Castles to alpine lakes – Ford Weekend Adventures in France

A weekend adventure away from your daily routine is like hitting the reset button. Hiking or biking through spectacular nature, diving into clear lakes and rivers, and exploring the streets of new towns and cities brings the ultimate sense of freedom. In this Collection, we guide you on four weekend adventures in different regions around France from Normandy to Lac d’Annecy.

We’ve included six hikes, ranging in length from 16.7 to 7.6 km (10.3 to 4.7 miles), and two bike rides, 48.3 km (30 miles) miles and 68.8 km (42.7 miles) long. We chose the routes to suit a range of abilities, so you can have fun with the whole family or on a personal fitness challenge. However, the more mountainous routes require a head for heights and a good fitness level.

You can choose between a cycling adventure through UNESCO landscapes in the Loire Valley to countless spectacular chateaux; hiking along turquoise waters in the Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s alternative ‘Grand Canyon’ in the South of France; climbing up to lofty heights and visiting rustic mountain huts by Lac d’Annecy; and walking through landscapes which inspired Impressionist painters in Normandy.
Each weekend adventure has its own unique highlights: visit the magnificent town of Amboise in the Loire Valley where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died; eat a slice of apple tart in a half-timbered square in a historic Norman town; roam the empty corridors of the Chateau de Chambord, one of the most impressive castles in the world; fall in love with mountain landscapes and local cheese around Lac d’Annecy; and explore cascading waterfalls along the Verdon River.

For all the routes, you should bring a few snacks and enough water. You may also be grateful for hiking poles, especially when hiking in the mountains around Lake Annecy and along the rocky trails in the Gorges du Verdon. There are lots of chances to take a dip in Lake Annecy or the Verdon river so place your swimsuit, too.

With the exception of the high-alpine hike in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, you can complete these routes in all seasons. In Autumn, Monet’s gardens explode in colour, and leaves blanket the roads to regal Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley.

Regardless of which season you choose to adventure, we’ve included recommendations for campsites where you can fully immerse yourself in the great outdoors in your tent or a quaint cabin. You can drive to the start points within a thirty-minute drive of the campsite.

Each adventure is designed to give you a weekend of freedom away from your daily routine. The second Tour is shorter to allow for enough time to drive home. Taking your car gives you the freedom to go further off-the-beaten-track into wild mountains and pretty countryside.

So pack your bags, jump in the car, and drive to your next micro-adventure. With cooler temperatures and bursting colours, there’s no better time to explore than autumn.