Paragliding in France
Cross-country flying, free flying, alpine adventures, SIV training, top paragliding destination
Overview
France has a strong flying culture and is one of the world’s top paragliding destinations. Whether you're chasing big XC, ridge-soaring, acro training or alpine adventures, France delivers some of the most iconic environments for free flight. France offers an exceptional diversity of terrain, spanning the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Provence, the Atlantic coast, and Mediterranean cliffs. Pilots enjoy consistent thermals from spring to autumn, creating world-class XC opportunities. Major competitions, SIV training, paragliding festivals and daily tandem flights are part of the landscape, making France one of the most complete paragliding destinations in the world.
Regulations
Valid national paragliding licence : IPPI 4 recommended for most alpine sites Third-party liability insurance : FFVL or equivalent Respect for local site rules, especially at busy locations like Annecy, Saint-Hilaire, and Chamonix In the French Alps, most free-flying zones are at FL115 (11,500 ft / approx. 3,500 m) ceiling unless specifically modified. The FFVL website provides official site regulations and daily updates through its “balises météo” station network.
Authority : Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL)
