Long-distance walkers are well served in France by a network of some 60,000km of long-distance marked footpaths, known as sentiers de grande randonnée or, more commonly, simply as GRs. They're fully signposted and equipped with campsites and refuges along the way. Some are real marathons, like the GR5 from the coast of Holland to Nice, the trans-Pyrenean GR10 or the Grande Traversée des Alpes (the GTA). The Chemin de St-Jacques – GR65 – follows the ancient pilgrim route from Le Puy in the Auvergne to the Spanish border above St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and on to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela, while GR3 traces the Loire from source to sea. There are also thousands of shorter sentiers de petit randonnée, the PRs, as well as nature walks and many other local footpaths.Each GR and many PRs are described in a Topoguide (available outside France in good travel bookshops) which gives a detailed account of the route, including maps, campsites, refuges, sources of provisions, etc. In France, the guides are available from bookshops and some tourist offices, or direct from the principal French walkers' association, the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre. In addition, many tourist offices can provide guides to their local footpaths. In mountain areas there are associations of professional mountain guides, often located in the tourist office, who organize walking and climbing (escalade) expeditions for all levels of experience.
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