E2 - France

This French section of the E2 follows the GR5 spine through eastern France, linking the Vosges, the Jura, and the Alps on a long mountain journey of about 1,617 km / 1,005 miles with roughly 71,900 m / 235,900 ft of ascent. In France, the E2 is widely described as following the GR5, one of the country’s classic long-distance routes, and it forms a major north-to-south crossing from the northeastern borderlands toward the Mediterranean-facing Alps. (ffrandonnee.fr)

Expect a hike that changes character several times. The northern stretches are shaped by forested ridges, sandstone outcrops, castle country, and the war-scarred border landscapes of the Vosges. Farther south, the Jura brings long crests, pastureland, limestone escarpments, sinkholes, and broad views toward Switzerland and, on clear days, the Alps. The final mountain stages become more alpine in feel, with higher passes, steeper gradients, longer descents, and more exposed terrain as the route continues through the French Alps. The overall difficulty is often manageable for experienced long-distance walkers on a day-by-day basis, but the full route is still a serious undertaking because of its length, cumulative ascent, and changing mountain weather. (ffrandonnee.fr)

Because the hike head was not provided, the nearest clear starting reference is the French–German border in the Vosges du Nord, where the E2 enters France before continuing toward the Donon area and then onto the GR5 proper. The FFRandonnée description of the GR53 notes that it runs from the Franco-German border across the Northern Vosges to the foot of the Donon, where it joins the GR5. A practical landmark for planning is the border sector near Wissembourg, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, which is one of the best-known access towns for the northern end of this crossing. (ffrandonnee.fr)

What the route feels like

The Vosges section is usually the gentlest introduction in terms of altitude, but not always in terms of effort. Trails can be rooty, damp, and surprisingly punchy, with repeated short climbs through dense woodland and over rounded summits. The GR5’s Vosges crossing is associated with lakes, panoramic summits, and the historic red-rectangle waymarking of the massif. You can expect a mix of pine forest, beech woods, high meadows, farm-inn country, and occasional open ridgelines. (ffrandonnee.fr)

The Jura section tends to feel more spacious and pastoral. The GR5/GTJ corridor is known for long traverses over plateaus and ridges, deep valleys and gorges, and a strong sense of remoteness without the same degree of high-alpine exposure. This is a section where daily mileage can be good, but weather and footing still matter: limestone can be slick when wet, and open crest sections can feel committing in wind, fog, or early/late-season cold. The Jura route is also rich in village resupply opportunities compared with some alpine stages. (jura.ffrandonnee.fr)

In the Alps, the route becomes more physically demanding. Climbs are longer, descents harder on knees and feet, and storms can build quickly. Snow patches may linger on higher ground outside peak summer, and some stages can feel very long if accommodation spacing forces bigger days. Even if the route is rated medium overall, the alpine portion can push well beyond that in poor weather or with a heavy pack. (ffrandonnee.fr)

Landmarks, scenery, and historical context

One of the strongest themes of the French E2 is that it follows very old corridors of movement. FFRandonnée describes the E2 as tracing ancient communication routes including Roman roads, prehistoric paths, medieval pilgrimage ways, trade routes, and mountain passes. It also passes landscapes marked by more recent conflict, including areas associated with the Maginot Line and the world wars in eastern France. That gives the route unusual historical depth: this is not just a mountain traverse, but a walk through frontier country that has repeatedly shaped European history. (ffrandonnee.fr)

In the Vosges, hikers should watch for fortified ruins, sandstone formations, memorial landscapes, and broad viewpoints from summits and ridges. The Donon area is especially significant as a historic mountain crossroads and a symbolic gateway between the northern Vosges and the main GR5 line. Farther south in the massif, the terrain opens around major summits and glacial lakes, with classic viewpoints over Alsace and Lorraine. (ffrandonnee.fr)

In the Jura, notable scenery includes folded limestone ridges, high pastures, forested combes, and viewpoints toward Lake Geneva and the Alps. FFRandonnée highlights the wider Jura crossing as a