Per inhabitant, the town with the most licensed hikers in France is Guidel, with 21.3 / 1 000 hab., ahead of Sanary-sur-Mer (20.7 / 1 000 hab.) and Pornichet (18.4 / 1 000 hab.).
The table below ranks the top 100 of the 1,026 cities in the dataset, each with its département, its region and the figure it is ranked on (hikers per 1,000 inhabitants), so you can see not just the order but how far apart the places are. The numbers are official public data: INSEE legal populations and the IGN commune registry, with the exact method and the exact scope stated under the table rather than left to be guessed at.
The same data answers neighbouring questions too: see The French cities with the most chess players and The most populated cities in France, or all rankings for the full list. All of it comes from Hexagone, a free daily game that gives you five French cities and one of these statistics and asks you for the order.
| # | City | Region | Hikers / 1,000 | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56Guidel | Bretagne | 21.3 / 1 000 hab. | 12,338 |
| 2 | 83Sanary-sur-Mer | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 20.7 / 1 000 hab. | 18,538 |
| 3 | 44Pornichet | Pays de la Loire | 18.4 / 1 000 hab. | 12,800 |
| 4 | 66Canet-en-Roussillon | Occitanie | 17.5 / 1 000 hab. | 13,227 |
| 5 | 35Chantepie | Bretagne | 17.1 / 1 000 hab. | 10,670 |
| 6 | 40Biscarrosse | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 16.2 / 1 000 hab. | 15,836 |
| 7 | 29Fouesnant | Bretagne | 15.9 / 1 000 hab. | 10,436 |
| 8 | 91Verrières-le-Buisson | Île-de-France | 15.6 / 1 000 hab. | 15,057 |
| 9 | 66Saint-Cyprien | Occitanie | 15.6 / 1 000 hab. | 12,068 |
| 10 | 17Royan | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 15.2 / 1 000 hab. | 19,425 |
| 11 | 66Saint-Estève | Occitanie | 14.9 / 1 000 hab. | 11,630 |
| 12 | 44Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire | Pays de la Loire | 14.6 / 1 000 hab. | 16,400 |
| 13 | 83La Londe-les-Maures | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 14.6 / 1 000 hab. | 10,584 |
| 14 | 13Fos-sur-Mer | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 14.5 / 1 000 hab. | 15,862 |
| 15 | 12Rodez | Occitanie | 13.9 / 1 000 hab. | 23,981 |
| 16 | 84L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 13.9 / 1 000 hab. | 20,244 |
| 17 | 86Buxerolles | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 13.8 / 1 000 hab. | 10,289 |
| 18 | 91Yerres | Île-de-France | 13.7 / 1 000 hab. | 27,906 |
| 19 | 87Saint-Junien | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 13.6 / 1 000 hab. | 11,415 |
| 20 | 69Francheville | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 13.5 / 1 000 hab. | 15,604 |
| 21 | 06Mandelieu-la-Napoule | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 13.1 / 1 000 hab. | 21,640 |
| 22 | 44Vertou | Pays de la Loire | 13 / 1 000 hab. | 26,227 |
| 23 | 83La Crau | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 12.8 / 1 000 hab. | 19,556 |
| 24 | 22Plérin | Bretagne | 12.8 / 1 000 hab. | 14,425 |
| 25 | 45La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin | Centre-Val de Loire | 12.8 / 1 000 hab. | 11,017 |
| 26 | 84Le Pontet | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 12.7 / 1 000 hab. | 18,386 |
| 27 | 35Châteaugiron | Bretagne | 12.7 / 1 000 hab. | 10,845 |
| 28 | 34Lattes | Occitanie | 12.6 / 1 000 hab. | 17,351 |
| 29 | 78Rambouillet | Île-de-France | 12.5 / 1 000 hab. | 27,724 |
| 30 | 22Lannion | Bretagne | 12.2 / 1 000 hab. | 20,315 |
| 31 | 64Hendaye | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 12 / 1 000 hab. | 18,102 |
| 32 | 22Ploufragan | Bretagne | 12 / 1 000 hab. | 11,507 |
| 33 | 12Onet-le-Château | Occitanie | 11.8 / 1 000 hab. | 12,080 |
| 34 | 07Tournon-sur-Rhône | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 11.7 / 1 000 hab. | 11,279 |
