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
2017
  • Le PNR du Haute-Jura à pied PN15
  • Le Parc du Haute-Jura à pied, FFRP topo-guide Ref. No. PN15, with 41 day walks of varying length and difficulty in the French Jura, plus several two- to seven-days long tours including a section of GR9. Each day walk is presented on a separate colour extract from IGN’s topographic survey of France at 1:25,000, with its description... 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
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
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
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
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
  • 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
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
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
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
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
  • Forêt de Rambouillet IGN TOP25 Mini Map 2215OTM
  • 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
  • Portugal IGN POR01
  • 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
  • Romorantin-Lanthenay - Cour-Cheverny IGN 2122SB
  • 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
  • St-Gaultier - Rosnay IGN 2026SB
  • 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
  • Ceret - Amelie-les-Bains-Palalda - Vallee du Tech IGN 2449OT
  • 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
  • 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
  • Etang de Berre - Istres - Marignane - Martigues IGN 3144OT
  • 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
  • Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone - PNR de Camargue IGN 3044OT
  • 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
  • Samoens - Haut-Giffre IGN 3530ET
  • 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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