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

|pop = 6468,102,1400 million

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. 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 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 want to learn some basic phrases before you off on the road in France.

Like everywhere in Europe, walking on the motorways is illegal and thus it's also illegal just legal to hitchhike thereon service areas and at the beginning of on-ramps before the highway sign. If you are picked up Hitchhiking at the police you may be fined, however the Gendarmerie are likely to simply give you a lift péage next to the next toll stop. Use service areasbarrier is forbidden, peages but police and on-rampshighway staff mostly turn a blind eye if you stand there. Moreover some experience shows that French people will more often stop in a place where it is not normally allowed than in other countries.

It may also be helpful On Sundays, only trucks with frozen goods are allowed to write '''Sdrive.V.P.''' on your sign with Keep in mind though that trucks are not allowed to go more than 90 km/h and the driver must stop for a destination name - it is short for ''s'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play) 45 min break every 4 1/2 hours, which means ''please'' in Frenchcan make the trip much longer.

On Sundays, only trucks with frozen goods are allowed to driveThe ''"Michelin 726 National"'' map of France is a good choice for a hitchhiker in this country. Keep in mind though that trucks are not allowed to go more than 90 km/h It shows all the major ''barrières de péage'' and the driver must stop for [[rest area|service stations]]. You can get a 45 min break every 4 hours, which can make the trip much longerfree map in péage offices.

The == Asking people ==If you want to ask for rides, you can say sentences like: "''Excusez-moi, je vais à [name of the city] en stop. Allez-vous dans cette direction ?''"Michelin 726 Nationaland if you get a positive answer, just ask "'' map of France is a Pourrais-je venir avec vous ?''". It may be also good choice for not to tell a hitchhiker in this country. It shows all city but the major direction you want to go: "''barrières de péageExcusez-moi, je fais du stop vers le sud. Allez-vous dans cette direction ?'' and [[service station]]s. You can get a free map in péage offices."

== ''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 (''autoroute'') 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 'Péage'barrières de péage'' ([http://french.aboutand usually they are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night.com/library/media/wavs/peageThey are often located near big cities on the autoroute.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 may 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). Just say "''Bonjour, je vais à [name of the city]''".

While on a toll road, you can always try hitchhiking from one [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol station]] to another, either asking drivers while they refill, or thumbing at the exit of the service area. The staff usually doesn't mind hitchhikers.

== [[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 75, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95once 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). 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 of France]. New number plates are in Ask where you can use since mid-2009. They have an optional reference to the department on the blue stripe at the right sideinternet or a phone, but they technically are not part of the plateWITHOUT PAYING, and do not necessarily refer to 90% of the ownertime they'll tell you "I's address - one may for example choose to put ll drop you off at the number of the department where hestation/road/she was born. Cars that belong to companiestown with 10 euros, including rental ones usually bear "60alright?" It's not really possible without having a good standard of communication though, so either hope they know English or learn some French! I also wouldn't recommend doing "76it" since tax on corporate vehicles is if you have no money or already had access to the lowest thereinternet or a phone, solely because of guilt. The existing old plates will be still Even though I was genuine in use for a while.my requests I didn't feel happy taking their money, but food is food!'' - Aaronishappy

French bakeries ''France is great because it has roundabouts, which makes for slow traffic on the smaller roads. Of course, the big highways are by law prohibited from selling bread off-limits in many cases, but that is older than a day's alright. Beautiful countryside, so it pays to go around bakeries (''boulangerie'') good people. For me I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and asking for old breadlots of baguettes, or simply checking bakeriesas cliche as that may sound.' doors/backyards after they close.' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

<gallery>Image:Mrtweek mzenzes hitching ''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 francecommon at all.png|[[User:Mzenzes|Martin]] Nevertheless, people were still kind and willing to help.'' - [[User:MrTweekJustunein|PhilippJustunein]] hitching   ''My Hitch in Francewent marvellously! Check this, I was walking along the street in Nimes, minding my own business, and a woman pulled up in a car and asked 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?').The next day, I got 5 hitches from Marseille to Limans, and for 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, ''but you have to wait for busses!'' As a bonus, the people who I hitched with were really nice, so much so that one of them lied and said that my French wasn't so bad! Oh yeah, and the bit about French bakeries is incomplete. They have pastries round the back too!!''  Image:Derek_hitching_at_péage''I can also said France is very good country for hitchhiking, people are very friendly.jpg|Derek hitching at Even that they do not speak a péage lot of English, they will try to help you. One driver also take me in one restaurant near [[Valence]]high way even that I did not want that he spend money to by me something to eat. It was nice to cross from Spain to Germany in two days with hitchhiking.''Image:Cynthia_hitching ''I started my first hitchhike tour in France and found out that most French people are very kind and in most cases they are happy to take you with them. 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 don't like to speak english or maybee they are not able to. Espacally in the south of france it's also possible to travel short distances by train for free, because most of them are not controlled.jpg|Cynthia hitchhiking In case of controlling you can say that you're out of money and in most cases they will not send you a bill because it is to complicated for them to find you in your home country. And even if you are in bad luck and they will find you the price is not even higher than the ticket for the train.'' Hitchhikernick - hitched several times through France over the years with the latest being January 2024 from Chamonix to Andorra whilst the farmers protests were happening. The protests slowed things down a bit, but still managed to get to Andorra in just over 2 days. Very rarely given any money or bought food. Average waiting time 1.5hrs. Mixture of highways and national roads. == Main cities ==- [[Paris]].Image:Tokyohitch.jpg|- [[Marseille]]- [[Lyon]]- [[Lille]]-[[TokyoToulouse]] direct ride, 5- [[Bordeaux]]- [[Nice]]- [[Nantes]]-min deal.[[Strasbourg]]Image:Perpignan bridgeoveronramp.jpg|On ramp bridge near - [[PerpignanRennes]].Image:Spot-sharing.jpg|Sharing knowledge on spots to hitch out of Paris during the [[888Grenoble]] event.Image:peage.jpg|A typical ''barrière de péage'' in France.</gallery>== Links ==