Where to go in France in December?

[Imabouttoexplode]

Please help me to narrow it down a bit. I'm currently going round in circles! We're going on holiday to France for Christmas. We can literally go anywhere but I can't decide between snow and mountains (I don't ski but love the scenery) or windswept beaches, south for milder weather or auverne or aquitane. We'll rent a self catering place rather than hotels. No children so it doesn't need to be child friendly. Not Paris but any suggestions would be gratefully received 🙈

Normandy and in particular Honfleur is lovely at that time of year. Windswept beaches, Second World War sites and museums deserted.
Food that is served is proper French as they are not catering for tourists lovely fish marmite etc.
There is the Herring festival in Etape at the beginning of the month.

Ohh I think I’d go for the Alps. If it’s going to be cold I’d prefer snow! Milder weather in Auvergne/Aquitaine would probably just mean rain (pessimist here!)

Somewhere like Chamonix will have lots going on and not be too ski centric, whilst still having the lifts so you can go up to mountain restaurants.

The only thing is, ski resorts at Christmas will cost a bomb so you may be better off price wise looking for a non-skiing mountain town- but there may be less going on, fewer restaurants etc in that case.

Normandy is on the long-list but I'm just not drawn to it at all, for absolutely no reason whatsoever 😐 OH is keen though and non touristy sounds wonderful too.

Normandy is on the long-list but I'm just not drawn to it at all, for absolutely no reason whatsoever 😐 OH is keen though and non touristy sounds wonderful too.

Good point about rain. Hadn't considered that. Hmmm, just that one comment alone has made me rethink. Thank you for pointing out the bleeding obvious! Annecy is on the short list, with day trips out to ski resorts.

We've had a couple of Christmases in the Charente-Maritime region. Bright and sunny, although not necessarily warm. Loads to do/see. Still felt festive, even without snow.

Is that la rochelle?

@Imabouttoexplode that area. We were based 60km south of La Rochelle.

We have family in La Rochelle, gorgeous place. I have never been there in December but MIL is often there for Christmas and it sounds lovely.

La Rochelle is a very lovely town, but there isn’t an awful lot to do indoors (just the odd museum) for if it does rain…

I think I’d either choose somewhere very cultural with plenty of museums galleries restaurants etc - so weather won’t matter so much - or the Alps.

Some people are “sling on a mac and get on with it” types, I’m not!

I would do mountains. Raclette for Christmas!

Consider the Cote d'Azur, or Normandy as suggested by others.

Colmar. Very pretty, we went in the summer but thought it would be lovely at Christmas. Or maybe Annecy .

Where's this? Google not showing it as a place in france.

Colmar looks gorgeous Will add it to the travel list, even if its not this year.

Annecy is definitely a front runner currently.

Been to la rochelle. Absolutely wonderful place and can highly recommend to anyone.

Sorry raclette is a meal : ) It's very commonly served in the mountains in the winter. Lots of melty cheese, meat, potatoes, veg. (raclette is the name of the cheese)

It's very festive because you sit around a special heating pan melting your own cheese and then you pour it over things. Lovely for Christmas.

Oh maybe also think about Strasbourg. Great Christmas markets I think.

Bordeaux also has a lovely Christmas market.

We’re doing Strasbourg and Colmar (and Basel). It looks very Christmassy and picturesque

Charente-Maritime, Bordeaux, La Rochelle. A lot will be closed for out of season but it's beautiful coast line and there will be some things open in the main towns.

I would stay near a city so there is plenty to do of the weather isn't good. Even the South of France gets pretty cold in December. Strasbourg would be nice. Lyon is also a nice city with lots going on. Or Lille has a Christmas market I think.

I wouldn't discount Normandy. It's got some lovely towns as well as all the second World War sites. Bayeux is a pretty town with lots to see in the area. Good food too (if you like dairy and apples!). Or across into Brittany - St Malo is interesting and there are Dinan and Dinard in the area which are also very pleasant. You could visit the Mont St Michel without all the crowds.

I agree La Rochelle is better for summer. Also I found Chamonix wasn't very exciting as a town.

I would definitely go to the Alsace - Strasbourg, Colmar. We went there for a friend's wedding and stayed on for a holiday and I wasn't expecting great things but it was glorious. Beautiful area, and would be gorgeous at Christmas. Either there or Chamonix/ Annecy.

Ha! Barking right up the wrong tree there 😆

What about Nice. It’s reasonably mild in December. I walked about with a T-shirt but the locals were in jackets. The decorations were pretty good too