The GR footpaths are a network of long-distance walking trails in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. They go by the following names: French: sentier de grande randonnée, West Flemish: Groteroutepad, Dutch: Langeafstandwandelpad, Spanish: sendero de gran recorrido, Portuguese: percurso pedestre de grande rota – generally meaning "long trail" or more literally "great route". The trails in France alone cover approximately 60,000 kilometres (37,000 mi). Trails are blazed with characteristic marks consisting of a white stripe above a red stripe. These appear regularly along the route, especially at places such as forks or crossroads.
The network is maintained in France by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (French Hiking Federation),[1] and in Spain by the Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada (Spanish Mountain Sports Federation).[2] Many GR routes make up part of the longer European walking routes which cross several countries.
Markings
The GR trails are marked using a system of blazes that are visible in both directions:
France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Spain: red and white bars; 3 subtypes
Luxembourg: yellow rectangles or circles
Switzerland: red and white bars or yellow diamonds
Red and white was chosen as the most visible colour combination in natural surroundings. Waymarks are often painted, but may take the form of metal signs in city centers.
Menton • le col du Berceau • le col de Trétore • Sospel • Baisse de Linière • Pointe des Trois Communes • Baisse Cavaline • le refuge des Merveilles • Baisse du Basto • La Balme • Madone de Fenestre • le torrent du Boréon • le col de Salèse • le col du Bam • Saint-Dalmas-Valdeblore Near Nice – Breil-sur-Roya to Gorges de Saorge and Vallon de Zouayne.
This section is missing information about GR de Pays and PR -- small branches with a yellow red marking fr:Sentier_de_grande_randonnée_de_pays. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(March 2023)
GR Préféré des Français
Since 2017 the French Hiking Federation has allowed people to vote for the GR Préféré des Français award that goes to peoples favourite trails, for following year.[3]
Eastern and Southern Coasts of Spain. From Portbou, on the French–Spanish border to Tarifa, the most southerly point of Spain. (Passing through the provinces of Catalunya, Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia). GR 92 forms the southern portion of the E10, one of the European long-distance paths. The E10 runs between Finland and Spain.[clarification needed][citation needed]