Ile de France

Verdant road map of the Ile de France.

This charming map was designed by E. Lancaster and published in Paris by France’s Ministry of Tourism in 1954. It shows the Ile de France, one of the country’s eighteen distinct regions, surrounding the capital city. Though it occupies merely 2% of French territory, over 20% of the country’s population lives within its borders.

Paris is shown as a dark outline in the center of the image, with primary highways radiating out in red. Several vignettes represent nearby attractions, like the cathedral at Chatres and the Chateau de Fontainebleau. Abbeys, bathing sites, and golf courses are also identified according to the legend in the upper left. The map is surrounded by an interesting border – possibly designed to appear like Paris’s iconic Pont Neuf bridge. Six strip maps on the verso provides information and itineraries for recommended tours across the region.