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You could try walking along the canal banks on well maintained but traffic free tow paths.  No hills (guaranteed)!

Check out this website. http://www.home.zonnet.nl/Mouringh.Marga/index_eng.htm If you need reference to a detailed canal map I will get the info for you - there is a huge network of used and disused canals throughout Europe and France is well served.  A lot of Euro grants going into restoration and maintenance too.  

I'd say you could walk from Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast to Narbonne on the Med if you wanted.  I think there's books on the subject.  For the detailed map of all French canals,the IGN number is 913 (France Tourisms Fluvial) Ref on back is 3615 IGN but I think 913 is the number you need for ordering. Try here https://www.themapshop.co.uk/cgi-local/os000001.pl

  I got mine on-line for £4.75 + p & p and I plan all my holidays around the map with the CC book for Euro sites.  Beautiful picturesque method of finding out of the way places/vinyards and cycle routes to the heart of a lot of cities as well.

All the best

http://bonjourlafrance.net/france-geography/france-canals/canals-in-france.htm

http://www.midicanal.fr/

http://comcom-valdecher.planet-allier.com/musee_du_canal.html

http://www.burgundy-canal.com/v/pouilly.html

Might help too

I'll be looking at some maps &c but wonder if anyone had personal experience.

We'll be staying in Normandy for a few days en route to the Massif Central - the more we can find to do, the longer we'll stay since it's free!  We'll be in the Yerville/Doudeville/Canville area. Of course we;ll be visiting Rouen but are wondering if there are any good natural, especially walking, areas around there? 

What a great site. Not this year but will surely make a great walking holiday or two from this. Thanks.

Quote: Originally posted by oxter on 24/2/2009

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You could try walking along the canal banks on well maintained but traffic free tow paths.  No hills (guaranteed)!

Check out this website. http://www.home.zonnet.nl/Mouringh.Marga/index_eng.htm If you need reference to a detailed canal map I will get the info for you - there is a huge network of used and disused canals throughout Europe and France is well served.  A lot of Euro grants going into restoration and maintenance too.  

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We had some good walks in the Puy de Dôme and Mont Dore using the blue 1:25000 maps although tourist information offices all provide information and sketch maps. The tourist offices were also very helpful in providing weather information - not a good idea to climb up a massif just as cloud is descending!

We're looking at the area around Lyon next year - any suggestions?

On-line I've come across 'Topo Guides' which give some interesting walks along with local detail. However, they seem rather expensive .... are they available more cheaply?