| 35 | 30Villeneuve-lès-Avignon | Occitanie | 11.6 / 1 000 hab. | 13,148 |
| 36 | 83Le Muy | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 11.6 / 1 000 hab. | 10,118 |
| 37 | 85Les Sables-d'Olonne | Pays de la Loire | 11.4 / 1 000 hab. | 49,603 |
| 38 | 42Le Chambon-Feugerolles | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 11.4 / 1 000 hab. | 12,314 |
| 39 | 83Hyères | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 11.3 / 1 000 hab. | 55,858 |
| 40 | 77Ozoir-la-Ferrière | Île-de-France | 11.3 / 1 000 hab. | 21,238 |
| 41 | 37Saint-Avertin | Centre-Val de Loire | 11.3 / 1 000 hab. | 14,999 |
| 42 | 83Six-Fours-les-Plages | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 11.1 / 1 000 hab. | 37,109 |
| 43 | 35Betton | Bretagne | 11.1 / 1 000 hab. | 12,964 |
| 44 | 78Montigny-le-Bretonneux | Île-de-France | 11 / 1 000 hab. | 32,465 |
| 45 | 64Biarritz | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 10.9 / 1 000 hab. | 26,206 |
| 46 | 48Mende | Occitanie | 10.7 / 1 000 hab. | 12,464 |
| 47 | 74Thonon-les-Bains | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 10.5 / 1 000 hab. | 37,928 |
| 48 | 57Marly (57) | Grand Est | 10.5 / 1 000 hab. | 10,286 |
| 49 | 21Talant | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 10.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,896 |
| 50 | 83Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 10.3 / 1 000 hab. | 17,896 |
| 51 | 44La Chapelle-sur-Erdre | Pays de la Loire | 10.2 / 1 000 hab. | 20,690 |
| 52 | 21Beaune | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 10.1 / 1 000 hab. | 20,352 |
| 53 | 06Vence | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 10.1 / 1 000 hab. | 19,917 |
| 54 | 77Vaires-sur-Marne | Île-de-France | 10 / 1 000 hab. | 13,931 |
| 55 | 22Lamballe-Armor | Bretagne | 9.9 / 1 000 hab. | 17,241 |
| 56 | 35Fougères | Bretagne | 9.8 / 1 000 hab. | 20,307 |
| 57 | 81Albi | Occitanie | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 51,290 |
| 58 | 13Gardanne | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 21,597 |
| 59 | 12Villefranche-de-Rouergue | Occitanie | 9.7 / 1 000 hab. | 11,271 |
| 60 | 13Bouc-Bel-Air | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 9.6 / 1 000 hab. | 15,381 |
| 61 | 91Brunoy | Île-de-France | 9.4 / 1 000 hab. | 25,643 |
| 62 | 56Ploemeur | Bretagne | 9.4 / 1 000 hab. | 18,872 |
| 63 | 07Guilherand-Granges | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 9.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,235 |
| 64 | 45Saran | Centre-Val de Loire | 9.3 / 1 000 hab. | 17,316 |
| 65 | 44Guérande | Pays de la Loire | 9.2 / 1 000 hab. | 16,804 |
| 66 | 37La Riche | Centre-Val de Loire | 9.2 / 1 000 hab. | 10,487 |
| 67 | 79Thouars | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 9.1 / 1 000 hab. | 13,891 |
| 68 | 46Cahors | Occitanie | 9 / 1 000 hab. | 20,050 |
| 69 | 47Marmande | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 9 / 1 000 hab. | 17,328 |
| 70 | 11Lézignan-Corbières | Occitanie | 9 / 1 000 hab. | 10,343 |
| 71 | 42Firminy | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.9 / 1 000 hab. | 17,060 |
| 72 | 05Briançon | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.9 / 1 000 hab. | 11,411 |
| 73 | 21Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | 8.8 / 1 000 hab. | 11,108 |
| 74 | 91Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois | Île-de-France | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 35,438 |
| 75 | 77Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne | Île-de-France | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 12,810 |
| 76 | 77Dammartin-en-Goële | Île-de-France | 8.7 / 1 000 hab. | 11,907 |
| 77 | 41Romorantin-Lanthenay | Centre-Val de Loire | 8.6 / 1 000 hab. | 18,373 |
| 78 | 45Gien | Centre-Val de Loire | 8.6 / 1 000 hab. | 13,459 |
