How to Find Abandoned Places in France?

Why search for abandoned places?

Urban exploration (urbex) is growing fast in France.
Photographers, adventurers, and history lovers are all fascinated by these forgotten buildings.

But the main question remains: how to actually find abandoned places in France?
Fake addresses, demolished sites, and legal risks often make it a challenge.

1. Using Google Maps and Google Earth

Many urbexers start their hunt on Google Maps or Google Earth:

Scan rural areas for isolated buildings,
Look for collapsed roofs or empty parking lots,
Cross-check with Street View to confirm the site.

⚠️ But this takes a lot of time, and there’s no guarantee the place is still accessible.

2. Urbex forums and communities

There are urbex forums and Facebook groups in France and worldwide.

✅ Pro: you can find photos and sometimes clues.
❌ Con: most addresses are outdated, fake, or hidden.

Most explorers are also cautious and don’t openly share spots to avoid vandalism.

3. YouTube videos and social media

A lot of urbex YouTubers showcase their explorations.
If you pay attention to the surroundings, architecture, or landscapes, you might guess where it is.

But again: long, uncertain, and risky.

4. Word of mouth and rumors

Sometimes the best way is to ask other explorers or listen to local rumors.
It can lead to gems — but only if you’re lucky and trusted.

5. The most reliable solution: Urbex maps

At MapUrbex, we’ve spent years building and verifying a huge database of urbex spots.
Instead of wasting hours on fake locations, our maps give you real, accessible, and safe places to explore.

📍 You can check them out directly with our regional and departmental urbex maps:

🚀 Discover our verified urbex maps

🎁 Get your Free Urbex Map