Thirty years of paleoseismic research in metropolitan France

A critical review is conducted of a selection paleoseismic works published on, or close to, metropolitan France over the last 30 years. The evolution these may be subdivided into three periods: dawn French studies (≈1990–1995), beginning multidisciplinary paleoseismologic approach, and in first decades 21st century. This most interesting at nine trench sites indicates that it often difficult to associate Quaternary surface deformations with well-identified fault. However, also provided important results demonstrating even regions low seismicity, seismic ruptures can repeat on same slip rate fault, thus providing evidence historical seismicity not sufficient assess hazard France. Finally, recommendations are for future investigations low-seismicity regions.