1. GR®36 Périgord
Le château de Beynac in Beynac-et-cazenac. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: jon_chica via depositphotos.
Hiking in the Dordogne on the GR36 between prehistoric sites and nature
The GR®36 crosses France from north to south over some 1,900 km, from Ouistreham in Normandy to Bourg-Madame in the Pyrenees. In the Dordogne, it winds through the Périgord Noir, skirting the Vézère and its prehistoric wonders. Among the most beautiful sites: the Lascaux caves, Roque Saint-Christophe, Château de Losse, Montignac, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Sergeac, Le Moustier, the Vézère cliffs, the Castel Merle site and the wooded paths of Lascaux country.
The most beautiful 20 km
The banks of the Vézère in Saint Léon de Vézère . Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
From Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère to Montignac. This section brings together the valley's natural and historical jewels: troglodytic cliffs, prehistoric dwellings, listed villages and shady paths along the river. An immersion in one of the Dordogne's most beautiful landscapes.
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Starting point: Church of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, 24290 Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
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Arrival point : Place d'Armes, 24290 Montignac-Lascaux
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Distances: Paris 520 km - Lille 735 km - Lyon 470 km - Toulouse 230 km - Strasbourg 870 km - Marseille 610 km - Rennes 560 km
2. GR®34 Brittany
Le phare de la vieille / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : scrabble via depositphotos
Sentier des Douaniers: a spectacular hike along the Breton coastn
The GR®34, known as the Douaniers trail, follows the Breton coastline for almost 2,000 km, from Mont-Saint-Michel to the Saint-Nazaire bridge. It allows you to discover beaches, cliffs, ports and lighthouses. Among the remarkable places: the Crozon peninsula, the Pointe du Raz, the cliffs of Plouha, Perros-Guirec, Saint-Malo, the Gulf of Morbihan, Cap Fréhel, the Sept-Îles, the island of Bréhat, the Eckmühl lighthouse and the dunes of Gâvres.
The most beautiful 20 km
The Ploumanac'h lighthouse photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com depositphotos
From Ploumanac'h to Trégastel. Along the jagged coastline, this hike offers an incredible variety of seascapes: pinkish rocky chaos, maritime pines, wild beaches, views of the Sept-Îles. The changing light sublimates every bend in the path.
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Starting point: Oratoire Saint-Guirec, 22700 Ploumanac'h (Perros-Guirec)
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Arrival point : Aquarium marin de Trégastel, Boulevard du Coz-Pors, 22730 Trégastel
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Distances: Paris 510 km - Lille 730 km - Lyon 790 km - Toulouse 840 km - Strasbourg 980 km - Marseille 1,150 km - Rennes 170 km
3. GR®20 Corsica
View of the Sanguinaires Islands / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Depositphotos
GR20 in Corsica: France's most mythical hiking trail
The GR®20 is considered the most demanding but also the most spectacular of French trails. It crosses Corsica from northwest to southeast, from Calenzana to Conca, over 180 km. It takes in the Aiguilles de Bavella, the Cirque de la Solitude, Lac de Nino, Monte Cinto, the Vizzavona forest, the Radule sheepfolds, the Manganellu waterfalls, the Usciolu ridges, the Cuscione plateaus and sea views from the heights.
Village and mountains in Corsica / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
The most beautiful 20 km
From Vizzavona to Capanelle. This section crosses dense forests, skirts waterfalls and climbs to the top of ridges with panoramic views. It's one of the most varied passages on the GR®20.
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Starting point : Gare de Vizzavona, 20219 Vivario
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Arrival point : Bergeries de Capanelle, 20224 Vivario
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Distances: Paris 1,100 km - Lille 1,300 km - Lyon 870 km - Toulouse 1,030 km - Strasbourg 1,200 km - Marseille 450 km - Rennes 1,250 km
4. GR®10 Pyrenees
The magnificent Pyrenees mountain range / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : by L D from Pixabay
Crossing the Pyrenees on the GR10: mountains, lakes and panoramas
The GR®10 crosses the French Pyrenees from west to east, from Hendaye to Banyuls-sur-Mer, over some 900 km. It alternates passes, valleys, lakes and impressive panoramas. Among the most beautiful sites: the Rhune, the Lescun cirque, Gavarnie, the Pic du Midi, the Lac d'Oô, the Ossau valley, the Pyrenees park, the Canigou massif, the forests of Luchon and the Mediterranean Sea as a final point.
