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 WALKING FRANCE

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France -
Guide to France including regions, towns, places of interest, activities and events. Includes travel information.

 

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France General Guides and Maps

 

 

   

   
 

IGN MAPS

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BOOKS

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Long-Distance Footpaths (the GRs) in France - A general road map of France overprinted with the entire network of the Sentiers de Grande Randonnee, the GR routes. Brief text in French, German and English describes classification and waymarking. On the reverse, the whole network is superimposed on the grid for the 1:25,000 topographic survey of France. Published 2006.

Long Distance Footpaths (in France): 903

 

Walking in France: Exploring France's Great Towns and Finest Landscape on Foot, Gillian and John Souter - This book helps you to plan your journey and enjoy the best of France on foot. It offers multiple walking tours in Paris, suggests routes around such gems as Annecy and Avignon, and leads you into France's most stunning landscapes and national parks. Many of the walks are multi-day routes along well-marked footpaths, leading you from village to village where you'll find a comfortable bed and a good meal. A lucid and lively text provides directions and plenty of information and is accompanied by a collection of beautiful photographs and hand-drawn maps. The Cities: Paris, Rouen, Nantes, Tours, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Dijon, Annecy, Lyon, Grenoble, Le Puy, Albi, Avignon, Arles, Marseille. The Countryside: Coast of Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley, The Dordogne, Pyrenees, Alsace and the Vosges, Vanoise, Monts Dore, Vercors, The Way of St Jacques, The Cevennes, Tarn Gorges, The Luberon, Verdon Gorge, The Mercantour, The Calanques, Corsica. It includes: detailed walking notes, practical advice for the traveller on foot, a section of the Santiago pilgrimage route, and a glossary and index. Published Jan 06 AA Bed and Breakfast in France -  Fully updated for 2009, this extensive French B&B guide offers a choice of B&Bs, farmhouses, and chateaux in every region of France - the perfect way to sample France at its very best. The famous Gites de France logo means that you can be confident that all the places featured have been inspected and approved by one of the leading names in French private accommodation. Each region has clear, easy-to-use mapping showing where each establishment is located. Booking is made easy with address, telephone, fax and email contact details provided where available, as well as sample booking letters in French. Published Feb 09

TOP 25 maps and Serie Bleue

The French equivalent of Ordnance Survey Maps

IGN Top 25 maps cover areas of particular tourist interest. The maps have an overprint highlighting local footpaths, long-distance GR routes and, where appropriate, ski routes. Other tourist information includes campsites, equestrian or canoeing centres, huts, mountain refuges, etc. Map legend is in French and English. Each TOP 25 map covers an area of approximately 28 x 21 km (17 x 13 miles) and has a suffix ET or OT (east or west)

The rest of France is covered by Serie Bleue maps, which have no overprint. The legend is in French only. Each Serie Bleue map covers an area of approximately 20 x 14 km (12 x 9 miles), with some maps slightly larger. Each has a suffix E or O (East or West)

Both series have similar cartography, with contour interval of 5 metres, except for mountainous areas, where the maps have hill shading and contours at 10-metre intervals. Scale 1:25000

The link at the top of this column will take you to the general list of titles from which you can choose the map you want or go to regional page via Homepage for specific titles.

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Walking the French Gorges, Alan Castle - Provence and Ardeche offer some of the most delectable walking in all France. This guidebook describes a 320 mile route, in 26 daily stages, from the Cote d'Azur to the Massif Central, including a trek along the dramatic Grand Canyon of the Verdon and an ascent of Mont Ventoux, the highest summit in mainland France outside the Alps and Pyrenees. Full of variety, the walk visits Provencal mountain villages, fields of lavender, limestone mountains and the world-famous vineyards of the Rhone valley. Excellent public transport enables the walk to be easily divided into one- or two-week holidays. Details of accommodation, transport and other facilities on and off route are included, as well as invaluable practical information for newcomers to walking in France. Those visiting the area on holiday can sample parts of the trail by a number of day walks. Published Jan 93. Re-printed July 09

Walking the French Gorges

 

 

The Inland Waterways of France, David Edwards-May - The standard guide to the French canals and navigable rivers includes maps and distance tables for each waterway, giving the user a general view of the geography of each waterway. Includes comprehensive general guidance to the French waterways, including distances and overall dimensions, formalities, navigation regulations and up-to-date list of hire operators. An unrivalled reference. Published Dec 09

Through the French Canals, David Jefferson -  Each route is laid out in a simple table detailing the main features (rivers, locks, towns and villages) and where applicable describing what facilities are available to boat owners. There are 30 black and white photographs throughout the book and plans of the main harbours. The front half of the book deals preparation and practicalities, including suitable boats, costs of living, planning your cruise and how to open the locks. Published May 06

Through the French Canals

 

IGN Tourism and Regional Discovery Maps - 95 titles with information on places of interest, recreational facilities, types of accommodation, local and long distance footpaths, bridleways etc. Various Scales

Beaume & Drobie en Cevennes DArdeche Outdoor Activities

The above link will take you to the general list of titles from which you can choose the map you want or go to regional page via Homepage for specific titles.

