Meet us

One call on the first Thursday of every month, from 5 to 6 pm, plus regular drop-in sessions - online, open to all, no registration. Next up: Thursday, 3 September 2026.

videocam

Upcoming calls

The joining link and the calendar button are on each date.

event

Thursday, 3 September 2026

next up

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Damien Deville

Damien Deville - geographer, author and speaker - will tell us about their work and about their book “La France des Mille Lieux”.

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Second launch call for Map Day

12 pm - 1 pm (online)

A second launch session for Map Day, at lunchtime, for those who cannot get away at the end of the day.

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 17 September 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 24 September 2026

A call to showcase your own initiatives

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Come and present what you have set up, dreamt up or tried out around maps: this call is yours.

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 1 October 2026

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

IGN logo

Mickaël Borne, a software architect at IGN, will present GéoContext: a tool that connects to your AI tools so that anyone can easily build maps from a wealth of verified (and verifiable) IGN data.

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 5 November 2026

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Nephtys Zwer

Nephtys Zwer, a historian specialising in counter-cartography, will share their work, and in particular their latest book, “Une autre histoire des cartes”, published in May 2026 by Éditions du commun.

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 3 December 2026

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Maxime Salles

Maxime Salles, an independent cartographer and geomatics specialist, will present their work and their many original ventures - among them a podcast they have hosted since 2024.

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 10 December 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 17 December 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Tuesday, 22 December 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Tuesday, 29 December 2026

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 7 January 2027

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Valentin Chaput

Valentin Chaput, co-founder of Open Source Politics, who has spent ten years building and spreading an open digital democracy, will talk to us about the use of maps in participatory projects, and about what is at stake.

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 14 January 2027

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 21 January 2027

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
support_agent

Thursday, 28 January 2027

Drop-in call · 5 pm - 6 pm

Do you have questions or feedback about La République des Cartes or Map Day?

Would you like to run the workshop “The maps we need” or the game “Cards on the Table”?

Join us at the “drop-in” calls, which grow more frequent as Map Day approaches!

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 11 February 2027

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Jean-Louis Frechin

Jean-Louis Frechin - author, strategist, designer and architect, founder of the NoDesign.Net agency - will talk to us about the role of maps and about the work they have carried out in recent years.

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 4 March 2027

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of Patrice Mitrano

Patrice Mitrano, head of the cartography studio at Sciences Po, will present Khartis, the online thematic mapping tool designed and developed by their team.

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 1 April 2027

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Olivier Godard - Concours Carto

Olivier Godard will introduce the finalists of the Concours Carto: an association they co-founded in 2012, which runs mapping competitions for pupils from primary school to the preparatory classes, with more than 7,500 entrants across France in the latest edition.

videocamJoin link
event

Thursday, 6 May 2027

5 pm - 6 pm (online)

Portrait of David Chavalarias

David Chavalarias, director of the Complex Systems Institute of Paris Île-de-France, will tell us about the GPS of the social web: a tool that lets people find, follow and directly connect to key accounts across several networks from a single interface - the better to get their bearings, map their followers, and much more besides…

videocamJoin link

Why these calls

To exchange, to keep in touch throughout the year, and to prepare the next Map Day. La République des Cartes does not stop at Map Day alone. Do reuse the teaching resources available to you all year round, and propose your own activities under the banner of La République des Cartes, as long as they respect the Charter. And do join the monthly calls - to come aboard if you are discovering us, to pick up the latest news and resources, to share your own, and to meet some remarkable guests!

Watch past calls

Past monthly calls, with their chapters, slides and the resources mentioned.

play_circle

Thursday, 4 June 2026

Replay available

Le Printemps des Cartes festival - Montmorillon

A look back at the Printemps des Cartes festival in Montmorillon, with those who took part.

play_arrowWatch the replay
play_circle

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Replay available

Portrait of Eve Ben-Haïm

Eve Ben-Haïm, a geographer at Ubisoft, will tell us about their work on the cartography of video game worlds. All welcome.

play_arrowWatch the replay
event_busy

Thursday, 6 August 2026

Past call

The summer call: no single speaker this month. Come and share your news, your finds and your experience, where cartography meets democracy.

