Beaujolais village
Autumn is the ideal time to take a holiday or short break in France. Summer isn’t quite over, the crowds have slipped away and the sun is still warm…
Why take an autumn break in France?
A major bonus of spending time in France now is that you can find beautiful accommodation at great value prices. French Connections website lists thousands of holiday lets, gites and B&Bs in France and in autumn many owners adjust their rates for low season and have special offers for autumn weeks.
After the long summer holidays, as the leaves turn colour and the grapes are harvested, France has an air of celebration. It’s a great time to enjoy the relaxing pace of life, visit the colourful countryside, autumn vineyards, deserted beaches and cities that aren’t crowded.
Accommodation
A holiday let or gite offers plenty of space for your money and the opportunity to settle into a home from home with excellent amenities. This means you can return from a day’s activities to your own private retreat. Choose whether to dine out or light the log fire and have a meal of delicious local food and wine in your own cosy dining room. We have a range of holiday lets from budget to luxury in all regions of France.
What to do in autumn in France
Chateau du Rivau autumn
France offers a great choice of outdoor activities and many people prefer the cooler conditions of autumn for fishing or golf. It’s also the ideal time to take to the impressive network of tracks and paths for cycling, horse riding, walking and trekking. Autumnal hues provide a colourful subject on which to practice – or even learn – the skills of painting and photography.
It’s also a good time for staying in the country and planning sightseeing in towns and cities. Annecy in the Haute-Savoie has clear air, lakeside strolls and mountain views, while Carcassonne’s winding medieval lanes take you on a trip back in time. Hop on a train to visit sunny Avignon, the city of the popes, Bordeaux for the wine or Tours for the Loire chateaux – many of them are famous for their autumn gardens, such as the lovely Chateau du Rideau (above). For history there is Chartres, while for glamour and beaches, Nice is hard to beat.
A wine tour is a great idea for autumn, with the chance to take in harvest celebrations and the launch of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. Smaller vineyards offer tastings and the opportunity to learn more about grapes, wine and that mysterious ‘terroir’ factor.
Many owners of gites and B&Bs love to share their knowledge about what to see and do as well as the history of their area to help you make the most of your autumn break.
To book your autumn break and see all the special offers, head to our home page and enjoy picking out your dream holiday home…