Le Lac de Gaube / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: by L D from Pixabay
The most beautiful 20 km
From Cauterets to Pont d'Espagne. This route takes in the Lutour waterfalls, Lac de Gaube, the surrounding peaks and mountain scenery in the heart of the National Park. It's an accessible and spectacular hike.
Les Cascades de Lutour / Downstream part of the Gave de Lutour, the Lutour waterfall at la Raillère, Cauterets, Hautes-Pyrénées, France. In the foreground on the right, the Gave de Jéret joins the Gave de Lutour. Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Père Igor - Personal work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20493111
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Starting point: Office de tourisme, 65110 Cauterets
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Arrival point : Parking du Pont d'Espagne, Route du Pont d'Espagne, 65110 Cauterets
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Distances : Paris 820 km - Lille 1 030 km - Lyon 720 km - Toulouse 190 km - Strasbourg 1 080 km - Marseille 550 km - Rennes 830 km
5th GR®65 - Le Puy-en-Velay à Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Chemin de Compostelle: spirituality and heritage on a hike
The GR®65 is one of the most popular routes to Santiago de Compostela. It links Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over some 750 km. It passes through varied landscapes and historic towns: Le Puy-en-Velay, Conques, Figeac, Cahors, Moissac, Lectoure, Aire-sur-l'Adour, Ostabat and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Religious heritage, medieval villages and serenity mark this great crossing.
The beautiful city of Le Puy-en-Velay / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Xantana via depositphotos
The most beautiful 20 km
From Conques to Decazeville. This stretch offers a verdant setting, exceptional Romanesque heritage and panoramic views over the Lot valley. Conques is classified as one of France's most beautiful villages.
Conques and its magnificent church / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France e: Céd Aklin from Pixabay
- Starting point: Abbatiale Sainte-Foy, 12320 Conques
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Arrival point: Église Notre-Dame, 12300 Decazeville
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Distances: Paris 580 km - Lille 790 km - Lyon 380 km - Toulouse 190 km - Strasbourg 790 km - Marseille 420 km - Rennes 620 km
6. GR®70 - Stevenson Trail
Literary walk in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson
View of the Cévennes Regional Park / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: davidmartyn via depositphotos
The GR®70 follows the route of Scottish writer Stevenson from Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Saint-Jean-du-Gard over 270 km. It crosses the Cévennes, between volcanic uplands, chestnut forests and deep valleys. Highlights Monastier-sur-Gazeille, Mont Lozère, Le Bleymard, Pont-de-Montvert, Florac, Saint-Germain-de-Calberte, Barre-des-Cévennes and Saint-Jean-du-Gard.
The most beautiful 20 km
From Bleymard to Mont Lozère. The ascent takes you through forests and moors, with breathtaking views at the summit. This route offers a condensed view of the Cévennes landscapes.
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Starting point : Le Bleymard, 48190 Mont Lozère et Goulet
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Arrival point : Col de Finiels, 48190 Mont Lozère
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Distances: Paris 630 km - Lille 850 km - Lyon 220 km - Toulouse 300 km - Strasbourg 690 km - Marseille 230 km - Rennes 770 km
A village in the Cévènnes / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : ynoclub via depositphotos
7. GR®5 - Crossing the Alps
Grande traversée alpine: from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean
The immense Lac Léman / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: by Loyloy Thal from Pixabay
The GR®5 links Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean via the Alps. 600 km long, it crosses the French Alps via the Chablais, Beaufortain, Vanoise, Queyras and Mercantour. It takes in : Thonon-les-Bains, Chamonix, Col du Bonhomme, Parc de la Vanoise, Briançon, Lac d'Allos, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, and Menton.
The most beautiful 20 km
A portion of the route along the river in the Vanoise / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: daboost via depositphotos
From the Vanoise refuge to Pralognan-la-Vanoise. Between high peaks, ibexes and glaciers, this stretch is one of the most spectacular in the French Alps.
