Practical digital skills

Find a map after the Géoportail migration

Open Cartes.gouv.fr, recover the relevant place and layers, then check dates, scale and sharing before replacing an old Géoportail link.

Step-by-step guideUpdated
Follow the method ↓
Documents and a screen used to locate and check mapping data

The answer in 30 seconds

An old bookmark may redirect to a new interface without restoring the entire map context. Keep its original address and note the place, background, layer and zoom you needed. These details help recover a useful view if the shared link behaves differently.

The Explore maps service on Cartes.gouv.fr succeeds Géoportail. Use its help to convert an old link and then verify the place and layers actually displayed. Read each layer’s source, date and scale before measuring, citing or sharing a map.

Examples to adapt

A bookmark loses its layers

Use the old URL and notes to reconstruct the view, then verify each layer.

Two aerial images differ

Compare acquisition dates, resolution and coverage before concluding that the terrain changed.

A map for a report

Keep source and scale; a screenshot alone is not proof of a property boundary.

Follow the method

  1. 1
    Keep the original context

    Save the Géoportail URL and accompanying notes. Distinguish place, displayed data and personal annotations; a redirect does not establish that all were preserved.

  2. 2
    Open the official explorer

    Visit Cartes.gouv.fr and Explore maps. Read the viewer documentation for functions and Géoportail link conversion.

  3. 3
    Rebuild the useful view

    Find the place and select the background and necessary layers. Compare them with the original purpose rather than selecting a visually similar layer without checking.

  4. 4
    Read the metadata

    Record the producer, date and coverage of aerial images and thematic data. Today’s access date is not the image acquisition date.

  5. 5
    Test the new shared link

    Create a share link, open it in another tab and check the result. Save a title, date and layer explanation for readers who do not know the context.

A checklist to keep

Use these checks to record your observations. They are a reading aid, not an automatic assessment.

Find a map after the Géoportail migration: checklist
CheckWhat to examineAction
Old linkURL and notesKeep the context
ViewPlace, background, layersRebuild and compare
DataDate, source, scaleQualify the interpretation
SharingTested linkDocument the result

Download the CSV checklist

Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.

What to check

Géoportail remains a valid name in historical references and files.

Deep zoom does not guarantee measurement precision.

Reuse conditions depend on the selected data.

Test a shared link instead of assuming it reproduces the current session.

Common questions

Should I delete old bookmarks?

Keep them until an equivalent view has been recovered and tested, then save the new link with a clear title.

Were the displayed data collected today?

Not necessarily. Interface access dates differ from image acquisition or survey dates. Read the layer metadata.

Does a visible parcel establish ownership?

No. Use appropriate legal documents and competent professionals for ownership or disputed boundaries.

Sources and documentation

Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.

Reference record for this resource

Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.

Read the Cartes.gouv.fr (ancien Géoportail) record →

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