The SISFRANCE database of historical seismicity. State of the art and perspectives

The SISFRANCE database aims to collect and interpret archives relating the historical seismicity in metropolitan France. presently contains some 12,500 documents that allow define 108,832 macroseismic data points, for a total of 6427 events, which 5743 can be qualified as real earthquakes. Although half these events are will probably remain poorly known, completing our knowledge earthquakes remains fundamental element definition seismic hazard understanding France low moderate regions general. first aim this paper is explain state art remind end users how limits introduced by necessary interpretation archival translated into quality factors should carefully considered when using such seismotectonic purposes.