With its many mountainous massifs, France is a hiking country par excellence. From the Alps to the Pyrenees, via the Jura and the Massif Central, France offers a great diversity of hikes with diverse and varied landscapes. In the Alps, Haute-Savoie is a prime destination, with the Mont-Blanc massif and its unforgettable landscapes on the rock and snow giants overlooking the Chamonix Valley. On the other hand, the walker can also climb the Pyrenees mountains, with landscapes of exceptional quality maintained by traditional livestock farming. Further north, it is the Jura and the Vosges, a mountainous land that has passed through the ages. Finally, one should also mention the Massif Central, whose volcanoes have been extinct for several thousand years. All the hikes described on this page are also possible in winter with a pair of snowshoes or skis, which is an opportunity to discover the landscapes from a different angle.
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Mont Baron (via the Col des Contrebandiers)
17 May 2015 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Located at the western end of the Bornes Massif just next to Annecy, Mont Baron remains an ideal goal for the preparation of the summer. Short and of slight elevation, the itinerary winds through the forest to emerge quickly on a balcony offering a beautiful view of Lake Annecy
Aiguillette des Houches
8 June 2014 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Aiguillette des Houches is a magnificent stroll in the heart of the Mont-Blanc Massif that takes part of the Tour du Mont Blanc. With its sumptuous views of the Mont Blanc Massif, this hike will undoubtedly remain an unforgettable
Tête du Danay
1 January 2014 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Tête du Danay, located in the heart of La Clusaz, is a magnificent viewpoint over the Aravis Range and the Bornes Massif dominating Grand Bornand village. The itinerary is ideal for a discovery of winter hiking in snowshoes
Mont Lachat de Châtillon
27 October 2013 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Autumn is the opportunity for the hiker to rediscover the massifs under a new eye. Covered with a multicolored dress on which is reflected the soft light of the day, the slopes irradiate in all points the sight and let see prospects of a deep calm
Lac de Gers
1 August 2013 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Lac de Gers remains one of the countless treasures of the Giffre Massif. From Lac des Chambres to Lac d’Anterne and Lac de la Vogealle, the massif is full of wonders for the noblest pleasure of the hiker. Situated on the other side of the Rocher des Fiz, on the site of the Grand Massif
Mont Charvin
14 July 2013 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Let’s get back to the Aravis Range to a place previously described in August 2007: Mont Charvin. If the lake was the objective of the last excursion, here you’ll have to climb the mountain overlooking the lake. Located at the end of the range between
Glacier d’Argentière
11 July 2013 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Chamonix Valley has, since the middle of the eighteenth century, largely captivated our souls due to the magnificence and the grandeur of its mountains. Bordered by these colossal rocks getting close to the sky, its glaciers, immense tongues
Bois du Paradis (Chamonix)
17 February 2013 | by Pierre-Alexandre
The Bois du Paradis, located in the commune of Les Praz, remains a haven of tranquility in the winter tumult of Chamonix Valley, far from the hustle and bustle of the city center and the slopes
Pic du Marcelly
12 September 2012 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Pic du Marcelly is the object of a magnificent hike that describes a loop starting through the pastures of Praz-de-Lys, to continue on the ridges of Pointe de la Couenasse, before ending overlooking Lac de Roy. Formerly classified as “difficult” because
Pays des Gorges du Verdon
5 August 2012 | by Pierre-Alexandre
We had a wonderful family holiday in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, in the surroundings of Esparron de Verdon, near the Gorges du Verdon, first in July 2005 and then in August 2012. Here is a summary of the places visited, illustrated by these
Photos of Lake Geneva Covered With Ice
6 February 2012 | by Pierre-Alexandre
Here is another aspect of Lake Geneva. These photos, taken on January 20, 2005, show the area around the lake after 6 days of freezing winds, blowing with gusts at 100 km/h, with temperatures not exceeding
Col de Cordon
12 January 2012 | by Pierre-Alexandre
From the ski resort of Sommand, many summer hikes are possible in winter. For a discovery of the snowshoe outing, I propose the Col de Cordon that is an easy and safe route. The elevation gain of 230 m is climbed in about one hour depending on the snow conditions
