Geography
A large country by European standards, extending to more than half a million square kilometres, France is approximately the same size as California. Divided into 96 administrative regions or departements, the country has land borders to the southeast with Italy and to the east, with Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. To the southwest, France has a long border with Spain. The English Channel lies to the north and the warmer waters of the Mediterranean lie to the south. From the perspective of the adventure traveller, it is the mountainous regions of France which are of most interest. The most important mountain range is the French Alps, a part of the European Alps, which extend for some 1000 kilometres (620 miles), through parts of southeastern France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. Amongst the hundreds of peaks comprising this range, there are some 75 which top the 4000 metre (13000ft.) mark. Above 3000 metres (10000ft.), the mountains are permanently snow-capped and the region is heavily glaciated. In many alpine valleys, forests of pine reach above 2500 metres (8000ft.)and there are flower-filled alpine pastures above this height. At 4808 metres (15,767ft.) Mont Blanc is the highest and most complicated mountain massif in the Alps, extending southwest to northeast for 50 kilometres (30 miles) at the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. Thirty glaciers flow down from its upper snow slopes and these have contributed to the creation of the jagged rock spires (aiguilles) which are such a distinctive feature, when viewed from the French town of Chamonix. The second biggest range of mountains in France is the Pyrenees, which forms a natural border with Spain. From the Bay of Biscay and the Atantic Ocean in the west, the Pyrenees extend for more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the Mediterranean in the east, whilst the maximum width of the chain (north to south) is about 130 kilometres (80 miles). On the French side of the range, the valleys are steep and deeply-cut, with impressive mountain torrents known locally as gaves. High up, on this northern exposure, some of the biggest peaks have been glacially eroded into impressive cirques, such as the well-known Cirque de Gavarnie. On the southern side, in Spain, the landscape is generally less precipitous and descends gradually through several foothill ranges. The central part of the Pyrenees is the highest and includes the biggest peak, the Pico de Aneto at 3404 metres (11168ft.) which is situated entirely within Spain. Other important peaks in the range are Pico de Posets at 3375 metres (11073ft.) and Monte Perdido at 3355 metres (11007ft.). There are, in total, more than 50 peaks which top the 3000 metre (10000ft.) mark. The permanent snow line is close to 2000 metres (6500ft.) and there are a few small remnant glaciers. Amongst France’s other mountainous areas are the Massif Central, which does not have any really big peaks, but does cover almost one-sixth of the country. One other notable mountainous region is the outlying French province of Corsica. The Mediterranean island of Corsica is some 180 kilometres (110 miles) long and 75 kilometres (46 miles) wide, with an incredibly convoluted coastline - which if pulled out into a straight line would extend for 1000 kilometres (620 miles). Corsica lies 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of the French mainland and 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Italy. Its high point is at the summit of Monte Cinto (2710m.) (8876ft.) and there are 20 other mountains above the 2000 metre (6500ft.) mark. It is the most mountainous of the Mediterranean islands.

Time Zone
The time in France is GMT + 1 hour and GMT + 2 hours in summer time (from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday in October).

Climate
The climate is very variable across France. In the north, there is a temperate pattern of climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are generally mild, quite hot in summer, with rainfall spead throughout the year and modest snowfall in winter. Further south, the climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. The mountainous areas of the Alps and Pyrenees have variable climates influenced by their elevations. Although the high valleys of the Alps and the Pyrenees can experience near arctic conditions during the winter, it pays to remember that each of these areas is less than 300 kilometres (185 miles) from the Mediterranean. In summer, the climate is hot and sunny in the valleys and pleasantly cool at the high cols. June, July and August usually provide the most reliable weather conditions for mountain activities in this area. The temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be reasonably warm, ranging from 10 to 25 degrees centigrade (50º – 77º F). It can be cool in the evenings at our highest overnight stopping places, falling below freezing point at night. We can also expect clear, frosty conditions on our early “Alpine” starts. Of course, mountainous area do produce their own weather systems and short-lived storms cannot be ruled out at any time of the year. Corsica has a Mediterranean climate, with a long summer season extending from May through to October. The incidence of sunshine is high, averaging almost 8 hours per day throughout the year. Winters can be cold and snow persists on the highest peaks until June. Above 1500 metres, the Corsican climate is more alpine than Mediterranean.

Rough guide to temperatures June to September

The French experience
There is a certain excitement, a certain je ne sais quoi, about any visit to France. This is associated with the feeling that somehow life is easier there and that the pace of life is more relaxed. It is all about sitting in a pavement café (the sun always shines in France) drinking a cup of café crème, eating a croissant and watching the world go by. This is an essential part of the French experience and whether you are walking or climbing in the mountains, or working on your tan on a Mediterranean beach, you will never be too far from a sympatique café or bar.

The French are a chauvinistic people, proud of their history and of the nation’s accomplishments in the fields of literature, art and gastronomy. The English language is not widely spoken in the country and learning a few words of French before your visit will be to your advantage.

Currency
The unit of currency in France is the euro. As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£ 1 = € 1.47
$ 1 = € 0.84

You should take some euros with you on your holiday to France. These are readily available at most banks. If you run out of euros, dollars and sterling (cash or travellers cheques) can easily be exchanged once you are in France, although it is not every bank which will provide this service. French post offices will often change money, however. Credit cards can be used widely and you will also be able to obtain currency at cash machines (ATM’s) at larger French banks in the usual way.

Visas
Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Israel do not require visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Most other nationalities will need a visa.

Vaccinations
There are no specific innoculations or other medical requirements for France. If you are uncertain about the state of your health, you should visit your doctor for a check-up prior to your proposed trip.
Travellers from the UK should consider obtaining a Form E111 from the Post Office which will enable you to receive free or reduced-cost medical treatment whilst in France.

Drinking water
The tap water will normally be safe to drink in France. If you are in any doubt about this, bottled water is widely available. Your trip leader will be able to advise you about this.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Tour Of Mont Blanc. Andrew Harper.
The Haute Route – Chamonix to Zermatt. Cliffe.
Walking In The Alps. Kev Reynolds.
Chamonix-Mont Blanc. A Walking Guide. Martin Collins.
The Mountains of Europe. Kev Reynolds.
Savage Snows. Walt Unsworth.
In Monte Viso's Horizon. Will McLewin.
GR 20 Corsica. Paddy Dillon (Cicerone Press).
Corsica Walking Guide. Bergverlag Rother GMBH.
Corsica. Insight Guide.
Corsica. Lonely Planet.
The Rough Guide to Corsica.
Trekking in the Pyrenees. Trailblazer Publications.
Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees. Cicerone Press.
The Rough Guide to the Pyrenees.
Landscapes of the Pyrenees. Sunflower Books.

Maps
The French IGN (Institut Geographique National) 1:25,000 Series has a full and excellent coverage of The French Alps, the Pyrenees and Corsica.
Michelin. Corse (Corsica). Sheet No. 90.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com