The French were definitely looking for more than just reparations from the Germans. During Prussia's gobbling up for land in the Austro-Prussian War [1866], through the Franco-Prussian War [1870-71], and leading up to the German Unification [1871] the Prussians [soon to be Germans] rampaged through central Europe defeating much larger nations with excellent diplomacy and a very efficient and professional army. The German Unification treaty was actually signed... in the Palace of Versailles... just after they just defeated the French and claimed the province of Alasce-Lorraine for Germany. But this was 45 years before WW1 would break out, however the scars left by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War were still felt, and would remain a priority for the French during the whole war {Seager}. This was a time of Nationalism, so a large population of French speakers still under German rule was seen as something of an affront, in fact a lot of tension would build up in Alasce-Lorraine in 1913 when the Germans would incite riots in the Saverne Affair.

So France started the war with clear aims on taking back Alasce-Lorraine from Germany. You can look at Pre-WW1 maps of France and current ones and pick out the little triangle that France was missing.

Frederic H. Seager, "The Alsace-Lorraine Question in France, 1871-1914." in Charles K. Warner, ed., From the Ancien Regime to the Popular Front (1969): 111-126.