The French Mountains: Life, Culture, and Nature in the Alps and Pyrenees

Introduction - The French Mountains

The mountains of France rise like ancient sentinels across the southern borders of the nation, their peaks piercing clouds and their valleys cradling communities that have endured for millennia. From the ice-carved amphitheaters of the Alps to the sun-baked ridges of the Pyrenees, these vertical worlds represent far more than scenic backdrops—they are living, breathing ecosystems where nature and culture have evolved in extraordinary harmony.