Bornes routières

They are the little markers located at the side of every main road, having provided assistance to motorists for hundreds of years. If you've been to France, you've probably passed dozens of them without a second thought.

However, these little signs have become an important part of French culture, being reproduced as souvenirs, gifts and wedding table placards. It even lends its name to a card game!

 

What is their purpose?

Borne routières are simply there to tell motorists where they are, should they need to summon assistance in an emergency.

They state the road's number at the top, colour coded according to the its classification, as well as the location by way of a distance.

Traditionally this distance was in kilometres, but as roads change course due to upgrades and other traffic management, they have sometimes become more of a reference point than an accurate distance.

On some motorways and major dual carriageways, they are supplemented by smaller hectometre placards located every 100 metres or so.

 

What is their origin?

The earliest distance markers orginated in Roman times, located roughly every mile along the empire's road network.

The markers of today have their origins during the reign of Louis XV; made of stone and standing 130 cm tall, the first ones were installed sometime after 1745 along the principal Royal Roads.

Posts were installed roughly every two kilometres, with the distance increasing with distance away from Paris; they were always situated on the left hand side of the road when heading away from Paris. Point zero was designated at the front of the Notre Dame in the centre of the capital, designated by a marker stone in the pavement that is still there today.

Their use was expanded under Napoleon Bonepart's tenure, who decreed that all Imperial roads would to be marked with such posts every kilometre - this gave rise to the traditional name of borne kilométrique.

To make them more visible to passing traffic, the tops were painted red - the reason why the colour is these days used to indicate a route nationale (and autoroute).

Similar posts were later introduced on other classes of road, with their tops painted according to the road's status.

 

Designs of bornes

The traditional borne kilométrique is easily identifiable with its rounded top. Some departments put the distance on the side, with an arrow pointing towards the point of origin.

Newer versions are made from alternative materials such as polyethelyne, resin or aluminium; they come in a traditional design, or in more economical "flat" formats.

  
Comparison of traditional stone and newer style borne kilométriques

Where space is at a premium, a newer style borne routière may be used instead. These come as a simple rectangular placard, and can be post mounted or affixed in a housing at ground level, which is useful where the verges need regular maintenance! Some departments use their own post designs, whilst others have taken to merly painting the reference points on the road.

  
Newer simpler style borne routière and on-road painted equivalent

 

Why do some bornes have "PR" on them?

Some authorities don't refer to the reference distance as a kilometre point, but a more generic point de repère (reference point). This is also the preferred term used by the French State when referring to marker posts.

This is useful where it is not possible to indicate kilometres precisely, or where a road has been realigned (such as a bypass) and the local authority wishes to avoid having to remeasure the entire road; instead they opt to position the markers at an even intervals instead.

The letters PR are used in these cases to indicate that reference points are used, and not kilometre distances.

On some dual carriageways, distances are supplemented by "D" or "G". These indicate the carriageway, either Droite (right) or Gauche (left).

 

Boundary markers

The traditional borne design is also used where roads cross a boundary between two departments. A taller version is used in these situations, with the two areas appearing on the stone, separated by a dividing line down the middle.

Some also state the distances to the nearest main towns, or the altitude where the boundary is located on a mountain pass or summit.

A somewhat tall boundary marker on the former N1 (now D901/D1001) in the north of France. The adjacent marker post indicates this is the D901's point of origin

 

 Photo credits
 N9 borne kilométrique is taken from an original by Tabl-Trai and is used under this Creative Commons license