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Starting point: Refuge de la Vanoise, 73710 Pralognan-la-Vanoise
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Arrival point : Office de tourisme, 73710 Pralognan-la-Vanoise
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Distances: Paris 680 km - Lille 900 km - Lyon 190 km - Toulouse 620 km - Strasbourg 520 km - Marseille 460 km - Rennes 860 km
You won't be alone in frequenting the vanoise, the proof is in the pudding! Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: daboost via depositphotos
8. GR®223 – Cotentin
The Mont Saint Michel seen from the sky: you can clearly see the bay and its sandbanks and a little further on, in green, the salt meadows. On the left, the river that flows past is called the Couesnon and marks the border between Normandy and Brittany. Le Mont, on the right, is in Normandy. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.fr : Jrossphoto/Shutterstock.com
Hiking in Normandy between cliffs and Cotentin bocages
The GR®223 runs along the Normandy coast from Carentan to Mont-Saint-Michel. 446 km long, it allows you to discover the Marais du Cotentin park, the D-Day beaches, Barfleur, Cherbourg, la Hague, Granville, the dunes of Hattainville and the cliffs of Carolles.
The most beautiful 20 km
The GR passes through the Cotentin moors, a foretaste of Ireland in France / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: by Jean-Louis SERVAIS from Pixabay
From Port Racine to Nez de Jobourg. This section crosses La Hague, with its wild moors and spectacular wind-beaten cliffs.
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Starting point : Port Racine, 50440 Saint-Germain-des-Vaux
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Arrival point : Nez de Jobourg, 50440 Jobourg
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Distances: Paris 400 km - Lille 620 km - Lyon 780 km - Toulouse 830 km - Strasbourg 760 km - Marseille 1,000 km - Rennes 160 km
Jobourg's nose / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : Ldgfr-Photos via depositphotos
9. GR®3 - The Loire on foot
Hiking along the Loire, between castles and Loire landscapes
Saumur overlooks the Loire / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : KamilloK via depositphotos
The GR®3 follows the Loire River for 1,200 km, from its source at Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc to the Atlantic coast. It passes through Le-Puy-en-Velay, Orléans, Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers, Nantes and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. Castles, vineyards and villages make this a major historical and cultural route.
This GR is the route that will most often take you through the vineyards / Photo choise by Monsieur de France by jdomcke from Pixabay
The most beautiful 20 km
From Chaumont-sur-Loire to Amboise. This section runs alongside the Loire, with views of the Château de Chaumont gardens, wild riverbanks and the Château d'Amboise at the end.
Your starting point is the Château de Chaumont / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France / Christian B. from Pixabay
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Starting point: Château de Chaumont, 41150 Chaumont-sur-Loire
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Arrival point : Château d'Amboise, 37400 Amboise
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Distances: Paris 215 km - Lille 435 km - Lyon 460 km - Toulouse 600 km - Strasbourg 650 km - Marseille 760 km - Rennes 230 km
You'll end the tour at the Château d'Amboise, home of Leonardo da Vinci's tomb / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: by Wolfgang Zenz from Pixabay
10. GR®52 - Mercantour National Park
Wild hiking in the heart of the Mercantour, between lakes and peaks
The view is magnificent regularly all along the GR / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : RudiErnst via depositphotos
The GR®52 runs for 80 km between Saint-Dalmas-Valdeblore and Menton in the Alpes-Maritimes. Here you can explore the Mercantour Park: Vallée des Merveilles, Lac de la Minière, Col de Fenestre, Baisse de Valmasque, Cime du Diable, Roya Valley and panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
The most beautiful 20 km
From Vallee des Merveilles to Castérino. This segment crosses rock engravings, high-altitude lakes and offers splendid views of the Southern Alps.
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Starting point : Refuge des Merveilles, 06430 Tende
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Arrival point : Gîte d'étape, 06430 Castérino
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Distances: Paris 960 km - Lille 1,180 km - Lyon 570 km - Toulouse 650 km - Strasbourg 750 km - Marseille 260 km - Rennes 1,090 km
