La France
From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, from Paris to the Pyrenees, walking in France is more an experience of
walking in several countries than just in one.
Through the byways of Paris, the massed ranks of vineyards in Burgund and Alsace, the unspoiled beaches of
western Bretagne and the  Cévennes woodlands, the walking is easy. Further south, the deep Gorges du Verdon,
extraordinary volcanic formations of the Massif Central and the colorful Mediterranean coast of Les Calanques
offer adventurers walks in widely contrasting settings.  There is more to France's mountainous areas than the
famous names of the Alps. You can explore from the narrow spines of the Vosgues to the rolling meadows of the
Jura, the glaciers of the Northern Alps, high plateaus, deep valleys and lakes of the Southern Alps, the vast chain
of the Pyrenees and the precipitous paths through the rugged Corsician mountains.
France boasts an exceptional variety of expansive landscapes. From the north to the south, east to west, 80% of
France is countryside. A wealth of contrasts and an invitation to go exploring. While the French countryside is rich
and diverse, each region offers visitors a warm welcome.
 
Area
545,630 sq km (339,054 sq miles) (not including overseas territories).
Population
61.8 million (2008 estimate).
Population Density
112 per sq km.
Capital
Paris.  12.7 million (2.2 million in the city; 10.5 million in the suburbs) (2006).
Geography
France, the largest country in Europe, is bordered to the north by the English Channel (), the northeast by
Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with
Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the
west by the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two . The country offers a
spectacular variety of scenery, from the mountain ranges of the Alps and Pyrenees to the attractive river valleys of
the Loire, Rhône and Dordogne and the flatter countryside in Normandy and on the Atlantic coast. The country
has some 2,900km (1,800 miles) of coastline.
The French trail system is 110,000 miles long and is made up of three types of path:
1. Long national paths, called sentiers de grande randonnee or GRs for short. These are numbered—GR 3,
GR 76, etc.—and are mapped on the one-sheet, 1:1,000,000 IGN map #903, France, Grande Randonnée. There
are 38,000 miles of GR trails in France; they are laid out to connect one point with another. For example: the GR
5 runs from the Luxembourg border all the way down the Vosges, Jura and Alp mountains to the Mediterranean.
GR trails are marked with white over red blazes.
2. Regional paths, called GRPs. Only the longest of these paths are shown on IGN map #903. There are 25,000
miles of GRP trails in France; each covers one region thoroughly, often in a circular layout. Individual GRP trails
can be well over 100 miles long. They are marked with yellow over red blazes.
3. Local paths, called PRs. These trails radiate out from many towns and villages in France offering the visitor a
chance for an hour to a day’s walk to a local beauty spot or to a place of historical interest. These paths are
marked with a single yellow blaze or, if there are many paths that intersect—as is usually the case—a single
blaze of any color. Officially there are 47,000 miles of local paths but in reality there are hundreds of thousands of
miles.
The GR and GRP trails criss-cross every region, a fact that makes it possible to take a long distance, village-to-
village-to-village walk anywhere in France. And, since almost all land is privately owned, the trail you choose will
pass through vineyards, orchards, fields, forests and even back yards. Villages with hotels, bed and breakfasts
and restaurants are close together in rural France, making it very easy to walk without camping out, carrying only
a light pack containing your clothes and a minimum of other personal items.
The organization that established and maintains the trail system is called the Féderation Française de la
Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP), or French Long Distance Walking Association. Headquartered in Paris, it is made
up of over 2,000 local clubs. The FFRP also publishes, at last count, over 200 walking guidebooks called topo
guides. Some describe in detail selected portions of some GR trails, others a region's GRP and/or PR trails. All
but three of these guides are in French, but nevertheless much of the practical information—addresses, lodging,
etc—is easily understood by the English-only speaker.
The Institut Géographique National (IGN) is the French government mapping agency. This organization
publishes many maps at varying scales, which make it easy for the independent walker to first plan and then take
a long distance walk anywhere in France.
IGN map #903 gives you the grand overview, individual maps from the IGN green Top100 (scale1;100,000) series
allow you to plan your walk at home before you leave and the very detailed maps from the IGN 1:25,000 blue
series will guide you on the trail, almost whispering in your ear, there’s a village just over that ridge, the trail turns
to the left just after the cemetery…
France boasts an exceptional variety of expansive landscapes. From the north to the south, east to west, 80% of
France is countryside. A wealth of contrasts and an invitation to go exploring. While the French countryside is rich
and diverse, each region offers visitors a warm welcome.
