France is a great country for walking, with different regions offering different types of walking. If you plan ahead, you can have a very pleasant vacation.
First things first: plan your route
Decide which part of France you want to explore and drive through as a starting point. Then look at the main hiking trails that pass through that area (see more about the official trails below). On long routes, it is better to choose a small section to start. If you like the region, you can plan to return to continue the route on another vacation.
The pilgrimage routes are especially full of people who return each year to travel the entire route through France and reach Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, the main pilgrimage destination in Europe.
Read more about:
- The main routes and trails for walking in France
- Main pilgrimage routes from France to Spain. There are five main trails that start from all over France and enjoy breathtaking scenery.
Useful web pages
The following have useful information for walking in France.
- Fé deration Francaise de la Randonée (French Federation of Walking Trails, or FFRP) is the organization that deals with long-distance trails. There is a lot of information on their site, although unfortunately it is only in French. But he publishes very good guides: his topoguides des sentiers de grande randonnée are worth buying. They also have guides on their website.
- About-France.com has good information in English.
- GR – Long Distance Footpaths has maps, descriptions and accommodation suggestions in English.
- Traildino claims to be the largest hiking database in the world. It has very useful information and in English. They describe many of the hiking trails in English in detail.
Maps
Get this special map at a scale of 1: 100,000: France, sentiers de grande randonnée, published by the Institut Géographique National (IGN). You can buy it from most good travel bookstores or buy it directly from FFRP.
The yellow 1: 200,000 scale Michelin maps mark the most important GR roads. But for the hike itself, maps on a scale of 1: 50000 or 1: 25000 are needed. All 1: 25,000 maps are marked with the coordinates you will need to establish your position with a GPS.
All the tourist offices have good maps and books describing the local routes; get them before you go.
Official walks
Sentiers de Grande Randonée : long-distance trails , shortened to GR followed by a number (for example, GR65). These are long trails, some connected to roads throughout Europe. They often go from border to border. They are marked on trees, posts, crosses, and rocks with a short red band on top of a white band. There are about 40,000 miles of them in France.
Chemins de Petite Randonée – PR followed by a number (eg PR6). These are small local routes that may or may not connect to a GR route. They will go from town to town or to historical sites. PR routes are marked with a yellow band on a white band.
Grandes Randonées du Pays – GRP routes are circular paths. GRP routes are marked with two parallel flashes, one yellow and one red.
accommodation
You will find all kinds of accommodation on the routes, from the simplest to the most luxurious. It is very likely that you will stay somewhere in the middle of this range. There are bed and breakfasts ( chambres d’hôtes ), hikers’ hostels ( gites d’étape ) and hotels. The refuges are mainly located in the national parks and mountains and will be signposted.
You must reserve your accommodation in advance, especially during the summer months. Otherwise, you risk arriving in a small town at the end of the day and finding no accommodation or just hostels (shared dormitory and very basic, though generally clean and relatively comfortable).
- Bed and breakfasts ( chambres d’hôtes ) cover the whole range of prices and accommodation. They are great for meeting other travelers. Some owners and guests speak English and many will endeavor to speak a little at least, but if you don’t speak French it may be difficult for you.
- Take a look at my bed and breakfast guide.
Book your bed and breakfast on the Gite de France booking site.
- Reserve rural houses and shelters
- For hotels try the Logis de France.
You will find very useful local tourist tips and you can book in advance by email.
More about accommodation
General guide to accommodation in France
Check out the family-owned and independent Logis hotels – always a good bet
Some general tips
Weather
- Check the weather before leaving each day. Meteo France will give you detailed forecasts.
- Summer can be very hot, so please wear appropriate clothing. A good hat and sunscreen are recommended. But remember that France has always had a good reputation for sport, so if you lose something, you will surely find it, whether it be in a large supermarket like Decathlon that you will find all over France, or better yet, in a small specialty store. Attendees will take time and trouble to make sure you have what you want, and they can advise you on local routes and tips!
- Depending on where you are walking, the weather can change at any time, so be prepared for all weather changes, and especially for sudden heavy rains. Bring a waterproof hat and a good rain shell. You should carry warm clothing in your backpack in case it is cold and wet. It can also snow in the high altitudes of the Alps and Pyrenees in summer.
What to bring
- This will depend on whether you are walking alone, in remote areas, or in an accompanied group. But this is general advice, and it’s worth following in case you split up. Remember, France is a huge country and some of it is quite wild.
- Pack a compass, GPS, cell phone, and whistle to get noticed.
- Take quick energy revitalizing foods like energy bars and chocolate. Also take water with you.
- Have spare socks ready and everything you might need, like a blister kit, casts, and bug spray.
Enjoy your walks!
