I am planning a trip for late Novemebr early December and I was wondering if anyone had advice? I want to see Paris and then possibly Provence, Reims, Avignon. I was also thinking of Barcelona for a few days.
Ryanair has such cheap fares I thought perhaps Paris to Venice to Barcelona. I have 15 days so it seems that should be doable.
Any thoughts on time of year, weather, what to see and where to stay will be welcome. I am a seasoned traveler but never been to Spain or outside of Paris.
Thanks

I go to France and or Italy and Germany every late November to Christmas. In France I spend a lot of time in Cote d'Azur area, Provence, Nimes, Avignon, Colmar and Strasbourg, and of course Paris. The daytime temperatures around the Cote d'Azur are usually in the area of 55f to 70f, in Nimes in the 50s, also 50s around Avignon and in Paris low to mid 40s but comfortable if like me you wear a medium weight jacket, neck scarf and walk a lot. There can be a lot of rain in the south of France at this time of year. Last year it rained probably half the 18 days I spent around Nice. Around Colmar and Strasbourg as well as the German towns I visit (Freiburg, Heidelberg, Nurnberg) it is cold like 30s and I saw snow in Heidelberg last December. I like it anyway cause I enjoy the great Christmas markets of Northeastern France and Germany.

If you are around Avignon or Nimes you really should go see the great Roman aquaduct Le Pont du Gard near Uzes, the Roman arenas at Arles and especially the one at Nimes. A stop at Lyon is good too as there are a lot of Roman ruins there and it's a very beautiful city. I don't know why it's given so little attention by the average American tourist. There is a lot you can do around the Nice area. Great art museums of Chagall, Picasso and Mattise, the nice seaside towns of Menton, Monte Carlo, Villefranche, Antibes, Cannes etc. There are the hill towns above Nice such as Vence and St. Paul de Vence, Eze and great mountain villages that you can get to by train from Nice such as Peillon, Peille, Briel sur Roya, Saorge etc.

All the places above I have mentioned can easily be visited without a car. They are all without exception easy to get to by train and or bus.

Enjoy,
Larry J

I agree with Larry. Lyon is a wonderful city with sights that are unique. Spend at least a couple of days there. Excellent food, too. It is hell to drive in and out of, however.

If you are going to Avignon, it is not that far to Pont du Gard, which is one of the great wonders of the Roman world. In my opinion, it is the greatest engineering and architectural feat in the history of Europe. Unforgettable.

topping

I will not have a car so easy access by train is critical. I spent last Xmas season in Rome so I know about wet and cold but I, like you, just bundle up and walk. I live in Arizona so cold and wet are wonderful changes for me.
Anyone recommend Barcelona or a coastal town for a few days or should I concentrate all 2 weeks traveling around France? I will be a single traveler but quite used to that.
Would a railpass be best or just get tickets as I go? Which is more cost beneficial?
Can you tell me more about the Christmas markets? I will be there until the 3rd of December and would love to see some of them if I can work it into my itineraray
Thanks again

The Christmas Markets are great fun and well worth the time. My husband and I did a full week of Markets in Germany four years ago. The one in Nurnberg is the largest with a separate Childrens Market. The lebkuchen is excellent there, this is a traditional anise cookie. The Heidelberg market was our most memorable because of the light snow and also the choirs singing and band music which was played impromtu on the street corner. Strasbourg also has one ,but I have not been to that one in many,many years so can not say how it is now. The christmas markets start around the first of December and are open air markets with regional handcrafts along with assorted junk. The food changes by region as does the gluwein (hot mulled wine).

We were in Paris last year end of November first of December and had a wonderful time. One day of misty rain and the rest of the days overcast but with sun occasionally. The temp was fine with a medium weight wool coat and scarf (so Parisian). We stayed in the 9th arr. at the Hotel Langlois which was great. Very clean ,large rooms and friendly staff.

God travels,Kbob

You will also find Christmas markets all around Provence, most featuring the santons that are a principal component of Provençal Christmases. Santons are little clay figurines representing the holy family and the many people who make up a Provençal village, and there are also animals and buildings to be had. If you buy villager figures, be sure that the color of the head and the hands is the same; that tells you the work is by a skilled artisan.

With 15 days, you could spend 4 in Paris, 9 in Provence (including Avignon), and the balance in Reims. I think trying to fit in Barcelona would push your schedule a bit.