France

Description

Corsica - by Henk

France, country of contrasts, home to the inventors of the Topoguide, is a great walking destination all year round. An intricate network of long distance footpaths, the so-called Grands Randonnées, reaches out to the farthest corners of the country. At least 80 long distance trails and their countless variants are meticulously documented and waymarked. Mastering a bit of French will help you find your way, and a bottle of wine at that.

It may be difficult to find information or topo guides for many trails. The exact route - not only the name "GR" - of any hiking trail in France is copyrighted by the FFRP and cannot be published by others without their consent. The maps of IGN usually show all regional PR's and national GR's.

The French themselves are mad about walking, often in groups of about 20, recognisable by their non-stop rather loud conversations lasting from dawn till dusk and snacking on hard boiled eggs en route. So join the crowd and turn bon vivant. Walk the Provence in spring, pass through the wine regions coloured all red in late autumn. Enjoy the Atlantic coast and its birds in May, and the shimmering sun on the glaciers in summer. Explore the Loire in autumn, and the dark forests of the Morvan in winter. Or take a walk all the way from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean right across the Pyrenees along the GR10. Another popular trail is the GR5, from Luxembourg to Nice through the Vosges, the Elzas and the Alps. For those fearless and bursting with energy, the GR20 is a fine challenge. This trail following the highest ridges of the island of Corsica is for the surefooted only.

Another popular walk of course is the TMB, the Tour du Mont Blanc: eight days with views on the highest mountain of Europe, weather permitting. Drawback: crazy busy. Less known, but just as fine, is the Tour du Queyras (GR58), also in the Alps. Other best hikes in the Alps are the Tour de la Vanoise (GR55) or the Tour de l'Oisans (GR54). You can walk the Vallée des Merveilles (GR52). And a bit on the outside of the Alps is the Vercors (GR91 - GR95) and Mt Lubéron (GR97). There you are, now you know what the French themselves like most.

Along most GR's you will find huts or Gites d'Etappe at regular intervals. These are mostly just simple shelters, so bring food to prepare your own meals. Outside the main summer season, with most French back in Paris, the Gites are often closed. In such cases, bring your own tent. Most GR's can be tough but not dangerous, except the GR20.

