St-Jacques’s Path, Midi-Pyrenees

There are four paths leading pilgrims to St. Jacques de Compostelle, through southern France and northern Spain. Rumor has it that the most beautiful is the via Podensis, in the Pyrenees. Starting from the medieval town of Figeac, the walk will take you through fields of safran, among herds of goats and sheep, and you will come across many interesting monuments along the way.

St-Jacques’s Path, France by Hk kng

The calanques, Bouches-du-Rhône

Situated between Marseille and Cassis, in southern France, the calanques are steep and uneven limestone formations, which bright pale color contrasts beautifully with the deep blue Mediterranean sea. The panorama is spectacular. Piece of advice: do not forget to bring sufficient amount of water since the heat can get intense and there is no fresh water available anywhere in the calanques. Preferably, choose to go there off-season, between March and May. The temperature will be fresher, and you’ll avoid most of the calanques’ annual 2 million visitors.

Sentier des muletiers, Puy de Dôme, Auvergne

Highest point of the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinguished volcanos in Auvergne, center of France, the Puy de Dome used to be an important place of worship in the Roman empire. You can hike up to the top using the historic sentiers des muletiers, the ancient path that once conducted worshipers to the temple of Jupiter, which ruins are still existing on the summit. The sentier des muletiers is a fairly easy hike that can be achieved within an afternoon, back and forth. The view from the summit is amazing; but brace yourself for crowds of tourists. The Puy de Dome is one of the most visited spots of France, which is the most popular destination of the world. So do not expect to be alone up there!

Mont Dore, Chaine des Puys, Auvergne, France by Sébastien Bertrand

While you are in Auvergne, seize the occasion to explore the surrounding Chaine des Puys. There are countless mountains hiking tracks, all more beautiful than one another: breathtaking panoramic views, waterfalls, pristine lakes, etc. It is well worth it.

Contentin Peninsula, Normandy

With over 436 km in total, the path that takes you around the Cotentin Peninsula, in Normandy, would take over 20 days to be walked completely. But you can easily choose to walk short sections of the path. The landscapes are splendid, the air is fresh, the view, panoramic, arouses an incomparable feeling of freedom and peace.

About the author:

Mireille Mayrand-Fiset is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She writes for the stage and television, and is working as a freelance blogger for Tourism Montreal, which provides all kind of information to plan your trip in Montreal. You can find more information here.

The post The 4 Best Hiking Trails of France appeared first on Europe Explored.