We propose a series of paleogeographic maps of the western alpine system, from Triassic to Present, based on the geologic structure and evolution of the mediterranean,its adjacent folded belts and the associated basins, and on the evolution of the North Atlantic ocean according to the magnetic anomaly informations. The kinematic framework is relatively precise for the Cenozoic but the accuracy is quite poorer for the Mesozoic.Between Triassic and Upper Cretaceous,the reconstructed continental margins can be compared to present passive or active margins.The geologic evolution can be described in terms of plate tectonics. After Upper Cretaceous, the oceanic areas are quite limited and the geologic evolution is dominated by the continental collision processes. [NOT CONTROLLED OCR]