Pyrenees & Bay of Biscay Travel Poster: Chemins de fer de Paris à Orléans by Eugène Bourgeois, 1890

Chemins de fer de Paris à Orléans – excursions aux Pyrénées et aux bains de mer du golfe de Gascogne by Eugène Bourgeois is a luminous Belle Époque travel poster from 1890, created to entice Parisians south to the mountains and shores of southwestern France. Commissioned by the Paris–Orléans Railway, it speaks to the golden age of rail tourism: summer sea-bathing along the Bay of Biscay and restorative spa towns among the Pyrenees. In the artwork, a fresh palette of green and sunlit yellow is gently cooled by notes of blue—an inviting, holiday-making harmony that feels both pastoral and coastal at once.

Our edition is a high-quality fine art print, available on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. Choose from a range of sizes to suit your space, with optional custom framing to arrive ready to hang. The Unique Maps Co. also offers personalization—add a commemorative date, a family name, or a short caption recalling a favorite trip—to create a one-of-a-kind piece.

Eugène Victor Bourgeois (1847–1914) was a French painter, illustrator, and accomplished poster artist. Self-taught, he debuted at the Salon in 1874 and earned distinctions at the Salon des Artistes Français in the 1880s, followed by bronze medals at the Universal Expositions of 1889 and 1900. Celebrated for his light-touch handling of color, Bourgeois painted widely—from Normandy and Brittany to the Île-de-France, the Pyrenees, the Camargue, Italy, and North Africa—bringing an airy, sunstruck clarity to both landscapes and promotional art.

This poster captures the spirit of late 19th-century leisure travel, when the Paris–Orléans network opened swift access to the Pyrenees and the Atlantic coast. The promise of “excursions” held twofold allure: invigorating mountain air and fashionable bains de mer along the Golfe de Gascogne—places like the spa valleys of the Hautes-Pyrénées and the broad beaches of the Biscay littoral. For anyone who has journeyed through Pau, Lourdes, or the coast near Bayonne and Biarritz, the image becomes a nostalgic doorway back to long days and light-laced horizons.

Visually, the print is all about atmosphere and invitation: verdant greens and mellow golds pool across the composition, with cool blue accents adding breath and distance—an effect that evokes shaded slopes lifting toward luminous skies. The typography and layout embody refined French railway advertising of the 1890s, balancing romantic scenery with crisp, legible messaging. It’s a striking statement piece—equally at home in a contemporary living room or a vintage-inspired study—because it radiates that universal promise of escape.

A thoughtful gift for travellers, Francophiles, and lovers of vintage design, this print suits birthdays, housewarmings, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or as a commemorative keepsake for someone who has recently explored the Pyrenees or the shores of the Bay of Biscay. It’s also a wonderful Christmas present—an elegant reminder that the next great journey may be just a train ride away.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.