Maps for Travel to the WW1 Battlefields

Modern Road, Walking & Cycling Maps

Numerous modern maps covering the Belgian and French battlefield regions of the 1914-1918 Western Front are produced by the well-known map publishers Michelin and Institute National Géographique (IGN). A number of other independent publishers have recently added maps for tourist itineraries on the battlefields, including walking and cycling routes, to the increased variety of maps now available for visitors to Belgium and France.

Maps recommended for visitors travelling to the 1914-1918 battlefield regions of Belgium and France have been listed here by country and by scale. They will usually be available to buy or order from map stockists. In Belgium and France the Tourist Offices in the relevant region will also usually have maps for sale to cover that particular area. Maps of the local area can be found in the local Belgian and French bookshops, stationery shops, petrol stations and the larger supermarket branches, for example, GB and Cora, which usually have a book section including assorted stocks of Michelin and IGN maps covering the region you are in.

Belgian NGI/IGN Series, Scale 1:50 000

Yser - Ypres Salient battlefield Region

This is a map series by the Nationaal Geografisch Instituut/Institut Geographique National (NGI/IGN) covering Belgium at a scale of 1:50 000. The maps are in the Belgian Top 50 map series. They should be available from the Visitor Centre for Ypres in Ypres or online from worlwidemaps.com. (See our Map Stockists heading below.)

Belgian Walking & Cycling Map Series 1:50 000

Ypres Salient Battlefield Region (Westhoek)

The map is available from the Visitor Centre for Ypres in Ypres. (See our Map Stockists heading below.)

Belgian NGI/IGN Series, Scale 1:20 000

Ypres Salient Battlefield Region

These maps should be available from the Visitor Centre for Ypres in Ypres or online from worlwidemaps.com. (See our Map Stockists heading below.)

Belgian NGI/IGN Series, Scale 1:10 000

Ypres Salient Battlefield Region

The map numbering system includes N for Nord (North) and Z for Zuid (South). The maps covering the commonly visited Ypres Salient battlefield areas are maps 2 north and south, maps 3 north and south and map 6 north.

They should be available from the Visitor Centre for Ypres in Ypres or online from worlwidemaps.com. (See our Map Stockists heading below.)

Michelin Regional Road Maps, Scale 1:200 000 (1cm:2km)

Image of Michelin Map 511

Michelin Regional Road Maps include city maps, 24 hours service stations, toll gates, rest areas, petrol stations, speed cameras and useful travel information.

Michelin Local Maps of France, Scale 1:150 000

Pas de Calais to the Vosges Mountains

Image of Michelin Map 301

French IGN Cartes Tourisme et Découverte TOP 100: Scale 1:100 000 (1cm:1km)

Image of IGN Top 100 Series Map 103 Amiens Arras

Maps providing visitors travelling on foot, by bicycle and car with clear, practical information about what to see in the region, GPS co-ordinates, suggested excursions and tourist routes.

Sportoena Cycling Maps, Scale 1:50 000

French IGN Série Bleu: Scale 1:25 000 (1cm:250m)

Image of IGN Series Bleu Map 2408 E Bray-sur-Somme

The Série Bleu IGN maps listed below cover the Western Front battlefields from the Belgian-French border in French Flanders to the southern and eastern Somme battlefield areas

The numbering system for the French IGN 1:25,000 maps includes a suffix of O for Ouest (West) and E for Est (East).

The IGN website (in French) lists the 1:25 000 maps by region.

Website: www.ign.fr

IGN Top 25 Series: Walking & Hiking Map

Cover IGN Top 25 walking map for Verdun and Meuse.

IGN Top 25 Memory Map

Image of Nord Picardie Champagne Ardennes IGN Top 25 Memory Map

This is a mapping system as computer software with maps.

Michelin Road Atlas: Cemeteries and Memorials in Belgium and Northern France

A road atlas covering the areas of the war cemeteries in Belgium and northern France including Normandy. There is an alphabetical index of the cemeteries and memorials. Scale 1:200 000.

This atlas is produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in association with Michelin. The Michelin road maps in the 1:200 000 scale series are overprinted to show the location of each Commonwealth cemetery and memorial. For information on this atlas and other publications available from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, prices and methods of payment visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website:

Website: www.cwgc.org

This Road Atlas is also available to buy from the shop in the Visitor Centre for Ypres Belgium, and the Thiepval Visitor Centre, France. (See our Map Stockists heading below.)

