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|map = <map lat='47' lng='1.5' zoom='5' view='0' height='320' country='France'/>|language = French(regional languages: Alsatian, Occitan, Breton, Corsican, Basque, Catalan, ...)

|pop = 6468,102,1400 million

|hitch = {{good}}<rating country='fr' />|BW = FR

European '''France''' is a member state part 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 money Drivers have to pay toll on motorways (except in [[Bretagne|Brittany]] and at some other places), and you can get a ride quite easily at some ''[[Péage|barrières de péage]]'' (toll pointsstations) . When hitchhiking on local roads, you can get a ride easilymight face some difficulties sometimes, though. One of the commonly known barriers for traveling in France (as in many foreign countries) is the language - you might want to 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 restricted access roadsmotorways is illegal and thus it's just legal to hitchhike on service areas and at the beginning of on-ramps before the highway sign. Hitchhiking at the péage next to the barrier is forbidden, ibut police and highway staff mostly turn a blind eye if you stand there.e. 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 rides. For instanceOn Sundays, in [[Montpellier]] there only trucks with frozen goods are two spots very close allowed to each otherdrive. The first one is easy Keep in mind though that trucks are not allowed to reach, nevertheless, the second one isn't much go more difficult, but the chances of being picked up are much better.<map lat='46' lng='2' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' height='300' country='France'than 90 km/>Most of h and the French don't speak English, so have driver must stop for a map to show them where you want to go. If you know any French, use it! French people like it if you try your best. Say ''Bonjour Monsieur45 min break every 4 1/Madame''2 hours, to show that you are friendly. If you're heading to [[Germany]], 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 ''s'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play) = ''pleasebarrières de péage'' and [[rest area|service stations]]. You can get a free map in Frenchpéage offices.

The Michelin 726 National map == Asking people ==If you want to ask for rides, you can say sentences like: "''Excusez-moi, je vais à [name of France is the city] en stop. Allez-vous dans cette direction ?''" and if you get a good choice for hitchhikingpositive answer, just ask "''Pourrais-je venir avec vous ?''". It shows all may be also good not to tell a city but the major péages (see below) and service stationsdirection you want to go: "''Excusez-moi, je fais du stop vers le sud.Allez-vous dans cette direction ?''"

== Autoroutes & Péages , péages and barrières de péage ==[[Image:peage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A typical big péage in France]]__TOC__'''AutoroutePéage''' means "motorway" in French([http://cs1.imtranslator. Most of them are toll roads, and the fastest way to hitch across he countrynet/SL/Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1. A '''péage''' wav?param1=001024 audio]) is a toll booth. There are two types of French word for '''péages'toll'': Big ones, where all the traffic has to stop to pay or get a ticket (called “Barrières de Péage”). These are excellent spots It is also commonly used as referring to get a long-distance ride, usually located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is a side barrier, situated on all exits in the [[toll part of the motorway. On this kind of péages the traffic is much smaller so waiting times may be longer, but in fact waits can be longer at congested péages due to the attitude of driversstation]]s.

To reach In France, most of the first péage, you may need to walk beside motorways are toll roads (''autoroute'') which are the highway; consult a map fastest way to see if hitch across the distance is realisticcountry. There are two types of toll stations on péages. It is illegal First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to be along the highway, as well as on some parts of national roads pay a fee ("voie express"or to get a ticket). If police see you, - these are ''barrières de péage'' and usually they will drive you are excellent spots to somewhere safe get a long-distance ride and may fine you 90 €make it really easy to hitchhike during the night. Péages They are considered often located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is a side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway, and you do not legally have the right to solicit rides there. You may be asked to wait in the parking area which On latter ones traffic is after each péage. In practicemuch smaller, therefore one can expect a longer waiting time, this is rarely enforced (maybe 5 % although sometimes congested toll stations of the time). Most employees simply want first type can be difficult to hitch from due to make sure you're not endangering yourself or others. Having a sign with your destination (or next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrantheavy traffic.

You can get free maps in To reach the ''barrière de péage offices - these also indicate where '', you can find “all-stop-péages”. The fastest way may need to travel is from one walk along the motorway; with a help of these a proper map check if the distance needed to the nextbe walked is not too long. Here are some information how It is illegal to get a lift from péages:[[Image:Derek_hitching_at_péage.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Derek hitching at a péage near [[Valence]]]]* You can thumb immediately after the péage;* If you prefer walk on a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy side lane and stand next to of the toll machine and talk to drivers when they stop to pay motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (as pictured to left''voie express'' or ''voie rapide'') in France);* You can wait before the péageif police sees you, just where the drivers choose their lane. There is mostly enough space you may be driven somewhere safe and may be fined for cars 11 to pull over here40€.Some péages are really good, some Péage toll stations are not. If you've been waiting for considered a while with destination signpart of the motorway, drop it and try with your thumb only. Also, legally you can try do not have the right to get a ride solicit rides there. You may be asked to the next good spot wait in the wrong directionparking area which is after each ''barrière de péage''.[[Image:Perpignan bridgeoveronramp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|On ramp bridge near [[Perpignan]]]]AlsoIn practice, this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), you can always hitch from one gas most toll station employees simply want to another, either asking at the exit from the shop, make sure you're not endangering yourself or at the entrance ramp. The staff usually don't care about hitchhikersothers.

== Cities ==[[Image:Mrtweek mzenzes hitching in franceHaving a sign with your destination (or the next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant.png|thumb|right|250px|[[User:Mzenzes|Martin]] and [[User:MrTweek|Philipp]] hitching in France]]* [[Agen]]* [[Blois]] [[Biarritz]]* [[Bordeaux]]* [[Calais]] - You will definitely need it if the main ferryport road splits. The fastest way to the British Islandstravel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another.* [[Dijon]], [[Dol de Bretagne]], [[Dunkerque]]* [[Grenoble]]* [[Lille]], [[Lyon]]* [[Marseille]], [[Metz]], [[Montargis]], [[Montpellier]]* [[Nice]], [[Nantes]]* [[Orleans]]* [[Paris]], [[Perpignan]]* [[Reims]], [[Rennes]]* [[Saint Brieuc]], [[Strasbourg]]* [[Toulouse]]* [[Tours]], [[Troyes]]

== [[Number plates]] ==French number plates end with the number of the ''département'' the car is registered in. For example, [[Paris|Parisian]] cars end with the number 75, 78, 91,92,93,94,95. See [[wikipediaHitchhiking options are:List of arrondissements of France|List of arrondissements of France]] and [[wikipedia:French vehicle registration plates|French vehicle registration plates]] at Wikipedia. New number plates are to appear in the nearest future and those will not carry any information about the region, unless the owner decided to put a department reference on it. The current plates already in use will still remain for a while.

== External links ==* You can thumb immediately after the ''barrière de péage''* [http://mappy.fr/ Mappy] is If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a good online map for Francebusy lane, stand next to the toll machine and talk to the drivers when they stop to pay (usually it shows you (is not allowed tohitch from the toll machines but it is often tolerated) where you can take public transport. Just say "''Bonjour, je vais à [name of the city]''".* [http://www.asf.fr/shared/pdf/CarteReseau.pdf Le Réseau ASF]You can wait before the ''barrière de péage'', a PDF showing alljust where the drivers choose their lane -there is often enough of space for cars to pull over to stop-péages on major routesfor you.

[[depl:FrankreichFrancja]]{{IsIn|Europe}}__NOTOC__