Get a Bird's Eye View of Your French Property

Geoportail, the French competitor to Google Earth, just gets better, and is now an invaluable web tool for buyers. Last year the French National Geographic Institute (IGN) launched a web based mapping service that produces aerial based imagery of France. The level of resolution of the pictures is generally far better than is available on the satellite imagery from Google Earth. It is an extremely useful tool for prospective buyers, who can expect to see a reasonably clear delineation of the land and buildings of a property.

Whilst you can type in the name of a village or hamlet and obtain an overview of the locality, you will need the assistance of the seller or agent to be able to pinpoint the property, using the coordinate tools available on the site. IGN continue to make improvements to the site, notably by the recent introduction of 3D. Whilst this tool is of less use for countryside areas, it comes into its own in coastal areas, mountain regions and major cities. IGN have also started to introduce a range of additional information that can be overlaid on the site, such as administrative boundaries and risk zones. There are also a number of tools you can use, notably one to measure distances between points, and the ability to scroll over the page. In addition to the aerial photo shots, you can also obtain free access to the detailed (to 1:2000) IGN maps on screen. Both the maps and the aerial photos can be used in tandem on screen. Needless to say, the site is in French, and parts of it do take a bit of understanding to use. But, be patient and persistent, and you will be rewarded with a rich vein of information about an area and a particular property. You can find the site at Geoportail