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[[Image:Perpignan bridgeoveronramp.jpg{{infobox Country|thumbcountry = France|rightmap = <map lat='47' lng='1.5' zoom='5' view='0' height='320' country='France'/>|250pxlanguage = French (regional languages: Alsatian, Occitan, Breton, Corsican, Basque, Catalan, ...)|On ramp bridge near capital = [[Perpignan]]Paris]]|pop = 65,8 million|currency = Euro (€)|hitch = <rating country='fr' />|BW = FR}}'''France''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It is usually a great country for hitchhiking. There are many friendly car and truck drivers. The highways cost moneyDrivers have to pay toll on motorways (except in [[Bretagne|Brittany]]), and you can get a ride quite easily at some ''[[Péage|barrières de péage]]'' (toll pointsstations). When hitchhiking on local roads, you might face some difficulties sometimes, though. One of the commonly known barriers for traveling in France (as in many foreign countries) is the language - you can get a ride easilymight wanna learn some basic phrases before you off on the road in France.

== General Info ==There are no prohibitions about hitching Like everywhere in FranceEurope, apart from walking on the motorways is illegal and thus it's also illegal to hitchhike there. If you are picked up the restricted access roadspolice you may be fined, ihowever the Gendarmerie are likely to simply give you a lift to the next toll stop.eUse service areas, peages and on-ramps. expressways and motorwaysMoreover some experience shows that French people will more often stop in a place where it is not normally allowed than in other countries. (See below)

Choosing the good spot is the key of getting the best ridesIt may also be helpful to write '''S.V. For instance, in [[Montpellier]] there are two spots very close to each otherP. The first one ''' on your sign with a destination name - it is easy to reach, nevertheless, the second one isnshort for ''s'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play) which means ''please''t much more difficult, but the chances of being picked up are much betterin French.

Most of the French don't speak EnglishOn Sundays, so have a map to show them where you want only trucks with frozen goods are allowed to godrive. If you know any French, use it! French people like it if you try your best. Say ''Bonjour Monsieur/Madame'', to show Keep in mind though that you trucks are friendly. If you're heading not allowed to [[Germany]]go more than 90 km/h and the driver must stop for a 45 min break every 4 1/2 hours, you maybe need to know that [[Germany]] is ''Allemagne'' (all-ay-man'ye) in Frenchwhich can make the trip much longer.

It may also be helpful to put The ''"Michelin 726 National"'S.V.P.''' after your destination if you use map of France is a good choice for a signhitchhiker in this country. Itshows all the major 's shorthand for 'barrières de péage's'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play) = please and [[rest area|service stations]]. You can get a free map in Frenchpéage offices.

== ''Autoroutes & Péages ==[[Image:peage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical big péage in France]]'', 'Autoroute'péages'' means "motorway" in French. Most of them are toll roads, and the fastest way to hitch across he country. A '''barrières de péage''==__TOC__' is a toll booth. There are two types of '''péagesPéage'''([http: Big ones, where all the traffic has to stop to pay or get a ticket (called also "Barrière de Péage", i//cs1.eimtranslator. "Toll Barrier"net/SL/Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1. These are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride, usually located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type wav?param1=001024 audio]) is a side barrier, situated on all exits in the French word for ''toll part of the motorway''. On this kind of péages the traffic It is much smaller and waiting times longer, but if it is located near a relatively big town or on the crossing with a national road it'also commonly used as referring to [[toll station]]s pretty ok. At this type of péages, the road usually splits in two on-ramps going in each direction, so you might need a sign with your direction.