The Way of St. James: Camino De Santiago - Pyrenees-Santiago-Finesterre - This is a walker's guide to the 778km Pilgrim Road from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees on the French side to Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain, and finally to the 'end of the earth' at Finisterre on the Galician coast. A companion volume by the same author, "The Way of St James" (Le Puy to the Pyrenees), describes the French section of the route through to the Pyrenees. As well as giving directions for walking the route, the book also provides information on places to visit along the way, the history of the pilgrimage and the availability of practical facilities such as shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation. Unlike existing guides (in any language) this one contains: details of the walker's continuation from Santiago to Finisterre (75km) and a comprehensive listing of St. James' and other pilgrim references along the way (as an Appendix). It also contains a list of suggestions for further reading, a glossary of geographical and other useful terms, and a series of sketch maps covering the entire route to help the user in planning his or her journey. Published June 08 The Way of St. James: Chemin De Saint -Jacques De Compostelle - Le Puy to the Pyrenees, Alison Raju - This is a walker's guide to the 740km Pilgrim Road from Le Puy-en-Velay in central France to the Pyrenees. It is the only original guide to this route in English. A companion volume by the same author, "The Way of St James" (Pyrenees-Santiago-Finisterre), continues the route through Spain from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostella (or Finisterre). As well as giving directions for walking the route the book also provides information on places to visit along the way, the history of the pilgrimage and the availability of practical facilities such as shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation. This guide contains an outline of the route along the Cele valley (53km) as one appendix and, unlike existing guides (in any language), a comprehensive listing of St. James and other pilgrim references along the way as another. There is a list of suggestions for further reading and a glossary of geographical and other useful terms. It also contains a series of sketch maps covering the entire route to aid the user in planning his or her journey. Published Feb 04. New Edition March 10
  The Independent Walker's Guide to France, Frank Booth - Veteran and novice travellers will both enjoy this outstanding new walker's guide to historic France. Between France's great monuments, marked trails allow the visitor to enter a world of tranquil beauty. The ocean, rivers, vast forests, vineyards, meadows and quiet villages will be the only companion in a land trodden by few tourists. This unique series is designed for visitors who enjoy walking and getting off the beaten track. In addition to their value as general guides, each volume is peerless as a walker's guide, allowing travellers to see all of the great sights, enjoy the incomparable beauty of the countryside, and maintain a high level of physical fitness while travelling through the popular tourist destinations. -- Practical information on 35 extraordinary walks (all planned as day hikes and are between 2 and 9 miles) including: how to get there, where to stay, trail distance, walking time, difficulty rating, explicit trail directions and a vivid description of the trail and local sights. -- Numerous itineraries: the Grand Tour which embraces all 35 walks, regional itineraries, and thematic itineraries. -- One planning map and 35 detailed trail maps. -- Easy-to-follow trail notes. -- A "Walks-at-a-Glance" section which provides capsule summaries of all the walks. -- Before-you-go helpful hints and suggestions. Buyer Review. Published March 98. AA Road Atlas France - Fully revised and updated for 2010, this specialist A4 road atlas designed for the British motorist in France includes 32 city centre plans to help you find your way in and around busy centres. Road mapping for Corsica and new style Paris city plans are included, plus the atlas legend is in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Dutch. The atlas also includes a route planner and French names to match local road signs, and mapping is provided by the AA and the Institut Geographique National (IGN) the experts on roads in France. Published Nov 09. A3 Version

 

  Walking the Alpine Parks of France and Northwest Italy, Mercantour, Queyras, Ecrins, Vanoise, Gran Paradiso -  Marcia  Lieberman - Suggests hikes in five French and one Italian national parks, and offers tips on trip planning, map sources, and safe hiking. Published April 03

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Lonely Planet Walking in France, Sandra Bardwell etc - Part of a series of "Lonely Planet" walking guides, this volume presents scenic walks in 13 French regions including the famous GR20 Corsican Trail and a range of picturesque day walks all within easy reach of Paris. Limited availability. Published April 04

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See the entire range of Lonely Planet books

  Short Escapes in France: 25 Trips to Places Tourists Never See , Bruce Bolgar & Gary Stoller - This guide is for visitors to France who want to get off the beaten path - for an afternoon or longer. It features 25 detailed walking tours, with maps and details of accommodation and food for all budgets. It lists places of interest and local attractions, and pinpoints local tourist offices. Published June 96. Limited availability.

Footpaths of France: Touring, Camping and Caravanning for the Walker, Michael Marriot -  An illustrated guide to the best regions in France for the walker, this book includes recommended camp sites, route descriptions of walks and how to get there. It guides the reader to the rural parts of "old France", away from the crowded and industrialized areas. Published May 93. Limited availability.

500 Walks in France, AA Publications - This title from the AA offers 500 walks all over France and features some of the best-loved areas of the country. Ranging from gentle country strolls to more challenging walks. All routes have been licensed from the Federation Francaise de la Randonee Pedestre (FFRP) so have been thoroughly researched. Published Oct 04. Limited availability.

French Rock, Bill Birkett - Describes 40 crags mainly in the south east of France, but also a selection in other regions. This visual guide has concise descriptions of the climbs, accompanied by photographs with the routes overlaid. Arranged by region, each with an introduction giving some practical advice, on maps, access and accommodation. Published Jan 93. Limited availability.

France on Foot: Village to Village, Hotel to Hotel: How to Walk the French Trail System on Your Own, Bruce Lefavour - Bruce LeFavour has turned the practicalities of taking on a walking holiday into an adventure. The book is packed with common sense, down to earth ideas - all packaged with a great sense of humour. Being a francophile I have experienced some of the scenarios Bruce refers too e.g. eating in France is a time of communication, not a way of just adding calories, so don't get frustrated when waiting for a table in a cafe - have a drink and sip the atmosphere. This book makes the planning stage as much fun as the walk. A great read. Buyer Review. Published Jan 99. Limited availability.

Walking Through France: From the Channel to the Carmargue, Robin Neillands - A well written account of a journey across France, with interesting descriptions of the local people, history and cuisine that the author came across. This, along with the diversity in the scenery of France makes the book a very enjoyable read. Buyer Review. Published Nov 94. Limited availability.

Walks and Tours in France -This AA guide contains 60 tours and 114 walks throughout 16 French regions. It has a detailed large scale route map with clear Institut Geographique Nationale cartography for the walker to follow easily. Published Feb 97. Limited availability.

 

 

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