psycler

My family, including 4 adult children (age 27-33) want to travel to Southern France and the Christmas holiday is the only time that everyone can get away. Does anyone have any suggestions for things to do and see? Is the weather reasonable at this time of year. The group loves food, wine, culture and cycling.

Underhill

Western Provence will be cold and possibly very windy if the Mistral is blowing. The smaller towns and villages are likely to be on the quiet side. So...head to eastern Provence and the area of the Côte d'Azur. Nice is wonderful during the Christmas holidays, with a big market and gorgeous decorations all over. Excellent food of all varieties, good wine, and fine museums.

Whathello

And lots of hills in the 'massif de l'Esterel'.

StCirq

Why would you spend the money to do this? It will be cold and windy - the mistral, most likely. The countryside bare, brown, and arid. Things will be closed, shut down, for the season. Can't you go the Caribbean or something?

It's great that you want to vacation in France, but be realistic. It's a terrible time of year to visit, None of your visions will be realized, You will be cold, wind-swepped, and miserable. You might eat well, though.

jtpj777

Unlike Western Provence, the mistral isn't an major issue in the Nice area, so you can expect to have some sunny days when you can eat outsid - even at Christmas.

Remember: the British and Russian aristocracy created the fashion of travelling to Nice and its surroundings for winter sun.

Toulonnais

I agree with Underhill. Nice and the Côte d'Azur are bright, even for Christmas. The temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees.

traveller1959

Brittany is very nice this time of year and excellent for cycling.

My friend used to spend Christmas and New Year cycling in Brittany for many years.

The reason for Brittany's mild winter climate is that it is a peninsula surrounded by ocean water which is warmed by the gulf stream.

The only other sensible option is in fact the Côte d'Azur, but east of the Esterel mountains where the Mistral does not reach (somewhere between Cannes and Menton).

KathyWood

We have a small second home (an apartment) in Bonnieux in the Luberon and have been there every December for the past four years, plus a few Decembers before that. We plan to be there this year too.

We really enjoy being in Provence at this time of year. It's definitely quiet, but there are many special Christmas traditions that we like being part of. (Our village of Bonnieux has an especially impressive crèche in the old church.) The markets in bigger towns are active, and some towns and villages (and wineries) have special Christmas markets.

Several people mentioned the Mistral, but we haven't found that to be a major issue in December... it can happen any time of year. It's winter and can be cold, but it can also be sunny... warm enough to hike and maybe to have lunch outside in a sunny cafe (in your coat). On Christmas afternoon, we usually go for a drive and walk in the countryside.

I do like the ideas of the Cote d'Azur, though I haven't been there in December. We usually make a day trip to Aix-en-Provence, which has a Marche de Noel on the Cours Mirabeau. I think you'd be happier in a bigger place-- not a small village, though you may want to visit the smaller villages, but with realistic expectations. (Come to the Lubeorn for the day... make a reservation for lunch at a special place.)

Kathy

Tulips

Also agree with Underhill. The eastern part of the Cote d'Azur can be pleasant, with nice enough weather for lunch outside, sometimes. And plenty to see and do otherwise.
You can cycle along the Promenade des Anglais.
If you want snow, Auron is about 2 hours away.

Whathello

I have been 12.5 times out of the last 16.4 years on cote d Azur at Xmas.

The times I wasn't there we were In the Carribeans.

stCirq and under hill are right : every small town or village is deserted.

I remember being in St Trop and there were 3 restaurants open. Not one soul.

Nice will be alive. Weather is usually nice. Mistral has a tendency to blow more in winter in my recollections.

Lois2

Everyone is talking western Provence but op just said southern France..would suggest that sounds like a fun place to be at that time of year..of course no beach weather but staying in a major town like nice,Aix or even Antibes could be fun..yes small villages are for the most part very quiet but enough to going elsewhere.