Maps (as in paper) for France

[Andy in Germany]

Are there any maps available for cyclists in France, as in real, proper paper maps that don't require a smart phone?

This Luddite wants to go a bit more international and dislikes things with batteries.

 

[chriswoody]

I've used Michelin maps before with great success. There's a good article here detailing the options available to you:
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/maps-for-cycling-in-france.html

You can probably pick them up easily in Germany, I know my local Thalia book shop stocks them.

 

[bluenotebob]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'maps for cyclists', Andy.

I have an IGN publication here called 'Greenways and Cycle Routes of France' that covers all the major cycle routes in France - 1cm = 10km

For all my local route planning I use IGN Série Bleue maps - 1 cm = 250m .. and they're excellent.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'maps for cyclists', Andy.

I have an IGN publication here called 'Greenways and Cycle Routes of France' that covers all the major cycle routes in France - 1cm = 10km

For all my local route planning I use IGN Série Bleue maps - 1 cm = 250m .. and they're excellent.

Our local state (Baden-Württemberg) makes largeish (1:50 000) scale maps with useful information like cycleways and bike shops which are great but I'm not only a couple of hours from the French border and I'd like to avoid driving on the rather scary French roads. And not get lost...

 

[Tom B]

Yes... I got mine from dash4it.co.uk

 

[bluenotebob]

Our local state (Baden-Württemberg) makes largeish (1:50 000) scale maps with useful information like cycleways and bike shops which are great but I'm not only a couple of hours from the French border and I'd like to avoid driving on the rather scary French roads. And not get lost...

I've had a look through my map collection and it seems to be a choice between 1:200,000 and 1:25,000

I suggest you find a 1:200,000 map for the area in France closest to you (Michelin used to make them - perhaps they still do). Some of their publications cover both France and Germany - are you in the Strasbourg/Karlsruhe area?

Have a look at that map then try and source 1:25,000 maps for the areas that look most attractive. Maybe your local bookshop can help? One of my local supermarkets sell these maps and they've ordered a few for me that they didn't have in stock.

It's not very helpful now - but someone on here was selling boxloads of old French road maps a few weeks ago ...

A map that shows bike shops sounds great ! .. I've never seen one here but perhaps they exist.

If you stick to quiet roads in France then you'll find that the majority of French drivers are patient and courteous.

 

[Alex H]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/free-french-ign-serie-verte-maps-1-100000.265357/

No idea what the post cost is to Germany, but I do have 12,31,30,23 which are nearest to you

 

[Badger_Boom]

The IGN 1:25,000 equivalent of our beloved OS are pretty good in my experience.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I've found the Michelin regional maps (usually around 1:200k) fine for touring in France (you'd need dozens of 1:25k). I've also got on fine with the relevant pages of a 1:250k road atlas torn out. I find it helpful to have a large scale map covering the whole route i.e the whole country for planning as I never have a pre-planned route, just start & finish points.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I'd echo Dave: 1:25,000 maps are great for walking but for cycling 1:100,000 is really the largest scale you should consider. 1:150;000 are good and so are 1:200,000 (3+ miles to the inch). You get (book) atlases at this sort of scale. 1:250,000 (~1" to 4 miles) paper page torn/cut from atlas) is doable for longer distance rides but you're starting to lose detail - I use this, but if I can I prefer the larger scales (again paper page(s) torn/cut from atlas), sometimes with a pre-planned route highlighted.
For planning (using Ride-with-GPS and GoogleMaps), I complement a heavier weight 1:200,000 paper atlas (book) with the use of http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php and (gets you down to 1:25,000) https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf...st=2&pc=GL17+9DL&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf
(And thank you very much @Alex H - I will use your 1:100,000 ones for next summer's tour.)
For a tour in Haute Provence France last autumn I used this supplier: http://www.mapsman.com/
334 Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes
Michelin Local 150/180:000
http://www.mapsman.com/store/category.php?id=44

 

[Globalti]

IGN has a good website. We've bought some lovely old1:10,000 Alpine maps for framing.

 

[slowmotion]

I've bought maps of different European countries from this excellent Dutch map shop.

https://www.dezwerver.nl/

I don't speak a word of Dutch but the people on the end of the phone speak excellent English.

 

[rualexander]

IGN 1:100,000 Top 100 series maps are the best for cycle touring.
https://ignrando.fr/boutique/top-100-ign.html

 

[alicat]

^^^^ wot @rualexander said. You can check the range at Stanfords and perhaps see if you can buy them closer to you.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

At the risk of flummoxing you with another suggestion, I highly recommend these guys

https://webshop.fietsvakantiewinkel.nl/fietskaarten/europa/frankrijk.html

Obviously shipping will be a tad more expensive but the service is excellent.
When I (dumbly) ordered the wrong ACA maps (a special order, low volume product for them) they were happy to arrange a swap.

For any other cycle tourist it's worth signing up for their email - there are regular clearance offers on cycle touring articles, not just maps. Great deals to be had and the folks are actually bike tourists.