The ‘Touring-Club de France’ (founded in 1890), is at the present time
the largest Touring Association in the whole world. Its principal aim
is to introduce France—admirable country and one of the loveliest on
earth—to French people themselves and to foreigners.
It seeks to develop travel in all its forms: on foot, on horseback, on
bicycle, in carriage, motor, yacht or railway, and soon in aeroplane.
Every member of the Association receives a badge and an identity ticket
free of charge, as also the ‘Revue Mensuelle’ every month.
Members have also the benefit of special prices in a certain number of
affiliated hotels; and this holds good for the purchase of guide-books
and Staff (Etat-major) maps, as well as those of the ‘Ministère de
l’Intérieur’, the T. C. F., etc. They may insert notices regarding the
sale or purchase of travelling requisites, in the ‘Revue’ (1 fr. per
line). The ‘Comité des Contentieux’ is ready to give them counsel with
regard to travelling, and 3.000 delegates in all the principal towns
are able to give them advice and information about the curiosities of
art or of nature in the neighbourhood, as well as concerning the roads,
hotels, motor-agents, garages, etc.
Members are accorded free passage across the frontier for a bicycle
or motor-bicycle. For a motor-car the Association gives a ‘Triptyque’
ensuring free passage through the ‘douane’, etc.