| 79 | 31Plaisance-du-Touch | Occitanie | 8.5 / 1 000 hab. | 21,079 |
| 80 | 44Blain | Pays de la Loire | 8.5 / 1 000 hab. | 10,376 |
| 81 | 83Le Beausset | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.5 / 1 000 hab. | 10,219 |
| 82 | 13Lambesc | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.5 / 1 000 hab. | 10,024 |
| 83 | 06Mouans-Sartoux | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.4 / 1 000 hab. | 11,015 |
| 84 | 33Gradignan | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 26,952 |
| 85 | 04Digne-les-Bains | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 17,979 |
| 86 | 76Barentin | Normandie | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 12,022 |
| 87 | 33Parempuyre | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 8.3 / 1 000 hab. | 10,672 |
| 88 | 45Saint-Jean-de-Braye | Centre-Val de Loire | 8.2 / 1 000 hab. | 23,147 |
| 89 | 49Segré-en-Anjou Bleu | Pays de la Loire | 8.2 / 1 000 hab. | 17,667 |
| 90 | 44La Baule-Escoublac | Pays de la Loire | 8.2 / 1 000 hab. | 16,912 |
| 91 | 13Martigues | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 48,298 |
| 92 | 83La Valette-du-Var | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 23,719 |
| 93 | 26Bourg-lès-Valence | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 19,992 |
| 94 | 77Brie-Comte-Robert | Île-de-France | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 19,003 |
| 95 | 85Les Herbiers | Pays de la Loire | 8.1 / 1 000 hab. | 16,521 |
| 96 | 79Niort | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 59,854 |
| 97 | 83Saint-Raphaël | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 37,113 |
| 98 | 45Olivet | Centre-Val de Loire | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 23,507 |
| 99 | 85Montaigu-Vendée | Pays de la Loire | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 21,134 |
| 100 | 81Gaillac | Occitanie | 8 / 1 000 hab. | 16,162 |
Scope: France, metropolitan and overseas, Corsica and the DROM included. This dataset holds every commune of 10,000 inhabitants or more, plus smaller communes famous enough to be household names, 1,131 in all. It is not the full list of 35,000 French communes, so a village can sit outside a ranking whose extreme it would otherwise hold. This particular ranking is a rate per inhabitant, so it covers towns of 10,000 people or more only: in a village of a hundred, three licence holders would read as thirty per thousand and outrank a town with a professional club, so no rate is published below that size rather than a meaningless one.
Method and sources: populations are the INSEE legal populations, boundaries and coordinates come from the IGN commune registry, both served by geo.api.gouv.fr. Density is the population divided by the commune's area; distances are measured as the crow flies from the commune's centre. Data read on August 11, 2026.
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Per inhabitant, the town with the most licensed hikers in France is Guidel, with 21.3 / 1 000 hab., ahead of Sanary-sur-Mer (20.7 / 1 000 hab.) and Pornichet (18.4 / 1 000 hab.).
In order: Guidel (21.3 / 1 000 hab.), Sanary-sur-Mer (20.7 / 1 000 hab.), Pornichet (18.4 / 1 000 hab.), Canet-en-Roussillon (17.5 / 1 000 hab.), Chantepie (17.1 / 1 000 hab.), Biscarrosse (16.2 / 1 000 hab.), Fouesnant (15.9 / 1 000 hab.), Verrières-le-Buisson (15.6 / 1 000 hab.), Saint-Cyprien (15.6 / 1 000 hab.), Royan (15.2 / 1 000 hab.).
Because this counts club membership, not kilometres walked. A licence buys insurance, guided outings and a group, which is worth most where there is a large, settled, often retired population with time for a weekly walk: the Breton and Mediterranean coasts. Mountain towns are full of walkers who never take a licence, because the path starts at the end of the street.