Where to pick mushrooms ? Chanterelles, morels, porcini mushrooms… this site maps the best spots throughout France

The cool wind and persistent rains of this September could dampen the spirits of outdoor enthusiasts, but for mushroom picking enthusiasts, it's a real boon. Indeed, while most pickers prefer to keep their picking locations a secret, the website "chasseursdechampignons.com" promises to reveal the best mushroom spots throughout France.

This innovative site uses a sophisticated algorithm, developed in collaboration with mycology specialists, to identify ideal areas for mushrooms.

By taking into account criteria such as the presence of trees, soil acidity, altitude and exposure, the tool generates interactive maps that indicate the most promising places to find morels, porcini mushrooms, chanterelles and other forest treasures.

With a community of 200,000 members, “chasseursdechampignons.com” claims extensive coverage of the French territory, including near you, thanks to its paid maps, indicates Franceinfo.

For € 48 per year, subscribers to the site can access maps that list mushroom spots in the hope of finding chanterelles and four species of porcini mushrooms. They can also determine, based on the weather, the best conditions for finding them.

To obtain the morel map, you must pay € 48 additional, specifies in particular TF1. For 103 € per year, it is possible to obtain a map listing the best places for the growth of around twenty species in total.

Interesting but not infallible predictions

Marc-André Selosse, professor at the National Museum of Natural History, validates the site's approach while providing some nuances. According to him, although the combination of environmental factors can promote the growth of mushrooms, it does not guarantee their presence.

"The determinism of the environment allows the growth of mushrooms, but does not impose it", he specifies to our colleagues. In other words, the maps provided by the site show potential areas, but do not guarantee a full basket at the end of the harvest.