Map

Hiking Map of France NWHiking Map of France NE

Hiking Map of France_SWHiking Map of France SE

Trails

Regions

Books

Stanfords
United Kingdom
2018
  • La Charente à pied
  • La Charente à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. D016, with 43 day walks in the department. Each day walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of this title was published in August 2011.To see the list of other FFRP guides... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2015
  • La Marne à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. D051
  • La Marne à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. D051, with 38 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the department, including in the Montagne de Reims and walks connected with the Meuse-Argonne offensive in the final months of WWI. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Touring the Italian Front 1917-1919
  • The guide describes the ground and operations covered by the British, French and US Expeditionary Forces deployed from France to the area north of Venice between November 1917 and Spring 1919. These forces supported the Italians after their disastrous defeat at Caporetto and helped stem the Austrian and German onslaught. This is the first guide... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2016
  • Le Parc d`Armorique à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. PN12
  • Le Parc d`Armorique à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. PN12, with 43 day walks of varying length and difficulty in western Brittany. Current edition of this title was published in March 2016.To see the list of other FFRP guides with day walks please click on the series link.ABOUT THE FFRP (Fédération française de la randonnée pédestre)... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2014
  • Pays de Lauragais à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. P115
  • Pays de Lauragais à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. P115, with 39 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the countryside north-west of Carcassonne, on both sides of the Canal du Midi. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map.... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2016
  • Le Pays du Ventoux à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. P841
  • Le Pays du Ventoux à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. P841, with 45 day walks in the environs of Mont Ventoux, north-east and east of Carpentras. Each day walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of this title was published... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2019
  • Le Parc Naturel Regional du Pilat à pied
  • Le Parc du Pilat à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. PN05, with 22 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the regional park between St. Etienne and the Rhone. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 and/or 1:50,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Les Marches du Velay à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. P43D
  • Les Marches du Velay à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. P43D, with 21 day walks of varying length and difficulty near Monistril-sur-Loire. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of this title was published in May... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Les environs de Lyon a pied
  • Environs de Lyon à pied, FFRP Topo-guide No. RE20, with 41 day walks of varying length and difficulty all accessible within a 60min journey from Lyon on the regional train network (TER). Current edition of this title was published in March 2016.To see the list of other FFRP guides with day walks please click on the series link.ABOUT THE FFRP... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2015
  • La Côte Picarde à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. P804
  • La Côte Picarde à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No.P804, with 26 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the area around Amiens and the estuary of the Somme. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of this title... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2015
  • Le Pays du Haut-Lignon à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. P432
  • Le Pays du Haut-Lignon à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. P432, with 19 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the hills between Yssingeaux and Chambon-sur-Lignon. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2015
  • Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin PNR à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. PN20
  • Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin Parc Naturel Régional à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. PN20, with 33 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the southern part of the Cotentin Peninsula, including a walk along the Utah Beach of the 1944 D-Day Landings. Each day walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2018
  • Grenoble et ses environs à pied P381
  • Grenoble et ses environs à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. P381, with 35 day walks of varying length and difficulty both in the environs of Grenoble and in the city itself. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 or on a street plan, with its description cross-referenced to the map.... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Lille For Pleasure
  • Lille is City of Culture 2004 and has created a spectacularly innovative programme of events as part of the year-long celebrations. But it is also an ancient town with a fascinating history, poised as it is on the border of France and Dutch-speaking Flanders. A beautiful old city, spectacular fortifications, intriguing Art Nouveau architecture,... Read more
More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Le Perche Parc Naturel Régional à pied FFRP Topo-guide No. PN16
  • Le Perche Parc Naturel Régional à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. PN16, with 20 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the park. Each walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description cross-referenced to the map. Current edition of this title was published in May... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • La Brenne Parc Naturel Régional IGN 83309
  • Parc Naturel Régional de la Brenne east of Poitiers on a detailed map at 1:60,000 prepared by the IGN in collaboration with the park authorities, the FFRP and various tourist organizations. Current edition of this map was published in summer 2014.The map highlights numerous local and long-distance hiking trails, including specially selected... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Autour du Thabor: Modane - Bardonecchia - Briançon
  • Mont Thabor area at 1:50,000 on a contoured and GPS compatible map from Editions Didier Richard in their series of walking maps of French Alps and other popular hiking regions of south-eastern France. Coverage extends from Modane in the north to Briançon in the south-east, and west to Valloire.The base map with cartography from the IGN has... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Nerondes - Avord IGN 2424SB
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Cherbourg-en-Cotentin - Cap de la Hague IGN 1210OT
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Amberieu-en-Bugey - Champagne-en-Valromey - Massif du Bugey IGN 3231OT
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Saint-Valery-en-Caux - Veules-les-Roses - Varengeville-sur-Mer IGN 1909OT
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Ile d`Oléron - Ile de Ré Rando Editions
  • Ile d’Oléron, Ile de Ré and the nearby mainland, including La Rochelle, Rochefort and the surrounding marshes, on a detailed topographic map at 1:50,000 from Rando Editions with cartography from the IGN, hiking and cycling routes, etc.The map, intended to be the first in a series of titles covering the Atlantic coast of France, is overprinted... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Bassin d`Arcachon IGN 1337ET
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Font-Romeu - Capcir IGN WATERPROOF 2249ETR
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • France IGN Wall Map ENCAPSULATED
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • France Chamina Edition Greenways and Cycle Routes Atlas
  • Guarantee of quality and reliability, the Atlas France of greenways & cycle routes Chamina is enriched this year by more than 1,000 km of cycle route: 2 new cycle routes (The Flow Vélo and the EuroVelo 4 - Tour de Manche) , as well as the updating of the extensive routes such as the ViaRhôna, the Vélo Francette, the EuroVelo 6 and the... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Luçay-le-Male - Poulaines IGN 2124SB
  • Topographic survey of France at 1:25,000 in IGN`s excellent TOP25 / Série Bleue series. All the maps are GPS compatible, with a 1km UTM grid plus latitude and longitude lines at 5’ intervals. Contours are at 5m intervals except for mountainous areas where the maps have contours at 10m intervals, vividly enhanced by hill shading and graphics for... Read more
More maps…

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