France is host to a vast diversity of landforms, from locales in which lush valleys nestle against extinct volcanoes to valleys running alongside France's largest rivers. UNESCO has named some of the nation's most prominent landforms World Heritage Sites, recognizing the ways in which geography has shaped society and architecture throughout the country. France's landforms offer a host of outdoor activities, so whether your passions run to cycling or scaling mountains, you'll find a region that caters to your tastes in outdoor recreation.
The Loire Valley runs along the banks of the Loire, France's longest river, extending from the Massif Central's southern end to the Atlantic coast. UNESCO declared the stretch of valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes a World Heritage Site, citing the historically significant castles and towns in this region. You can visit many of these castles, such as the Chateau de Chambord and the Chateau d'Usse, which was the inspiration behind "Sleeping Beauty." The valley also offers a vast network of cycling trails winding through its vineyards and countryside, which include the nearly 500-mile-long Loire a Velo Trail.
Massif Central was formerly one of the most active volcanic regions in Western Europe and is still an active geothermal region that covers nearly one-fifth of France, extending over the approximate area of France's Auvergne region. Limestone plateaus, volcanic mountains and rugged terrain mark the area, and Massif Central is home to France's greatest expanse of protected territory. You can tour the area's volcanic region at Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne, Europe's largest national park. Prominent peaks in the park include the 5,862-foot Puy Mary and the 5,088-foot Le Cezallier. The park offers a host of outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, mountain biking and hang gliding.
At 15,771 feet, Mont Blanc is Europe's tallest mountain, towering over its neighboring peaks in the French Alps. The mountain shares its borders with Switzerland and Italy, and a 6.75-mile tunnel runs through Mont Blanc, connecting France with Italy. The resort town of Chamonix, site of the first Winter Olympics, is nestled against the mountain and home to the roughly 12.5-mile Vallee Blanche, the longest ski run in Europe. While Mont Blanc is a popular destination among novice climbers, in her article "Why is Mont Blanc One of the World's Deadliest Mountains?" author Lane Wallace notes that it's not a suitable peak for inexperienced mountaineers, and one that claims more lives each year than any of Europe's other mountains.
Winding 482 miles through France, the Seine is the nation's second-longest river. The Seine flows through cities that include Troyes, Rouen and Paris, and two Parisian islands, the Ile St-Louis and Ile de la Cite, rest within the river. In Paris, you can tour the Seine on one of the city's many bateaux-moches, shallow-hulled vessels that sail alongside monuments that include the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. Some cruise tour operators offer packages in which you get a ticket to a local attraction included in the price of your fare, or serve gourmet dinners while you sail.
- UNESCO: World Heritage Convention: The Loire Valley Between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes
- Frommer's: Loire Valley: Introduction to Loire Valley
- Lonely Planet Cycling France; Ethan Gelber
- France.fr: The Massif Central, A Balance Between Agriculture and Industry
- Auvergne: The Auvergne Volcanoes Park
- France 8; Nicola Williams, et. al.
- The Alps: Europe's Mountain Heart; Nicholas Shoumatoff and Nina Shoumatoff
- Frommer's: Chamonix-Mont Blanc: Introduction to Chamonix-Mont Blanc
- The Atlantic; Why is Mont Blanc One of the World's Deadliest Mountains?; Lane Wallace
- The Independent; The Complete Guide To: The River Seine; Simon Calder and Aline Nassif
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