France Selected References (Généalogie en France) 🇫🇷
Genealogical research in France is primarily conducted through the superb network of departmental archives (Archives départementales), which have digitized most civil records (état civil) and parish registers (registres paroissiaux) from the late 16th century up to the early 20th century. The national portal, FranceArchives, serves as the gateway to the collections of all departmental and municipal archives. The resources below provide links to these essential national portals and specific, historically significant regional archives (especially Alsace-Lorraine, which has complex German-French history).
Centralized National Portals & Archives 🏛️
- FranceArchives (The official national portal and directory for all archives in France)
- Archives Nationales (National Archives of France - Focus on national administration, not local parishes)
- Filae (Commercial site, one of the largest indexes of French vital records - requires subscription/fee)
- Geoportail (Official French national geographical portal for historical maps and cadastral plans)
- Gallica (Bibliothèque nationale de France - BNF) (Digital library for newspapers, books, and manuscripts)
Vital Records & Digital Collections 📜
- Cercle Généalogique de France (Largest non-profit association of French genealogy societies)
- Geneanet (Major collaborative European genealogy site, highly active in France)
- Archives of Paris (Extensive online resource for the capital, including reconstructed civil records)
- Base Léonore (Index of members of the Legion of Honour, includes birth/death/marriage details)
- Mémoire des Hommes (Ministry of Defense portal for military records and war casualties)
Regional & Historically Significant Archives 🇩🇪🇫🇷
- Alsace (Alsace-Lorraine / Elsass-Lothringen): The records in this area switch between French and German administration, making these sites crucial.
- Lorraine (Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse):
Credits
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.