It enjoys civil privileges and financial autonomy. Its mission is to seek out every means of developing travel; to urge and, if necessary, to take any measure capable of ameliorating the condition of the transport, circulation and sojourn of tourists.
It co-ordinates the efforts of touring societies and industries, encourages them in the execution of their programmes and stimulates legislative and administrative initiative with regard to the development of travel in France. It promotes understanding between the public services, the great transport companies, the 'Syndicats d'Initiative' and the 'Syndicats Professionnels.
It organises propaganda in foreign countries; and arranges for the creation of travel enquiry offices in France and abroad, with a view to making known the scenery and monuments of France as well as the health-giving powers of French mineral waters, spas and bathing places.
The 'Touring-Club de France' founded in , is at the present time the largest touring association in the world. Its principal aim is to introduce France—one of the loveliest countries on earth—to the French people themselves and to tourists of other nations. It seeks to develop travel in all its forms: on foot, horseback, bicycle, in carriage, motor, yacht or railway, and, eventually, by aeroplane. Every member of the association receives a badge and an identity ticket, free of charge, and also the 'Revue Mensuelle' every month.
They may insert notices regarding the sale or purchase of travelling requisites, in the 'Revue' 1 fr. Members are accorded free passages 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. All rights of translation, adaptation, or reproduction in part or whole reserved in all countries. For the benefit of tourists who wish to visit the battlefields and mutilated towns of France we have tried to produce a work combining a practical guide with a history.
