Cities In France: What’s Happening In October
Best Cities In France To Visit, Vacation Ideas and Travel Tips
If you are planning a holiday in France in October, the first thing on your mind might be… what will the weather be like?
Or maybe you would like to go to France but are not sure where to go…. Provence? Paris? The Riviera?
Here are some tips and vacation destination ideas, to make the most of the weather, and also to show you how many wonderful festivals in France there are this time of year, that you might like to experience.
Weather In France In October
The weather in France in October will be cooling down wherever you go. Even the Riviera, which enjoys mild weather year-round, can be quite rainy in Autumn.
Here are some average low/high temperatures for some of the major cities in France:
| City | Average Low C°/F° | Average High C°/F° |
| Alsace | 7/45 | 15/59 |
| Bordeaux | 10/51 | 19/67 |
| Lyon | 9/49 | 17/63 |
| Marseille | 13/55 | 21/70 |
| Paris | 10/51 | 16/61 |
Which Cities In France?
So, what are the best places to visit this time of year?
Our suggestion is to base yourself in one of the main cities in France such as Lyon, Bordeaux, or Paris; or even the towns and smaller cities such as Avignon, Aix en Provence, and Arles.
The advantages of staying in cities in France in October are many.
You will find that some attractions and shops will close in October, especially in the smaller towns. Basing yourself in one of the larger cities in France will mean there is much more chance of having lots of things to do, places to eat, and attractions, museums and monuments in France being open.
So if the weather happens to be rainy or windy, there will be plenty of ‘indoor’ things to do.
Especially in cities like Paris, one of the most famous places in France and one of the worlds most visited destinations, you will find that many museums and monuments can be refreshingly uncrowded compared to June, July and August – which can be a huge advantage and a big timesaver.
On the other hand, if the weather is fine (which is very likely), you will have the countryside on your doorstep and can easily do daytrips.
For example, you could base yourself in the city of Bordeaux, with the Perigord and Atlantic coast nearby to explore. Visit the town of Cognac, just over an hour’s drive north from Bordeaux, and go on a on a cognac tasting course! (www.ecole-des-cognacs.com).
Normandy has an Autumn Festival (Automne en Normandie) that runs from October through to November, featuring classical music concerts and theatre performances in Dieppe, Rouen and Le Havre, as well as smaller towns such as Fécamp and Montivilliers. (http://www.automne-en-normandie.com/pages/display/intro).
In Lyon, you’ve got the Baroque Music Festival, with concerts in the Trinity Chapel (http://www.lachapelle-lyon.org/flash/fr/flash-fr.html).
There’s lots happening in Provence, too. There’s a fantastic piano festival (Les Nuits Pianistiques) that runs from October through to December, with concerts being held all across the region. (http://www.lesnuitspianistiques.com/).
Avignon also has a Blues Festival, featuring American and Australian artists. (http://www.avignonbluesfestival.com/).
As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a String Quartet Festival, where some of the world’s finest string quartets play in the villages perchés (perched villages) of Provence. (http://www.quatuors-enpaysdefayence.com/).