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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 many foreign countries) is 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 to write '''S.V.P.''' on your sign with a destination name - it is short for ''s'il vous plaît'' (sih-voo-play) which means ''please'' in French.

== Asking people ==If you want to ask for rides, you can say sentences like: "''AutoroutesExcusez-moi, je vais à [name of the city] en stop. Allez-vous dans cette direction ?''" and if you get a positive answer, just ask "''Pourrais-je venir avec vous ?''péages". It may be also good not to tell a city but the direction you want to go: "'' and Excusez-moi, je fais du stop vers le sud. Allez-vous dans cette direction ?''" == Autoroutes, péages and barrières de péage==__TOC__'''Péage''' ([http://cs1.imtranslator.net/SL/Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1.wav?param1==001024 audio]) is a French word for ''toll''. 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]''".

== [[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 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

The '''Police Nationale''' are tasked with policing urban areas with more than 20France is great because it has roundabouts,000 inhabitants, and which makes for slow traffic on the surrounding highway infrastructuresmaller roads. They will rarely stop youOf course, but they the big highways are well known for their less than sympathetic nature and occasionally affiliation with fascist organisations. They are a government agency bound by official targetsoff-limits in many cases, which means but that if you are stopped's alright. Beautiful countryside, they will be looking for reasons to impose finesgood people. Even soFor me I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and lots of baguettes, they have no legal right to stop you engaging in lawful activities as long cliche as you are not creating a hazard or committing some other offencethat may sound. Remain calm and use your right to silence, only asking '''"am I free to go"''' repeatedly, and you should be ok.- [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

The ''Don'Douanes''' are the customs agency for the t be afraid to approach people at service stations just because your French Republic. They patrol close to bordersis weak (or, like me, looking for suspicious activitynon-existent). After a quick 'bonjour', or 'vous allez ou?'They have a right , people were happy to check your Identification if you are within 20km of the border''help. Many people didn't speak English, with some I got by in Spanish, but and with 3 or 4 we had no language in common at all other times they need to have a reasonable suspicion ''(article 78 of the Code de Procédure Pénale)'' before they stop an individual. They are often active on highways and péages going south from [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]]Nevertheless, looking for people transporting large amounts of tobacco or looking for hitchhikers from the were still kind and willing to help.'' - [[NetherlandsUser:Justunein|Justunein]] who may be carrying cannabis. They are however quite professional, and after a few questions about your direction of travel, will let you go on your way.

French bakeries are by law prohibited from selling bread that is older than ''My Hitch in France went marvellously! Check this, I was walking along the street in Nimes, minding my own business, and a woman pulled up in a daycar and asked me if I wanted to hitch to Marseille! She asked me!! When we got there, so it pays to go she showed me around bakeries and I slept on her sofa (whenever I tell French men about this they invariably respond 'Did you ''fork'boulangerie'her?') . The next day, I got 5 hitches from Marseille to Limans, and asking for old bread3 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, or simply checking and the bit about French bakeriesis incomplete. They have pastries round the back too!!'' doors/backyards after they close.

== Personal Experiences ==''In my experience it's pretty much impossible to go hungry in I can also said France. While hitching I almost ALWAYS get 10 or 5 euros thrown my wayis very good country for hitchhiking, and 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)people are very friendly. Ask where you can use the internet or a phone, but WITHOUT PAYING, and 90% of the time Even that they'll tell you "I'll drop you off at the station/road/town with 10 euros, alright?" It's do not really possible without having speak a good standard lot of communication thoughEnglish, so either hope they know English or learn some French! will try to help you. One driver also take me in one restaurant near high way even that I also wouldn't recommend doing "it" if you have no did not want that he spend money or already had access to the internet or a phone, solely because of guiltby me something to eat. Even though I It was genuine nice to cross from Spain to Germany in my requests I didn't feel happy taking their money, but food is food!two days with hitchhiking.'' - Aaronishappy

''I started my first hitchhike tour in France is great because it has roundabouts, which makes for slow traffic on the smaller roads. Of course, the big highways and found out that most French people are off-limits very kind and in many most cases, but thatthey are happy to take you with them. But I think it's alrightreally 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. Beautiful countrysideEspacally in the south of france it's also possible to travel short distances by train for free, good peoplebecause most of them are not controlled. For me I enjoyed eating lots In case of controlling you can say that you're out of cheese 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 lots of baguettes, as cliche as that may soundthey will find you the price is not even higher than the ticket for the train.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

"Don't be afraid Hitchhikernick - hitched several times through France over the years with the latest being January 2024 from Chamonix to approach people at service stations just because your French is weak (or, like me, non-existent)Andorra whilst the farmers protests were happening. After The protests slowed things down a quick 'bonjour'bit, or 'vous allez ou?', people were happy but still managed to get to helpAndorra in just over 2 days. Many people didn't speak English, with some I got by in Spanish, and with 3 Very rarely given any money or 4 we had no language in common at allbought food. Nevertheless, people were still kind Average waiting time 1.5hrs. Mixture of highways and willing to helpnational roads." - [[User:Justunein|Justunein]]

"My Hitch in France went 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 == Main cities ==- [[Paris]]- [[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!!"]]- [[Lyon]]- [[Lille]]- [[Toulouse]]- [[Bordeaux]]- [[Nice]]- [[Nantes]]- [[Strasbourg]]- [[Rennes]]- [[Grenoble]]