A sitemap, in the web sense, is a page that lists all the sections and subsections of a website in a hierarchical format. On a local authority’s site, this page serves a specific function: to allow any visitor to locate information without going through the internal search engine or navigating from menu to menu.
Structure of a municipal sitemap: what accessibility standards require
French local authority websites are subject to the General Reference for Improving Accessibility (RGAA). This reference requires, among other things, that a complementary navigation system be offered to users: a sitemap, a search engine, or both.
The sitemap meets this requirement by providing an overview of the structure. Each link points directly to the relevant page, without going through dropdown menus that can pose problems for assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation).
By consulting the Beynat sitemap on the community’s portal, this logic is evident: the main sections (news, economic life, services, tourism) are listed with their subpages, providing a complete map of the available content.
Key sections of the Beynat community website
A sitemap is not consulted like a directory. Its usefulness lies in the ability to quickly identify sections that a traditional menu sometimes hides behind two or three clicks.
Services and practical information
The section dedicated to services includes administrative procedures, town hall opening hours, and useful contacts. For a resident or a future visitor preparing a family stay, this is the most direct entry point.
Tourism around Lake Miel
Lake Miel is the main tourist hub of the municipality. The local authority’s site dedicates several pages to it: site presentation, activities offered, and seasonal events. During the summer, events such as the night markets “Les Jeudis de Miel” are scheduled, with evening hours targeting both campers and residents.
Community life and agenda
Beynat has an active associative fabric. The sitemap allows direct access to the events agenda without searching through the news. Exhibitions, flea markets, dances: each event has its own page with date and location, which avoids back-and-forth between sections.
Facilitated navigation on a municipal website: beyond the sitemap
The sitemap is just one of the navigation tools. For it to be truly useful, it must be integrated with other elements that the visitor uses without thinking.
- The breadcrumb at the top of each page indicates the path taken from the homepage and allows users to go back one level with a click.
- The internal search bar filters results by content type (news, institutional page, downloadable document).
- The accessibility shortcuts at the top of the page (direct access to content, menu, footer) allow users to bypass repetitive navigation blocks.
On the Beynat site, these shortcuts are present: “Content,” “Menu,” “Search,” and “Footer” appear as skip links. The sitemap complements this system for visitors who prefer a synoptic view.
Preparing a stay in Beynat through the municipal website
For vacationers considering a rental, a campsite, or a house with a garden and pool in the area, the community’s website provides information that booking platforms do not cover.
The pages dedicated to quality of life and discovering the region detail what sets Beynat apart from other Corrèze destinations. Lake Miel, with its summer activities, is an argument for families with children looking for a natural setting without giving up on activities.
The “Economic Life” section of the site provides information on local businesses, regional cuisine, and markets. A couple on vacation will find concrete information there that a simple review on a rental platform does not provide: market days, present producers, seasonal hours.
XML Sitemap and HTML Sitemap: two tools, two audiences
A common confusion needs to be clarified. The HTML sitemap is intended for human visitors: it is a readable page with clickable links organized by theme. The XML sitemap, on the other hand, is a technical file intended for search engines (Google, Bing) to facilitate page indexing.
Both coexist on most local authority websites. The XML file lists all URLs with their last modified date and update frequency. The HTML sitemap, however, only retains the main pages and organizes them according to a human consultation logic.
- The HTML sitemap helps a visitor find the “Contact Form” or “Suggestion Box” page in seconds.
- The XML sitemap signals to indexing bots that a new piece of news has been published, such as the announcement of a garage sale or a book fair.
- Both formats contribute to making the site visible and navigable, but for radically different audiences.
The sitemap of the municipality of Beynat, in its HTML version, reflects the actual organization of the site and its editorial priorities: tourism around Lake Miel, services for residents, cultural agenda. For anyone preparing a stay or looking for administrative information, it is the most reliable shortcut to the right page.