GR 5

The GR 5 is a transnational long-distance footpath. He is the continental part of the beginning of the British Isles European long-distance hiking trail E2 and leads from the North Sea in about 2080 km to the Mediterranean.

The designation as " GR" Sentier de Grande Randonnee = is due to the fact that the route runs predominantly through France (where he is one of the longest national roads) is known, and above all through the initiative of the Fédération française de la randonnée pédestre.

The longest variant of the GR 5 begins on the Dutch coast in Hoek van Holland and leads to the Deltapad to Bergen op Zoom; other sources can be the GR 5 only there, start in Bergen. The GR 5 leads to Belgium, passing through Flanders eastwards into the Dutch Limburg. At St. Peter's Mountain near Maastricht he touches the southern terminus of the longest Dutch long-distance route, the Pieterpads. There, the GR 5 turns south and crosses to over 200 km, the Belgian Ardennes. It runs by Luxembourg, the Vosges and the Sundgau.

South of Belfort leads the GR 5 in the Jura; there he runs partly along with the Grande Traversée du Jura and can be walked in the winter on cross-country skis or snowshoes. From the Jurassic of the path descends to Lake Geneva, which is crossed by Nyon to Thonon -les- Bains, Saint- Gingolph VS by ship.

On the south bank of Lake Geneva, then begins the most famous trail of the GR 5, the Grande Traversée des Alpes, the over 660 kilometers through the western Alps ( Mont Blanc group, Grajische Alps, Cottian Alps Maritime Alps ), through lonely valleys and parks, to Nice. Portions of this route are used by the newer, alpine-wide network of paths Via Alpina. From the Alps to the Mediterranean many hikers prefer the GR 52 from Saint -Dalmas de VALDEBLORE to Menton.

Map

• Hiking in France