Natural sensations, France as a playground
Man has always dreamed of flying... Have you too? Then take to the skies on a paragliding experience! Let yourself be overwhelmed by the incredible sensations of this aerial sport, and enjoy a moment of escape, with your feet in the air, comfortably seated in your harness. France has plenty of ideal terrain for paragliding, allowing you to jump off and admire landscapes as varied as they are exceptional. Let's discover these 7 fantastic places where you can try tandem paragliding!
Glide over Nice and the Côte D'Azur
The beautiful Mediterranean, sandy beaches, the mountains of the Nice hinterland... The Côte d'Azur is the stuff of dreams for tourists, who could well imagine leaving terra firma for a moment to contemplate the splendour of the landscapes of the PACA region. So why not take the plunge with a introductory flight to paragliding near Nice? Take off for one of the most popular destinations in south-east France!
Fly over the beach, forest and ocean at the Dune du Pilat
Located just an hour from Bordeaux, near Arcachon, the Dune du Pilat is a real tourist attraction. It is the largest natural dune in Europe. This immense stretch of sand stretches 2.9 km from north to south, representing an almost surreal separation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Landes forest. If you choose to spread your sail over the Arcachon Basin, you'll be able to take full advantage of this atypical landscape, which could well change its face in a few years' time as the dune continues to shrink. If you're lucky enough to jump on a day when conditions are optimal, you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the tip of Cap Ferret, home to some superb villas and holiday resorts for French film celebrities such as Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard.
It's easy to fly in the Puy-de-Dôme!
Would you like to fly over a dormant volcano listed as a "Grand Site de France"? Then head to the Massif Central, and more precisely to the heights of the Puy-de-Dôme (1465 m)! This absolutely magnificent natural area is ideal for introductory courses and tandem flights. In fact, the low relief means you can enjoy a simple excursion in complete tranquillity, taking your time to admire the Chaîne des Puys. Eight take-off zones are available, and your departure point will depend on the direction of the wind. Be careful, though, about the time of year you want to go paragliding: the region is prone to heavy thunderstorms, so access is forbidden out of season.
Vary your pleasures by jumping in the Vosges
Despite the sometimes capricious weather conditions due to the influence of the ocean and the semi-continental climate, the Vosges mountains abound in splendid relief, perfect for a first ride. paragliding flight. Summits, ponds, ridges, lakes, peat bogs... You'll never tire of these diverse landscapes! To make the most of it in complete safety and to limit the risk of strong winds, visit the region between April and October. If you'd like to meet other hang-gliding enthusiasts, don't miss the Markstein spot, located 1 hour from Mulhouse in the commune of Oderen. You'll find plenty of enthusiasts there, who enjoy soaring above the forests of the Vosges. Finally, if you want to combine your love of the cinema with that of paragliding and soar over a sumptuous lake, head for Gérardmer and its famous fantasy film festival!
Paragliding in Annecy: fly over France's most sumptuous lakes
Haute-Savoie is home to some of the world's best paragliding spots of France. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Annecy, nicknamed the "Venice of the Alps". With its immense lake, Annecy is a favourite with amateur and experienced paragliders alike, who never tire of flying over the reflection of the mountains on azure blue water. The schools of paragliding are numerous in the region, and the variety of terrain means you can try out different types of flight. You can also choose to do so by tandem paraglidingaccompanied by an instructor. The bravest will try their hand at aerobatics, during a sensational flight with acrobatics. You can also try thermal flights, which use warm air currents to propel you. Finally, for even more adrenalin, find out about take-offs from the Col de la Forclaz, and throw yourself into the void from the start for an unforgettable flight over Lake Annecy and the imposing surrounding mountains.
A must: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
It's undoubtedly one of Europe's most famous coastal resorts. Facing the Mediterranean, in the radiant sunshine typical of the south of France, you can try your hand at tandem paragliding. Once in the air, you'll be free to gaze out over the prestigious bay of Monaco, and admire its marina and the splendid yachts moored there. Make sure you book your slot well in advance: in winter, spring and autumn, tandem flights with an instructor fill up quickly! If you have the choice, don't hesitate to make an appointment at sunset: the sky and the Mediterranean are then at their most beautiful, tinged with pink and orange.
Gréolieres: 300 days of sunshine a year
One of the main reasons why Gréolière attracts so many paragliders is its climate, which means they can fly almost all year round. In fact, this renowned site has been the home of Bruce Goldsmith (world paragliding champion) and Rob Whittall (double hang gliding and paragliding world champion). If you want to follow in their footsteps and take on these same currents of windsyou can call on the services of Accessories. They'll be delighted to share their passion with you during a jump from the famous Cheiron mountain. From here, you'll have a magnificent view of the Niçois hinterland, the Préalpes natural park and the Alps. d'Azur and the Côte Mediterranean.
Here is the video of a Gréolieres Gourdon flight:
Discover the Verdon from the heights at Saint-André-les-Alpes
The Hautes-Alpes department is well known to paragliding fans, as it has been hosting a large number of French, European and world competitions for several years now. Mont Chalvet in the commune of Saint-André-Les-Alpes is the epicentre of all this excitement and the meeting place for the best pilots. Of course, the site is not just for professionals, and you can easily take to the skies. green in tandem with an instructor. In this verdant region, the landing is as much a feast for the eyes as the take-off! You'll be able to admire Lake Castillon, etch the purple expanses of lavender fields in your memory, and follow the emblematic Route Napoléon.