Battle Maps & Visitor Guides

Image of Battle Map 1914-1918: The Great War in Flanders

Battle Map 1914-1918: The Great War in Flanders (Memorial Museum Passchendaele)

Publisher: Cartografie Aquaterra, ISBN: 9789078131045, Date: October 2008, Language: English, French, German, Folded Map and Guide Book, 64 pages, Scale 1:35 000

Belgian Battlefield of Europe Map

Publisher: Belgian Institut Geographique National, ISBN: 9789059349063, Date: 2011, scale 1:250 000

In Flanders Fields, 1st World War Belgium Tourist Map

NGIB.TOE-803. Publisher: Belgian Institut Geographique National, ISBN: 9789059347403, Date: 2003, Scale 1:100 000

Map 908: France, Battle Sites

Image of IGN Map 908 France Battle SitesPublisher: Institut Geographique National (IGN), ISBN: 3282110090813, IGN Discovery France, Folded Map, Scale 1:1 000 000

The Somme Battlefield 1916 (Fir Tree Aerial Maps)

Cover of Somme Battlefield Map (Fir Tree Aerial Maps)

A contemporary aerial view map of the Somme battlefield of July - November 1916. This skilfully hand-painted map shows the Allied and German Front Lines for 1 July 1916, the lines of advance made by the Allies to November 1916, a list of the locations of British, French and German military cemeteries, memorials and selected places of interest. A2 size 594 x 420mm. Available flat, laminated or folded. £1.00 will be donated to the charity Combat Stress for each Somme map purchased from the website www.themapcentre.com

The Western Front: A Guide of the Great War

An historical and tour guide map. Published by Footstep Maps, Australia. 1999, 2002. (See below for website contact.)

Map Stockists

Visitor Centre for Ypres Shop

Visitor Centre for Ypres & the Westhoek, Belgium

Thiepval Visitor Centre Shop

Thiepval Visitor Centre, Somme, France

Online Map Stockists

Most of the maps listed on this page are available to buy online. The maps listed bu not pictured here may also be available from the stockists shown below.

Image of Michelin Map 533

533: Belgique Nord and Centre (Michelin Regional Maps)

by Michelin

Scale 1:200 000. Edition April 2003, ISBN-10: 2067100963 and ISBN-13: 978-2067100961

Image of Michelin Map 511

511: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardie (Michelin Regional Maps)

by Michelin

Scale 1:200 000. Edition March 2008, ISBN-10: 2067135198 and ISBN-13: 978-2067135192

Image of Michelin Map 301

301: Pas-de-Calais, Somme (Michelin Local Maps)

by Michelin

Scale 1:150 000. Edition March 2008, ISBN-10: 206713356X and ISBN-13: 978-2067133563

Image of IGN Top 100 Series Map 103 Amiens Arras

IGN 103: Amiens, Arras with free distance ruler (New Top 100 Range)

by IGN (Institut Geographique National)

Scale 1:100 000. Edition: 2010. ASIN: B005G3V4DS

Image of IGN Series Bleu Map 2408 E ~ Bray-sur-Somme

IGN 2408 E: Bray-sur-Somme Map (Serie Bleue 1:25 000 scale)

by IGN (Institut Geographique National)

Scale 1:25 000. 1977. ASIN: B001U3QUGY

Image of Battle Map 1914-1918: The Great War in Flanders

Battle Map 1914-1918: The Great War in Flanders (Memorial Museum Passchendaele)

by Memorial Museum Passchendaele

Scale 1:35 000. Edition October 2008. ISBN-10: 9078131047 and ISBN-13: 978-9078131045

Image of IGN Top 25 Map - Forests of Verdun

Forets de Verdun et du Mort-Homme ~ IGN Top 25 3112ET (The Outstanding All Weather Map)

by IGN (Institut Geographique National de France)

Scale 1:25 000. Edition: July 2009. ISBN-10: 0755833805 and ISBN-13: 978-0755833801

Image of IGN Map 908 France Battle Sites

IGN 908. France, Battle Sites

by IGN (Institut Geographique National)

Revised 3rd edition: July 2006. ISBN-10: 2110090812 and ISBN-13: 978-2110090812

Image of Somme - 100 lieux pour les curieux Map

Somme - 100 lieux pour les curieux

by Jean-Francois Leblond

Published by Christine Bonneton maps. Edition: November 2008. 192 pages. ISBN-10: 2862534900 and ISBN-13: 978-2862534909

Image of Nord Picardie Champagne Ardennes IGN Top 25 Memory Map

Nord Picardie - Champagne Ardennes, Memory Map, Premium IGN Top 25 (Software & Maps)

by Memory Map

Scale 1:25 000. Edition: June 2007. ISBN-10: 1845141466 and ISBN-13: 978-1845141462

Cover of the aerial hand-painted Somme 1916 map

Map of the Somme Battlefield 1916 (Fir Tree Aerial Maps)

by Richard Chandler

A2 size 594 x 420mm. Available flat, laminated or folded. £1.00 will be donated to the charity Combat Stress for each Somme map purchased from the website www.themapcentre.com

The following are specialist map publishers and retailers:

Website: www.editions-bonneton.com

Website: www.ign.fr

Website: www.mapsworldwide.com

Website: www.monkeystores.com

Website: www.themapcentre.com

Website: www.stanfords.co.uk

Website: www.footstepmaps.com.au

Related Topics

Tours & Travel to the WW1 Battlefields

Tours & Travel to the WW1 Battlefields

Guidebooks for the WW1 Western Front Battlefields

Guidebooks for the WW1 Western Front Battlefields