France has an extensive network of footpaths throughout the country. More than 58000 km of long distance footpaths and 120000 km of local footpaths have been created.. The Fédération Francaise de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) is the organization behind the long distance footpaths - les sentiers de grande randonnée (GR) which exist all over the country.

FFRP, representing 1600 walking clubs, publishes more than 150 guidebooks (topoguides des sentiers de grande randonnée). These contain all kinds of information on the long distance paths: routes, distances, periods of the year suitable for walking, lodgings, maps, elevation charts. Accommodation can be found in huts and also in inns and hotels.

FFRP issues a catalogue listing all the topoguides and with a planning map on which all the GR-paths are indicated. You can get it free of charge from FFRP and also in bookstores. The topoguides can be ordered from FFRP and bought in bookstores. Some of the guidebooks have been translated into English by a British publisher.

For your planning, there is a special map at a scale of 1:100000, "France, sentiers de grande randonnée", published by the Institut Géographique National (IGN). It is also available from FFRP. On most of the yellow Michelin maps (scale 1:200000) more important paths are marked with GR. For the actual walk you will need maps at a scale of 1:50000 or 1:25000.

Information on local footpaths is available from most regional and local tourist offices. If you want to walk in the Vosges - on the French side of the Rhine - you can order guidebooks and maps at a scale of 1:50 000 from the Club Vosgien.

For the French alps (Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, 400km) detailed information is available from Centre Information Montagnes et Sentiers (Cimes) in Grenoble.

For the Pyrenees Cimes-Pyrénées can give information.

If you visit Paris you can buy guidebooks and maps in some bookstores and other stores. Au Vieux Campeur is an example.


Addresses:

Fédération Francaise de la Randonnée Pédestre
Le Centre d´Information Sentiers et Randonnée
14, rue Riquet,  F- 75019 Paris
Phone +33 1 44 89 93 93
Fax + 33 1 40 35 85 67
E-mail ffrp.paris@wanado.fr
Web site www.ffrp.asso.fr (French)


Club Vosgien, 16 rue Sainte-Hélène, F-67000 Strasbourg
Phone + 33 88 32 57 96
Fax + 33 88 22 04 72
E-mail info@club-vosgien
Web site www.club-vosgien.com


Centre Information Montagnes et Sentiers, Maison de Tourisme, 14, rue de la République, F-38027 Grenobles
Phone +33 476 42 45 90
Fax +33 476 15 23 31

Cimes-Pyrénées, 4 rue Maye Lane, F 65421 Ibos
Phone +33 562 90 09 92
E-mail cimes@randopyrenees.com


Club Alpin Francais, 24 av. Laumière, F-75005 Paris
Web site www.clubalpin.com? (French)
E-mail communication.caf@wanadoo.fr


Institut Géographique National, Bureau de Vente des cartes par correspondence, 2, avenue de Pasteur, F94160 Saint-Mandé
Web site www.ign.fr


Au Vieux Campeur, 2 rue de Latran,  F-75005 Paris