French Weather and Climate
Originally posted on & updated on 11th October, 2025
Before you decide to book your trip to visit France, why not learn about the likely weather conditions? Some areas of France benefit from excellent weather conditions in summer, but its winters can be cold, especially in northern areas and eastern France. The South and South East of the country are known for their warmer climates. Charente is actually the second sunniest region of France.
Whether you want to know how much snow there will be in the Alps during January or whether it will be raining in Marseille in March, planning ahead can make your trip much more enjoyable.
Although France is not a huge country, the weather varies greatly from region to region. In France, there are four types of climate, each one linked to one of the assorted coastal, mountainous or inland areas.
Mediterranean Climate
This can be found on the south coast of France and is popular with holidaymakers looking for some summer sun. This area benefits from warmer climates thanks to Occitanie bordering Spain to the west and along the Riviera and Monaco along the Italian border to the east. The Mediterranean coast is known for its long, hot summers and milder-than-average winters.
Oceanic Climate
This area lies just off the north coast of France. At one end is Dunkerque, then along the English Channel, known for its freezing cold waters, it reaches all the way around to the far western area of Brittany. The west coast from Brest in the north to Biarritz in the south also has a mild climate all year round.
Continental Climate
A huge portion of eastern France is landlocked thanks to the borders of Belgium and Germany. This means the weather in these areas is a lot like other continental areas. This means summers can get extremely hot, and the winters can become incredibly cold with freezing temperatures.
Mountain Climate
France is home to five mountain ranges, the most famous being the Alps, but also on the eastern border with Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are the Vosges and the Jura. Next, there is the Massif Central between the middle of France and the south coast, and the Pyrenees, which separate France and Spain. All these areas will have cool climates all year round, with the Southern Alps being warmer than the Northern Alps.
As a rule, the Loire is considered to be the dividing line between the northern climate and the warmer climate in the south. If you’re interested to learn more about France, explore our French blog and our article with over 100 interesting and unusual facts about this remarkable country.
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