You can get free maps in In France, most of the motorways are toll roads which are the péage offices - these also indicate where you can find "all-stop-péages". The fastest way to travel is from one hitch across the country. There are two types of these to the nexttoll stations on péages. Here First, there are some information how big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee (or to get a lift from péages:[[Image:Derek_hitching_at_péage.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Derek hitching at a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péage near [[Valence]]]]* You can thumb immediately after the péage;* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane ' and stand next usually they are excellent spots to the toll machine get a long-distance ride and talk to drivers when they stop to pay (as pictured make it really easy to left);* You can wait before hitchhike during the péage, just where night. They are often located near big cities on the drivers choose their laneautoroute. There Another type is mostly enough space for cars to pull over herea side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway.Some péages are really goodOn latter ones traffic is much smaller, some are not. If you've been therefore one can expect a longer waiting for a while with destination signtime, drop it and try with your thumb only. Also, you although sometimes congested toll stations (the first type) can try to get be a ride difficult place to the next good spot in the wrong directionhitch from, too.

AlsoTo reach the ''barrière de péage'', you can always hitch from one gas station may need to walk along the motorway; with a help of a proper map check if the distance needed to be walked is not too long. It is actually illegal to anotherwalk on a side lane of the motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (''voie express'') in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and may be fined for ~90€. Péage toll stations are considered a part of the motorway, either asking at and legally you do not have the exit from right to solicit rides there. You may be asked to wait in the shopparking area which is after each ''barrière de péage''. In practice, this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), most toll station employees simply want to make sure you're not endangering yourself or others. Having a sign with your destination (or at the entrance ramp. The staff usually don't care about hitchhikersnext city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant.

It is forbidden The fastest way to stay travel on the motorway itself, as well as on some parts of national roads ("Voie express"), so you have to stick a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to entrances/gas stationsanother.Hitchhiking options are:

Péages are also considered part of * You can thumb immediately after the ''barrière de péage''* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the motorwaylanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane, stand next to the toll machine and technically one talk to the drivers when they stop to pay (usually it is not allowed to sollicit rides there, hitch from the toll machines but in reality this it is not really enforcedgenerally tolerated). Since 2004* You can wait before the ''barrière de péage'', [[User:Daniel|Daniel]], was only told once to get off just where the tollbooth and ask for a ride on the parking nearby (what was difficult because drivers choose their lane - there was no services except toilets). So the risk is relatively lowoften enough of space for cars to pull over to stop for you.

== Cities ==[[Image:Mrtweek mzenzes hitching in franceSome ''barrière de péage'' are really good, some are not.png|thumb|right|250px|[[User:Mzenzes|Martin]] If you've been waiting for a while using a destination sign, drop it and [[User:MrTweek|Philipp]] hitching in France]]* [[Agen]]* [[Bordeaux]]* [[Calais]] - the main ferryport to the British Islandstry thumbing.* [[Dijon]], [[Dol de Bretagne]], [[Dunkerque]]* [[Lille]], [[Lyon]]* [[Marseilles]], [[Montpellier]]* [[Paris]], [[Perpignan]]* [[Reims]], [[Rennes]]* [[Saint Brieuc]], [[Strasbourg]]* [[Toulouse]]

== Number plates ==French number plates end with the number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For exampleWhile on a toll road, you can always try hitchhiking from one [[Parispetrol station hitchhiking|Parisianpetrol station]] cars end with to another, either asking drivers while they refill, or thumbing at the number 75. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_arrondissements_of_France List exit of arrondissements of France] and [http://enthe service area.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] at WikipediaThe staff usually doesn't mind hitchhikers.

== External links [[License plates|Number plates]] ==* French number plates end with a number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For example, [[Paris]]ian cars end with numbers 75, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. See Wikipedia articles on[http://mappyen.wikipedia.fr Mappyorg/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] is a good online map for France, it shows you (to) where you can take public transport.* and [http://wwwen.asfwikipedia.frorg/sharedwiki/pdfList_of_arrondissements_of_France Arrondissements of France]. New number plates are in use since mid-2009. They have an optional reference to the department on the blue stripe at the right side, but they technically are not part of the plate, and do not necessarily refer to the owner's address - one may for example choose to put the number of the department where he/CarteReseaushe was born.pdf Le Réseau ASF]Cars that belong to companies, including rental ones usually bear "60" or "76" since tax on corporate vehicles is the lowest there. The existing old plates will be still in use for a PDF showing all-stop-péages on major routeswhile.

[[depl:FrankreichFrancja]]