Monthly call - Eve Ben-Haïm (Ubisoft)

Thursday, 2 July 2026

closed_captionSubtitles can be turned on with the “CC” button in the player (subtitles generated automatically from the audio - spelling, quality and overall timing are approximate)

listChapters

1
Introduction
0:00
Matthieu ChatryIntroducing the new format of themed calls
play_circle
2
Talk by Eve Ben-Haïm (Ubisoft) - “Video games and cartography: on the long-standing affection between fictional worlds and map design”
2:36
Introducing Eve Ben-Haïm
play_circle
open_in_newLinkedIn profile
3:56
Was literature the first cultural champion of the map as a way of picturing our imagined worlds?
play_circle
5:32
The map as an aid to reading!
play_circle
6:08
Maps raise questions of both usefulness and beauty: they carry information about the world, and about the way we imagine it.
play_circle
7:06
In every case, more or less deliberately, maps carry information and imagination at once.
play_circle
7:33
Imagination and information live side by side, and can reinforce one another
play_circle
8:45
Provided, that is, that one understands “the codes”…
play_circle
9:18
Video game cartography, shaped by that artistic, cultural and functional heritage and aimed at varied audiences, faces the same challenges.
play_circle
10:01
Mapping in video game design: from the role of the Humanities & Inspiration team to the design challenges
play_circle
12:15
World Fabric, our encyclopaedia devoted to research in the humanities and the natural sciences.
play_circle
13:02
A cartographic effort begun in the 2010s, the World Mapping Facility, carried forward since with our new tool Cartograph!
play_circle
19:01
A few design challenges of our teaching maps
play_circle
21:14
And more still for the map interfaces built into video games!
play_circle
21:47
One of the paradoxes of video game design: map interfaces feature in a great many games.
play_circle
22:10
And yet trained cartographers rarely work in video games.
play_circle
22:54
A few design challenges specific to map interfaces in video games
play_circle
30:07
Maps within game experiences: a way of questioning our relationship to maps outside video games?
play_circle
35:43
Video games invite us to handle maps differently.
play_circle
36:09
To dig deeper, you should read Lucas Friche
play_circle
open_in_newLucas Friche’s thesis
3
Questions & comments
37:41
Bastien (geomatics specialist)Thanks
play_circle
39:45
Marie-HélèneWhat is the “grammar” of a map? Who lays down the rules, and in what form? Can they be consulted, and how do they change?
play_circle
44:50
MargauxComment & thanks - the power of the map deserves to be better known among business leaders
play_circle
44:54
Eve Ben-HaïmThe cartographic work of Jules Grandin, in particular on strategic decision-making
play_circle
open_in_newJules Grandin’s websiteopen_in_newJules Grandin’s LinkedIn profileopen_in_newThe “Plan Carte” series by Jules Grandin for Les Echos
47:25
BastienHow does the team work together? What is the process for gathering ideas and pooling them…?
play_circle
53:30
BastienThe Story Map tool developed by ESRI
play_circle
open_in_newThe Story Map tool
55:00
Matthieu Chatrymacarte.ign.fr, which is due to move to cartes.gouv.fr
play_circle
open_in_newmacarte.ign.fropen_in_newcartes.gouv.fr
56:44
Lubin & Eve Ben-HaïmMinecraft à la Carte - minecraft.ign.fr
play_circle
open_in_newminecraft.ign.fr
59:00
Wrap-up, upcoming sessions, calendar and goodbyes
play_circle

Launch call for Map Day 2027

Monday, 29 June 2026

closed_captionSubtitles can be turned on with the “CC” button in the player (subtitles generated automatically from the audio - spelling, quality and overall timing are approximate)
descriptionSlides - Map Day 2027 launch call
open_in_newViewdownloadDownload
assignmentMinutes - Map Day 2027 launch call
open_in_newViewdownloadDownload