One of the many beauties of France is the diversity it has to offer; each region has its own unique landscape,
individual charms & gastronomic specialities. Many people head off the ferries and straight through the Pas de
Calais, but this over-looked region has sandy beaches, green undulating landscapes and is rich in wartime
history. Likewise, Normandy is a wonderfully convenient destination for a short break, be it following the dramatic
cliffs along the rocky coastline or exploring verdant pastures far from the tourist traps. Still within striking distance
of the UK is the Champagne region, renowned of course for it's world-famous bubbly, but with beautiful rolling
vine-covered hills and some fascinating cathedrals.
Paris needs no introduction, and makes an ideal place to break your journey for a couple of nights. With
museums, galleries, wonderful shops and pavement cafés on every corner, this vibrant city is not to be missed.
For centuries, the Loire Valley was France’s focal point, frequented by royalty whose legacy was the wonderful
chateaux they left behind. Known as the Garden of France, the mild climate, vineyards and picturesque villages
make it a favourite with visitors, and it’s a relatively flat area so great for first-time cyclists or walkers! If you like
your wines, then Burgundy is an obvious destination. Best known for some of the world’s finest vintages, the
region also boasts an array of magnificent architecture and evocative medieval towns.
France has a lot of coastline, and Brittany is a perennial favourite, offering 800 miles of rocky coastline with
numerous bays, busy little fishing villages and broad sandy beaches. Strong Celtic roots provide this region with
its own distinctive traditions, evident in the local Breton costume, religious festivals and cuisine, very different from
the rest of France. Heading south along the Atlantic coastline, the Charente is popular with British visitors
because of its micro-climate and sandy beaches. The region is one of the most unusual in France, with a vast
tract of marshland with a thousand or more tree-lined canals and streams where everything is moved by punt.
The port of La Rochelle, once a Protestant stronghold, with massive medieval towers, buzzes with life.
Heading to the Mediterranean coastline, the ancient land of Languedoc combines two distinct regions: the
vineyards of Corbières and Minervois, and the coastal plain stretching from the Rhône to the Spanish border.
Much of the region is rugged and unspoilt and there is ample evidence of the dramatic past. The walled city of
Carcassonne with its towers, dungeons, moats and drawbridges is one of the most impressive examples of
medieval France.
The mention of Provence immediately draws to mind lavender fields and olive groves; it is a sunny bright region
backed by mountains, with a glittering coastline. The legacy of the Romans remains in the great amphitheatres
and monuments of Nimes & Arles. The Rhone valley divides above Arles into two arms which encircle the
marshlands of the Camargue where wild white horses gallop.
North of this coastline is the Ardèche, whose deep gorges and high plateaux are ideal for exploring on foot,
studded with prehistoric caves and chestnut groves. Likwise, the Cévennes offers gorges and valleys, spectacular
rivers, underground caves and grottoes and thickly forested mountains.
If you’re after a holiday in the mountains then the Alps are an obvious choice. One of the world’s foremost
wintersports areas, the region also has much to offer in the summer, with a wide range of outdoor activites and
major spa towns on hand for relaxation, not to mention the dramatic mountainscapes. This is an area of
enormous granite outcrops, deeply riven by spectacular glacier hewn and river etched valleys. The hills of the
neighbouring Jura region offer a greener, less challenging terrain.
If you prefer an easier take on a hilly holiday, the Dordogne has honey-colured villages nestling within beautiful
valleys. The history of the Dordogne goes back many thousand of years when man lived in the caves of the
Perigord and left cave paintings at sites such as Les Eyzies and Lascaux. The Auvergne has much the same
appeal as the Dordogne, but with the overriding sense of much still to be discovered, including awe-inspiring
extinct volcanoes, lakes, rivers and forests.
With such diversity, it’s no wonder that many people chose France year after year, as there’s always something
new to explore. If you’re spoilt for choice, reading more on my site, can give you many hints and information.
All regions
    * Alps
    * Alsace
    * Ardèche
    * Auvergne
    * Bordeaux
    * Brittany
    * Burgundy
    * Cévennes
    * Champagne
    * Charente
    * Jura
    * Languedoc
    * Loire Valley
    * Normandy
    * Paris
    * Pas de Calais
    * Picardy
    * Provence
    * Pyrenees
    * Spain
    * The Dordogne
All regions
More about some regions