Winter in France | France Travel Guide

by Julie Blakley

Beaujolais Nouveau Celebrations

Beginning at the strike of midnight on the 3rd Thursday of every November, France welcomes the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau for the year with celebrations that start at midnight and last into the early morning hours. Cafes, wine bars and bistros in many of the cities stay open late into the night for revelers who can’t wait to get their hand’s on this year’s vintage.

For four days surrounding December 8, France’s second largest city, Lyon lights up with large scale light installations and little candle lamps throughout the streets. With public buildings light up in intricate designs in an array of colors by well-known artists and architects and private homes and streets lined with paper bag lamps, the city is transformed into a an illuminated urban spectacle. The festival attracts 4 million spectators to the city and along with being a witness to the spectacular lighting installations, there are also a variety of celebrations in honor of the festival des lumieres.

Shop at the Strasbourg Christmas Market

Going strong for the past 431 years, the Strasbourg Christmas Market is both the oldest and largest Christmas market in France. Add into the mix the Strasbourg cathedral serving as a spectacular backdrop and you are sure to be amazed.

From November 29 to December 24, this market takes over the city of Strasbourg, with a host of vendors selling an unimaginable amount of crafts and La Petite France, a cozy neighborhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings with Christmas shops and a gingerbread bakery. You can shop for a huge array of Christmas goodies all while warding off the cold sipping a vin chaud (hot, spiced wine).

How to get there: Strasbourg is located in northeastern France near the German border and can be reached easily from Paris via TGV. Read more about Transportation in France .

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