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Travel Guide France
  • Activities
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  • Cassis
    Cassis Photo: Catalina Fedorova, CC0, unsplash.com
  • Champs de lavande dans le Luberon
    Champs de lavande dans le Luberon Photo: Anaïs Douillard, Outdooractive Editors

France

When you think of France, you usually only have food, the best wines, the largest selection of cheeses or baguettes in mind. But that's not all, because the capital Paris is also bursting with attractions: Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Notre-Dame, etc.  What many do not know: France also has a lot to offer in the outdoor sector. With its five major mountain ranges, including the Alps and the Pyrenees, every sports enthusiast gets his or her money's worth. Whether hiking, biking, surfing or skiing, (almost) nothing is impossible in France!
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Activities in France


hikes
mountain biking trails
bike rides
road cycling routes
trail runs
horse rides
long-distance hikes Pilgrim walks bicycle tours runs mountain hikes snowshoe walks ski tours motor bike routes scenic routes skiing areas city walks alpine climbing routes alpine routes nature trails kayak trips cross-country ski trails ski resorts via ferratas winter hikes sledding runs canoe trips caravan trips canyoning routes long distance ski tours horse carriage rides

Destinations in France


Regions

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Grand Est
Grand Est is a renowned destination amongst outdoor fanatics. Need travel tips? This exclusive ...
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The mountains are undeniably a source of well-being, a place to let go and relax for unforgettable ...
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is the kind of location that tourists return to repeatedly. Need travel tips? ...
Brittany
Brittany offers an endless feast of experiences for travelers. Need some travel tips? With your ...
Centre-Val de Loire
The Centre-Val de Loire region is located in the heart of France and owes its name to the Loire ...
Corsica
Corsica is one of the most versatile islands in Europe. Sun worshippers will find what they are ...
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France provides an endless feast of experiences for travelers. Are you looking for travel ...
Île-de-France
If you are dreaming of an action packed holiday, there is no better location than Ile-de-France. ...
Normandy
Discover Normandy far off the beaten paths. Need some travel suggestions? Our online travel guide ...
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The options for tourists in Nouvelle-Aquitaine are dazzling and tempting. Eager to get some trip ...
Occitania
Leave the well beaten paths and discover Okzitanien on your own. Are you looking for some travel ...
Pays de la Loire
If you are planning an active holiday, you have to consider Pays de la Loire. Are you looking for ...
Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
Leave the well beaten paths and discover the Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur on your own. Eager to get ...

Attractions in France


Discover the region

Places to eat & drink
Dog-friendly hiking
Great places to visit with the family
huts
Accessibility
Ideas for bad weather

Vive la France !

France is a very diverse country in terms of landscape. It stretches from the Mediterranean coastal regions of Provence to the windward English Channel in the north. France is suitable for a holiday - both in summer and winter. The miles of sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged Mediterranean coastline are a magnet for seaside holidaymakers during the warm season. In the winter months, first-class ski areas in the Pyrenees and the Alps attract skiers from all over Europe.

France on your own

Anyone who has watched the famous Tour de France on television knows that there are many ways to explore the country by road bike or mountain bike.

The Mont Ventoux, for example, is a great challenge for Tour de France professionals as well as for amateurs. The tour has already rolled over the summit 13 times, but since 2002 the "Windy Mountain" is no longer part of the tour.

You can also combine your stay in France with traveling to other countries. As the German-French border runs along the Rhine, there are many cycling and hiking trails along the river bank or in the mountains of the Vosges.

  • Road Cycling · Vaucluse
    Following the tracks of the Tour de France - by bike up Mont Ventoux
  • Bike Riding · Schwarzwald
    From Breisach along the Rhine
  • Bicycle Touring · Alsace
    Cross-border cycle trail "Beer & brewing culture" (PAMINA)
  • Bicycle Touring · Grand Est
    EuroVelo 19 - The Meuse cycle route

Hiking

But it doesn't have to go quite so high. The French Jura, for example, offers easier tours and one-day tours, and hikers will also enjoy the hiking trails around the Massif Central in the heart of the country. You can go hiking in the ten national parks of the country. Outside the parks, France also offers countless hiking trails and huts invite you to linger. The main towns here are the Alps and the Pyrenees.

  • Hiking Route · Vosges
    Three Lakes Tour
  • City Walking · France
    City tour Paris

Fasten your skis...

...and off to the slopes! Where? In Europe's largest skiing area. Les 3 Vallées- Val Thorens/Les Menuires/Méribel/Courchevel offers pure skiing fun with 600 km of slopes. On easy (blue marked), medium (red) and difficult (black) slopes there is something for every skier. The little ones can let off steam on the toboggan run and make the children's land of the French ski school ESF unsafe.

  • Val Thorens
  • Meribel
  • Les Menuires
  • Courchevel

Surfing

Photo: Outdooractive Editors

The Atlantic coast is a paradise for surfers or those who still want to become one. The best hotspots are located on the 300 km long beach between the Gironde estuary near Bordeaux and the small surfer village Biarritz on the Spanish border - here you will certainly find a suitable wave. The coast is sparsely populated with relatively small holiday resorts and many camping sites in the pine forests. The high season is July and August, after that the tourists get less and the waves bigger.

France has a lot to offer for water rats. Enjoy nature from the water on a canoe trip in the Dordogne valley or rather adventurous climbing, abseiling and jumping in gorges while canyoning? There is something for everyone!

Paris je t’aime

Photo: Outdooractive Editors

France is known for its extraordinary culture and is popular with many tourists all over the world. Everywhere in the country different dialects are spread, which constitutes the charm of the republic. However, the purest French is spoken in the capital, the "Coeur du pays" (heart of the country).

"Paris I love you" - The famous film title from the year 2006 confesses the love for the city - rightly. Paris enchants with its romantic streets and baroque buildings. With more than 200 art galleries, 100 theatres and 160 museums, the city is considered a top-class cultural landscape. So if you are also interested in culture and history as a balance to the sports programme, you will find the biggest offer here.

Wine regions

As a wine lover you have to taste the best wines of the country. Especially in the region around Bordeaux, the home of Bordeaux wine, many wine tours and tastings are offered. But also in Burgundy the famous Chardonnay or Pinot Noir can delight the palate. Provence is said to be one of the most beautiful wine regions of France. This region is one of the only French regions to specialise in rosé wine.

Recommendations

  • B&B Hôtel Niort Marais poitevin
  • Le Toit d'en Bas
  • Hôtel-restaurant "Le Central"
  • Gîtes communaux - village de vacances
  • Gîte "Saint-Nicolas"
  • Le Central Hôtel
  • Hôtel Mercure Niort-Marais Poitevin
  • Gîtes du Port aux Moules - n°12
  • Géocaching Tèrra-Aventura : "Secrets de Sèvre bien gardés"
  • Au Grain d'Orge
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