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OTHER SPORTS IN FRANCE

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Hiking

A huge network of hiking paths -- totaling some 25,000 miles (40.000km) -- are found throughout France. The most popular of these are in hilly regions such as the Alps, the Ardennes, Beaujolais, Champagne, the Jura, the Massif Central, the Pyrénées, and the Vosges. Also quite picturesque are windswept Brittany, the Dordogne Valley, and forested areas in Ile-de-France (Fontainebleau, Rambouillet, St-Germain).

It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes and bring adequate water on some of the more demanding trails -- such as the Gorges du Verdon in Provence, France's equivalent of the Grand Canyon. For information on trails and hiking courses, contact the Comité Départemental de la Randonnée Pedestre in each region.

Water Sports

A number of seaside resorts cater to water sports, such as windsurfing and waterskiing, and there are swimming pools in every French town.

When in Paris, call Allo Sport at 01-42-76-54-54 ; this service, provided by the Mairie de Paris, will answer your questions Monday to Thursday from 10:30am to 5pm, Friday until 4:30pm. The staff can give you the addresses of public swimming pools and other recreational facilities. The Pontoise Quartier Latin at 19, rue de Pontoise, 75005 Paris (phone: 01-43-54-82-45; métro: Maubert-Mutualité) and Piscine des Halles at 10, place Rotonde, 75001 Paris (phone: 01-42-36-98-44) are two conveniently located municipal swimming pools.

If you're in the mood for surfing, Biarritz is the place to go: Côte Basque Surf Training (10, rue Larrepunte ; phone: 05-59-23-15-31) and the Freedom Surf Shop (2, avenue de la Reine Victoria ; phone: 05-59-38-40-25) give body-boarding and surfing lessons, as well as rent equipment..

Other Sports

FISHING:

Comité Départemental du Tourisme: write for their brochure on fishing, "Pêche Gratuite" Hôtel du Département, 39021 Lons-le-Saunier Lac de Loire (fishing, canoeing, sailing, & windsurfing) across the river from Blois; phone 02-54-78-82-05 Loisirs Accueil organizes fishing & hunting outings in the Forest of Orléans. 3 rue de la Bretonnerie, Orléans; phone 02-38-62-04-88 Loisirs Accueil offers courses for beginners & advanced fishermen in the rivers of Roussillon, where trout and salmon are abundant. Service Pêche, 14 rue Lazéma, 09000 Foix; phone 05-61-65-01-15

RIVER RAFTING:

Association Municipale de Ponte-Leccia (rafting, canoeing, kayaking) 20218 Ponte Leccia, Corsica Gorges du Tarn (rafting trips of several days) Association le Merlet, rte. de Nîmes, St-Jean du Gard; phone 04-66-85-18-19 (or) Service Loisirs, Haute-Loire; phone 05-61-09-20-80

ROCK CLIMBING:

Club Alpins Français (organized climbs) 24 av. Laumière, 75019 Paris; phone 01-42-02-75-94

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