Exploring France
Walk through Alpine valleys, follow coastal paths, explore vineyards and historic villages, or spend a few days discovering the French countryside from a rural guest house, mountain refuge or small hotel.
In south-eastern France, the French Alps offer some of Europe's most distinctive mountain landscapes, with high peaks, alpine meadows, wooded valleys and traditional villages. The GR5 (Nice to Briançon) passes through the Mercantour National Park and towards the Queyras Regional Natural Park, while the GR5 (Briançon to Lake Geneva) continues north through mountain landscapes towards the shores of Lake Geneva. Along these routes, mountain refuges and small Alpine settlements provide places to stay while exploring the surrounding countryside.
Further west, the French Pyrenees extend along the border with Spain, with dramatic mountain valleys, high passes and traditional communities. The Pyrenees National Park protects some of the range's most spectacular landscapes, while the GR10 follows a long-distance route between the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Along the Atlantic coastline, Brittany offers rocky headlands, fishing villages and coastal walking on the GR34, while the beaches, dunes and pine forests of the Landes create a different coastal landscape further south.
Across central France, the Massif Central combines volcanic uplands, wooded valleys, limestone plateaux and historic villages. The Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Natural Park offers walking through volcanic landscapes, while the Cévennes National Park is known for its rugged hills, traditional settlements and historic paths. Further north, the Loire Valley connects riverside towns, vineyards, châteaux and rural landscapes, with opportunities for shorter walks and longer journeys through the countryside.
In southern France, Provence combines limestone hills, lavender-growing countryside, olive groves and historic hilltop villages. The Luberon Regional Natural Park offers walking between villages and rural landscapes, while the Calanques National Park, near Marseille, is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs, sheltered coves and Mediterranean coastal paths. Further east, the landscapes of the French Riviera connect coastal towns, wooded hills and mountain villages between the Mediterranean and the southern Alps.
For a longer journey, follow paths such as the GR5, GR10 or GR34 over several days. For a shorter break, choose one place to stay and explore the surrounding mountains, coast, vineyards, villages and local walking paths on foot.