!

If you have problems finding

any, try somewhere like Decathelon or Intersport as they sell maps

and I would expect it the sort of thing they would sell.

Ian

[Patf]

Thanks for the ideas folks - I'll check them out. 

[crépuscule]

If you've got a GPS, check that the map has "Compatible GPS" on the front before you buy it.

[Bob T]

I have three GPS's, car, motorbike and aircraft, but have never been able to squeeze even the GPS compatible maps into the slots on the GPS's.

[Jonzjob]

Bob yer a bloody nit. You have to cut them up to the correct size[:-))].

Gawd, anyone knows that!!!

[Patf]

Last night we spent a bit of time on the geoportail site - it's very interesting. Managed to enlarge it too - husband not me, he's the techno expert.