listChapters

1
Launch call for Map Day 2027
0:00
Opening & introductions
play_circle
3:05
About La République des Cartes
play_circle
10:00
Map Day 2027, in practice
play_circle
13:02
An overview of the 2026 initiatives & resources
play_circle
21:13
Discussion: the exhibition, cartographers & going international
play_circle
32:04
The calendar of collective moments
play_circle
37:09
Marie Bernard (Nantes)A contact within the national education system for the skills frameworks
play_circle
38:52
François (Erstein)Agricultural education & textbooks: a network to activate
play_circle
40:08
Guillaume Ains (FNEG)2027, a presidential election year: what link between maps & democracy?
play_circle
40:44
Emmanuelle RouxOur stance on the presidential election: republican spirit, charter, neutrality
play_circle
43:08
Wandrille LeroyWhat place for the humorous map?
play_circle
44:47
Emmanuelle RouxA broad scheme, within the terms of the charter
play_circle
46:08
Philippe De Valence (IGN)Éditions Autrement (Anne Lacambre), a contact to make
play_circle
48:10
KevinA media partnership with Le Dessous des Cartes (Arte)?
play_circle
48:28
Matthieu & EmmanuelleThe media strategy: local media & media of democratic engagement
play_circle
50:42
François LecordixA back cover in the bulletin of the French Cartographic Committee
play_circle
51:23
François (Erstein)Sensitive mapping & migrant journeys (audiences who do not speak French)
play_circle
52:54
Emmanuelle RouxAgricultural education, MFR and agricultural colleges to bring on board
play_circle
54:12
A coalition of partners & major cities to engage
play_circle
56:55
Why aim for 1,000 locations - going through network leaders
play_circle
58:31
Eric (in the chat)Why not the weekend before or after?
play_circle
58:46
Emmanuelle RouxChoosing a Wednesday & the idea of a “map week”
play_circle
59:56
Closing
play_circle

Monthly call - A look back at the Printemps des Cartes

Thursday, 4 June 2026

closed_captionSubtitles can be turned on with the “CC” button in the player (subtitles generated automatically from the audio - spelling, quality and overall timing are approximate)
picture_as_pdfSlides - call of 4 June 2026
downloadDownload the PDF

