Long-distance footpaths

►    Outdoor France: index	River cruises in France	Hiking in France
Wild France	Wildlife  in France	Camping in France

 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.

• Small friendly
  campsites in France
  

  Driving in France
  See Driving information pages for France. Tips and info, rules of the road, motorways, restrictions, dates to avoid, fuel prices and lots more
  GR2 - From Le Havre, via Paris, to Dijon.
• GR3 - The Loire Valley trail - From Guerande near the mouth of rhe Loire, to the source of the Loire at mount Gerbier du Jonc, Haute 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 St. Brevin les Pins 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 22 -  Mont Saint Michel pilgrimage trail - Paris to Mont St. Michel
• GR 34 - The Breton coastal footpath, from Vitré to Quimperlé.
• GR 36 - The 1000 kilometre trail, from the Ouistreham near Caen on the Channel coast to Bourg Madame in the Pyrenees, on 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 Blesle, via the Massif du Sancy (Massif Central)
• GR 46 - From near Tours to the Tarn.
• GR 48 - The Vienne valley trail, from Chinon to Aixe
• GR 51 - The Mediterranean Balcony - from Marseille to Menton
• GR 59 - The Jura and Bugey trail, from the Vosges to near Grenoble.
• GR 65 - The Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage route, from Geneva, via Le Puy en Velay and Conques, to Roncevaux in the Pyrenees.
• GR 223 - The Cotentin and Normandy beaches trail.
• GR 654 - From  Moulin-Manteau in Belgium to Montréal in the Gers, near Toulouse
• GR 700 - Regordane Way - historic pilgrimage route from Le Puy en Velay to St. Gilles du Gard.

Click here for a detailed map of France, which you can scroll and zoom on any area.

Click here for a full map and list of national GRs in France