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Hiking
across France: the main routes
France is a country well equipped with
long-distance footpaths or hiking trails. There are over 100,000
kilometres of walking trails, crossing the country in all directions;
but it is in the areas
of "wild
France" that the paths are most numerous, and most popular.
The map below shows many of the longest and most popular hiking trails
in France. Further information is given below.
Long-distance footpaths or hiking
trails are known in France as "Sentiers
de grandé randonnée";
as with main
roads, there is a national network, and the 35,000 km of marked and
signposted
footpaths that make up the main network are designated by numbers,
preceded by the letters GR. For reasons of clarity and legibility, the
map above shows only the main GRs.
Besides GR paths, there are also PR
paths, "Chemins de petite randonnée", marked trails that are
most suited for local hiking, and not necessarily connected to any GR
routes. GR routes
are marked (on trees, posts, stones, etc) by a short red
band above a white band. PR
routes are marked with a yellow
band. In addition, many French communes or communities have set up
their own marked footpaths independently of the national network. All
in all, the choice for ramblers, walkers and serious hikers is immense.
Most of the major long-distance trails run
through villages where hikers can find accommodation in bed and
breakfasts, "gîtes d'étape" (rather like small
hostels), campsites
or small hotels. Before setting out on a long distance trail,
it is essential to study the route carefully on detailed maps, and
check the accommodation available.
Principal
long-distance hiking trails in France.
GR2 - From Le Havre, via Paris, to Dijon.
GR3 - The Loire Valley trail - From La Baule, to the source of the Loire
GR4 - The Alps-Atlantic trail: from Grasse, in the Alps, to Royan, on
the Gironde estuary.
GR5 - From the Luxembourg border to Nice (trail originating in Holland).
GR6 - The Aquitaine-Alps trail, from Ste. Foy la Grande, near Bordeaux,
to Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye.
GR7 - The Vosges-Pyrenees trail, from southern Alsace to Andorra.
GR8 - The south Atlantic coastal trail - from Hourtin Plage to Sare, in
the western Pyrenees.
GR9 - The Jura and Alpine foothills trail, from St. Amour to St. Tropez.
GR10 - The High Pyrenean trail, following the line of the Spanish
border.
GR12 - From (Amsterdam) and the Belgian border to Paris.
GR 13 - The Morvan trail, from Fontainebleau to Bourbon-Lancy.
GR 14 - The Ardennes trail, from Paris to Malmédy, Belgium.
GR 21 - The Alabaster coast trail, from Tréport to le Havre.
GR 34 - The Breton coastal footpath, from Vitré to
Quimperlé.
GR 36 - The 1000 kilometre trail, from the Channel coast to the Spanish
border.
GR 37 - The central Brittany footpath, from Vitré to
Douarnenez.
GR 39 - The Trans-Brittany trail, from Mont St. Michel to
Guérande.
GR 41 - From Tours to the Massif du Sancy (Massif Central)
GR 46 - From Tours to the Tarn.
GR 48 - The Vienne valley trail.
GR 51 - The Mediterranean Balcony - from Marseille to Menton
GR 59 - The Jura and Bugey trail, from the Vosges to Grenoble.
GR 65 - The Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage route, from Le
Puy en Velay, via Conques, to the Pyrenees.
GR 223 - The Cotentin and Normandy beaches trail.
GR 700 - Regordane Way - historic pilgrimage route from Le Puy en Velay
to St. Gilles du Gard.
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