Road clue guides · Europe
How to recognise France from the road
Drives on the right
France covers everything from Atlantic dunes to Alpine valleys, so the landscape alone can mislead you. The signs and plates are far more reliable.
What to look for
Blue bands on both ends of the plate
French plates are white with a blue band on the left (the EU strip) and another on the right showing a regional logo and department number.
Red-bordered town signs
The sign at the entrance to every town and village is white with a red border, with the name in black capitals.
D and N road numbers
Ordinary roads are numbered D (departmental) or N (national), often on small markers at the roadside.
Shutters and render
Houses are commonly rendered in pale colours with wooden or metal shutters on the windows.
Try it for real
Placivago can drop you in France, or anywhere else across its 195 countries. Three real street-level places a day, no landmarks, no names. Free, and about six minutes.
Play today’s three places