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 🙈

😁

If it was me I'd train it to Lyon, stay there for a couple days to get all the culture and food etc., and then go on to either Annecy or Avignon for actual Christmas. They're both gorgeous.

Strasbourg and Colmar are both wonderful in December. You can then head into the Vosges mountains if you want - just outside.

Biarritz

Somewhere that doesn't close down for winter.

Oh god not Normandy in December unless you want grey skies and drizzle 🙄... And Honfleur is ridiculously touristy all year round.

Definitely somewhere like Strasbourg or Colmar or which will be super Christmassy.

We're the opposite of cultured, so we walk round museums and chateaus like it's a race! I quite fancy doing some canoeing, sailing etc, hence why annecy and the lakes appeal to me but I could be delusional thinking I can do that in December! I don't know, I just cant settle on somewhere....

www.massif-des-vosges.com/en/index-summer.htm

This does also have winter activities but the url keeps defaulting! Not boating here in December I don't think, but skiing/snowshoeing/hiking.

Sorry @Imabouttoexplode , yes delusional to think you will be doing water sports in the middle of winter... Maybe in the south of Spain?

Another vote for Strasbourg (lived there another lifetime ago) - super festive and lots of places nearby to visit. Cremant and tarte flambée for Christmas dinner!

cote d'Azur will always be warmer. What about Biarritz and that Atlantic Coast? Alpine areas at Christmas are always expensive and Annecy is a point of access for them. Grand Bornand or Trois Valles are not that far away. It will be cold and/or wet. Normandy has lots to do as has been suggested. Also fantastic food.

Hhmmm, water sports clubs in annecy are open in December tho......

Possibly but have you looked at average temperatures? 🙄
I love in France and have family in that area, you'd have to be pretty hardcore to want to canoe in December down there, or anywhere else in France really.

Live obviously... Not love.. Although I do love it 😁

France can be unbelievably cold in winter, I wouldn’t recommend Aquitaine ( huge area I know but it’ll either rain, snow or you’ll have wind whipping up the rain or snow) In many rural areas restaurants close or have shorter hours over winter, many markets shrink down to bare essentials.
Stick to a city with plenty of things to interest you and a varied choice of restaurants and coffee shops or a snow resort.

OK, point taken. Will look at a city or snow. Although I'm still harbouring thoughts of beach walks in the south of france!

Definitely Alps. loads of stuff to do even if you don't ski. Or Strasbourg for the Xmas market if it's just a long weekend. Normandy would be complete madness unless you actively like pissing rain.

Or you could go all out and try Martinique!

We're going for a week.

In that case, Strasbourg and Colmar or, wild card, the monts jura in the Alps. Less busy than chamonix, within easy reach of Geneva so you can combine city and snow stuff.

And do a day trip to Annecy

Another vote for Alsace.
You can be in a town or city or rural.
Great wine, great food (but hearty).
Day trips over to Germany, you are near the Black Forest.

Any views on Bordeaux?

Off there in summer so no idea for winter.
But Colmar is also well positioned for Germany's Black Forest as well.

Another vote for Strasbourg! The Christmas market is lovely with the backdrop of the Cathedral - they call it the Capital city of Christmas! And you can cross over into Germany Black Forest region for a visit. Stunning place to visit!

Bordeaux, La Rochelle etc are very nice but honestly I don't see the point of visiting them in the winter if you can go in the summer instead when they'll be a hundred times nicer. Go somewhere that does winter really well instead.