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|language = French(regional languages: Alsatian, Occitan, Breton, Corsican, Basque, Catalan, ...)

|pop = 6465,102,1408 million

'''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. Drivers 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 stations). When hitchhiking on local roads, you might face some difficulties sometimes, though. One of the commonly known barriers for traveling in France (as in any many foreign countrycountries) is a the language - you might wanna learn some basic phrases before you off on the road in France.

On Sundays, only trucks with frozen goods are allowed to drive. Keep in mind though that trucks are not allowed to go more than 90 km/h and the driver must stop for a 45 min break every 4 1/2 hours, which can make the trip much longer.

== ''Autoroutes, péages and barrières de péage ==__TOC__'', 'Péage'péages'' and ([http://cs1.imtranslator.net/SL/Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1.wav?param1=001024 audio]) is a French word for ''barrières de péagetoll'' ==. It is also commonly used as referring to [[toll station]]s.

In France, most of the motorways are toll roads which are the fastest way to hitch across the country. There are two types of toll stations on péages. First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee (or to get a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péage'Péage''' ([http://frenchand usually they are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night.aboutThey are often located near big cities on the autoroute.com/library/media/wavs/peage.wav]) Another type is a French word for ''side barrier situated on all exits in the toll''part of the motorway. It On latter ones traffic is also commonly used as referring much smaller, therefore one can expect a longer waiting time, although sometimes congested toll stations of the first type can be difficult to [[toll station]]shitch from due to heavy traffic.

In FranceTo reach the ''barrière de péage'', most you may need to walk along the motorway; with a help of a proper map check if the motorways are toll roads which are the fastest way distance needed to hitch across the countrybe walked is not too long. There are two types of toll stations It is illegal to walk on péages. First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee side lane of the motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (''voie express'' or to get a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péagevoie rapide'' ) in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and usually they are excellent spots may be fined for 11 to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night40€. They Péage toll stations are often located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is considered a side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway, and legally you do not have the right to solicit rides there. On latter ones traffic You may be asked to wait in the parking area which is much smallerafter each ''barrière de péage''. In practice, therefore one can expect a longer waiting this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), although sometimes congested most toll stations (the first type) can be a difficult place station employees simply want to hitch from, toomake sure you're not endangering yourself or others.

To reach the ''barrière de péage'', you 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 walk 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, and legally you do not have the right to solicit rides there. You may be asked to wait in the parking 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 the next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant. You will definitely need it if the road splits. The fastest way to travel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another.

The fastest way to travel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another. Hitchhiking options are:

* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane, stand next to the toll machine and talk to the drivers when they stop to pay (usually it is not allowed to hitch from the toll machines but it is generally often tolerated).

== [[License plates|Number plates]] Personal Experiences ==French number plates end with a number of the ''départementIn my experience it'' the car is registered s pretty much impossible to go hungry inFrance. For exampleWhile hitching I almost ALWAYS get 10 or 5 euros thrown my way, [[Paris]]ian cars end with numbers 75and once even 60 euro! The key is to imply you have no money (helps the guilt if you actually don't have any like I did). Ask where you can use the internet or a phone, 78but WITHOUT PAYING, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. See Wikipedia articles on[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_arrondissements_of_France Arrondissements 90% of France]. New number plates are in use since mid-2009. They have an optional reference to the department on the blue stripe time they'll tell you "I'll drop you off at the right sidestation/road/town with 10 euros, but they technically are alright?" It's not part really possible without having a good standard of the platecommunication though, and do not necessarily refer so either hope they know English or learn some French! I also wouldn't recommend doing "it" if you have no money or already had access to the ownerinternet or a phone, solely because of guilt. Even though I was genuine in my requests I didn't feel happy taking their money, but food is food!''s address - one may Aaronishappy  ''France is great because it has roundabouts, which makes for example choose to put slow traffic on the number of smaller roads. Of course, the department where he/she was bornbig highways are off-limits in many cases, but that's alright. Cars that belong to companiesBeautiful countryside, including rental ones usually bear "60" or "76" since tax on corporate vehicles is the lowest theregood people. The existing old plates will be still in use for a whileFor me I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and lots of baguettes, as cliche as that may sound.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]] 

== ''Don't be afraid to approach people at service stations just because your French is weak (or, like me, non-existent). After a quick 'bonjour', or 'vous allez ou?', people were happy to help. Many people didn't speak English, with some I got by in Spanish, and with 3 or 4 we had no language in common at all. Nevertheless, people were still kind and willing to help.'' - [[FoodUser:Justunein|Justunein]]/[[Money]] ==

EU''My Hitch in France went marvellously! Check this, EEAI was walking along the street in Nimes, Swissminding my own business, Andorran and Monégasque citizens can live a woman pulled up in a car and work in France without restrictionsasked me if I wanted to hitch to Marseille! She asked me!! When we got there, she showed me around and I slept on her sofa (whenever I tell French men about this they invariably respond 'Did you ''fork'' her?'). Non-EU citizens who are The next day, I got 5 hitches from AlbaniaMarseille to Limans, Andorra, Antigua and Barbudafor 3 of them all I had to do was hold up a cardboard sign and the first car that came picked me up. I was going to write that it's like taking the bus, Argentina''but you have to wait for busses!'' As a bonus, Barbadosthe people who I hitched with were really nice, Bosnia so much so that one of them lied and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguaysaid that my French wasn't so bad! Oh yeah, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Taiwan and Uruguay are permitted to work in France during their 3 month visa exemption period. For more information, visit the [http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france/coming-to-france/getting-a-visa/article/foreign-nationals-holding-ordinary bit about French Ministry of Foreign Affairs] websitebakeries is incomplete.They have pastries round the back too!!''

"Don't be afraid to approach people at service stations just because your 'I started my first hitchhike tour in France and found out that most French is weak (or, like me, non-existent). After a quick 'bonjour', or 'vous allez ou?', people were are very kind and in most cases they are happy to helptake you with them. Many But I think it's really helpful to speak even a little bit French so you can say want you want and where you want to go because most of French people didndon't like to speak English, with some I got english or maybee they are not able to. Espacally in the south of france it's also possible to travel short distances by in Spanishtrain for free, because most of them are not controlled. In case of controlling you can say that you're out of money and with 3 or 4 we had no language in common at allmost cases they will not send you a bill because it is to complicated for them to find you in your home country. Nevertheless, people were still kind And even if you are in bad luck and willing to helpthey will find you the price is not even higher than the ticket for the train."''

== Gallery Links ==

* [http://www.asfvinci-autoroutes.frcom/sharedsystem/files/pdf/Aires%20de%20services%20VINCI%20autoroutes2012/12/carte_reseau_vinci_autoroutes.pdf Service Stations Network], a pdf file that shows all service station on major routes in southern France. == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}}