Physical map shownig the mountain regions of France

The two most important mountain ranges of France are the Alps and the Pyrenees. The highest peak is the Mont Blanc 4 808 metres above sea level and is in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps.

The mountains of France

There are 7 principle mountain regions in France

  • The Alps (les Alpes), to the east of France and on the Swiss, Italian borders. The highest peak is the Mont Blanc at 4808 metres.
  • Auvergne, Massif Central, located in central France are the remains of volcanos.
  • Jura
  • Morvan, a granite area in Burgundy with peaks at 800 metres.
  • Pyrenees (les Pyrénéés), in the south of France and borders with Spain, stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean costs. There are many peaks of over 3000 metres
  • Vosges are to the left of the Rhine valley in eastern France near the German border, the mountains peak at 1424m with the Grand Ballon.
  • Corsica, the mountains of the island reach more than 2000 metres.

Useful French vocabulary

  • The hill : la coline
  • The mountain : la montagne
  • The peak : le col
  • The ridge : l'arête
  • The valley : la vallée
  • The summit : le sommet