listChapters

1
A look back at the Printemps des Cartes festival
0:00
Matthieu ChatryOpening and running order
play_circle
1:06
Matthieu ChatryIntroducing the Printemps des Cartes festival (Montmorillon)The 7th edition of the festival, run by the MJC of Montmorillon in partnership with the University of Poitiers.
play_circle
3:05
Clément TychyjThe place-names caféA talk hosted by Olivier Plessis with Anne Laure Robin (poet) and Nicolas Champion (IGN) - an advent calendar of place names.
play_circle
open_in_newThe place-names advent calendar (LinkedIn)open_in_new“Le vieux Mans, une histoire d’escaliers” by Clément Tychyj - the winners’ portfolio
6:07
Clément TychyjCartographic intrigues, by Jean-Luc ArnaudAn exhibition of islands seen from an unexpected angle, by a former CNRS director.
play_circle
7:52
Matthieu ChatryPhonetic twinnings (Anne Laure Robin) and the GeoGEM associationPlace-name exhibitions, and teaching about careers in geomatics.
play_circle
9:18
Matthieu ChatryA 3D map of Poitiers - University of Poitiers laboratorySix 3D-printed blocks and a projector, to explore different base maps (warming, biodiversity, vulnerabilities).
play_circle
10:49
Matthieu Chatry“Et si on changeait le territoire ?” - Sarah BertrandA “sensitive expertise” workshop run by the Versailles social action centre: freely interpreting a map of the area.
play_circle
11:48
Matthieu ChatryEmbroidery workshop - Louise Daneve (University of Mons)An embroidery workshop in Montmorillon. A thesis defended in spring 2026 on alternative cartographic representations.
play_circle
12:39
Mickaël BorneAI-generated maps from IGN data (BD Topo)A demonstration of an AI connector that draws on the IGN BD Topo to produce maps (getting to the festival, a tourist map, searching for a missing person). Tools used: the GeoContext project + Claude.
play_circle
open_in_newAI-generated map of how to reach the Printemps des Cartesopen_in_newGeoContext on GitHub (IGNFab)
16:44
Matthieu ChatryConcours Carto - Olivier GodardA mapping competition for secondary school pupils, with several thousand entrants every year. Co-founded by Olivier Godard, whom we met at the Printemps des Cartes festival.
play_circle
open_in_newconcourscarto.com
19:22
Clément TychyjThe CartoIGN competition - theme “1000 et une forêts”A dedicated competition, open to entrants outside IGN, with one mandatory IGN forestry dataset. Deadline: 30 June 2026.
play_circle
21:09
Anne LacambreEmbroidered maps - at Martine Laborde’sMaps combining drawing (Martine Laborde) and embroidery (Anne Lacambre): a leporello, a globe, a magic heart, projections.
play_circle
open_in_newAnne Lacambre’s embroidery shown at the Printemps des Cartes (LinkedIn)
22:50
Anne LacambreWorkshop on plane-table drawing and field completion - Stéphane (IGN)A presentation of a historic IGN craft: completing maps in the field. Jean-Denis Charrier gives their account (forty years in the job), and mentions the 1956 IGN film “La naissance d’une carte”.
play_circle
open_in_new“La naissance d’une carte” - a collector’s IGN film (1956)
25:33
Clément Tychyj & Anne LacambreRecommendations - come to the festival!
play_circle
2
Fifteen minutes of La République des Cartes news
25:46
Matthieu ChatryBackground, coalition, resources and the first Map DayAn introduction to the initiative, its partners (IGN, Banque des Territoires, OVHcloud, La Fabrique de la Cité, Léonard/Vinci, Docaposte, La Poste…), the steering committee, the ready-to-use resources (website, Sismique podcast, the workshop “The maps we need”, Ubisoft’s game “Cards on the Table”, the exhibition), and a review of the first Map Day (115 organisations, 120 events on 4 February 2026).
play_circle
36:36
Matthieu ChatryAmbitions for 2027, the ambassador network and upcoming callsHeading for Map Day on 3 February 2027: new cartographic representations, a democracy strand, a digital sovereignty strand, a target of 1,000 events and an ambassador network. Upcoming calls: 25 June (Map Day 2027 launch) and 2 July (Eve Ben Haïm, geographer at Ubisoft).
play_circle
open_in_newSign up for the calls
3
Comments / Wishes / Questions / Self-promotion
43:43
Matthieu ChatryOpening the self-promotion slot
play_circle
44:10
Lucien PoissonAFIGÉO + GeoDataDays - the association’s 40th anniversaryLa République des Cartes is a partner of the GeoDataDays. The geo-digital and cartography area has been renamed for the occasion. AFIGÉO celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
play_circle
46:42
François LecordixThe French Cartographic CommitteeFrance’s representative to the International Cartographic Association. Currently considering a greater involvement in 2027.
play_circle
47:35
Anne LacambreA colouring atlas - Éditions AutrementA colouring atlas, made at Martine Laborde’s with Audrey Lagalle (scientific illustrator). Two metres of zigzag colouring, published in mid-June.
play_circle
open_in_newÉditions Autrement
48:46
François LecordixThe “Villes et villages de France” arrow-words by JujubierA map of France as an arrow-word puzzle, with several themes (towns, food…). Four months of work for a geography expert! A gift idea for your nearest and dearest.
play_circle
open_in_newBuy the giant grid (Le Robert)
50:23
Matthieu ChatryWrap-up and goodbyeSee you on 25 June (Map Day 2027 launch) and on 2 July (Eve Ben Haïm, Ubisoft).
play_circle

Where to find us

public

State of the Map 2026

Géodata Paris, Champs-sur-Marne

28, 29 and 30 August

open_in_new
school

Symposium “Troubles dans la cartographie – Contre-cartographie et changements de paradigmes”

Sorbonne Université, Paris

7, 8 and 9 September

open_in_new
storage

Géodatadays

Tours (37)

16 and 17 September

open_in_new
public

Festival International de Géographie

Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (88)

2, 3 and 4 October

open_in_new
calendar_month

30DaysMapChallenge

Online

All through November

open_in_new
forest

Concours Carto IGN

Across France

Theme: forests

open_in_new

Would you like to host us?

Invite La République des Cartes to your event, trade show, conference or festival. We are glad to come and meet you, and to bring the project to life with you.

event

Events

Talks, round tables and interventions on cartography as a lever for democracy

construction

Workshops

Running the workshop “The maps we need” for your participants

museum

Exhibitions

Setting up travelling exhibitions on cartography as a lever for democracy

Do get in touch using the form at the bottom of the page, or on the contact page.