Day 3035 (Monday) 29th September 2025

This is Eze 

and this is Villefranche-sur-Mer.

It was another lovely sunny day and our thermometer said it was 30 degrees in direct sunshine.

 

The bay is quite quiet now but it looks lovely.

As always on a Monday here’s What’s happening in France this week. The Local France.

US celebrity Kim Kardashian. (Photo by LEO VIGNAL / AFP)

More strikes and protests are planned this week, while the new Prime Minister is set to lay out his plans to MPs, a civil hearing linked to the robbery of Kim Kardashian starts, and Paris Fashion Week gets under way on another busy week in France.

Monday

Courts – Prosecutors in France launch an appeal against the acquittal of Airbus and Air France over the 2009 Rio-Paris air crash in the Atlantic Ocean. The trial is expected to run through to November 27th.

Courts II – A civil hearing linked to the robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris gets under way.

Fashion – Paris fashion week gets under way. Expect to see lots of images of models on catwalks.

Driving schools - The union representing French driving instructors and school staff has called for strike action on Monday, September 29th, to protest increased waiting times for driving tests, as well as rising driving licence costs.

Tuesday

Climate – the EU’s climate monitor reports on the state of the world’s oceans in a statement from Toulouse.

Wednesday

Politics – France’s MPs return to the hemicycle as the National Assembly reopens after the summer break.

Housing aid – Starting October 1, 2025, certain housing benefits for low-income families will increase by 1.04 percent, following a change in the reference rent index (Indice de référence des loyers, IRL) for the second quarter. In practical terms, this means anyone who receives certain benefits (APL, ALF or ALS) will have them automatically recalculated and applied to November payments.

Heat pumps – Grants for installing a heat pump will increase from October 1, 2025. Depending on a family’s income, they could receive more than €10,000 for the cost of installation.

Gas prices – As of October 1st, the price of a kWh of gas, including tax, for a household heating with gas will fall 1.9 percent. The annual subscription price remains unchanged at €330.80. For an average household, the annual bill will therefore drop from €1,511 to €1,489. In two months, the bill has decreased €51.

Cancer awareness – The annual ‘Pink October’ campaign, which raises awareness about breast cancer screening and supports research, returns. Expect to see a range of events in your area.

Christmas rail travel – We know, it’s October, but if you’re planning a rail trip in France over the Christmas period, you’ll be interested to know that tickets for the period for TGV INOUI, OUIGO Grande Vitesse and Intercités go on sale on October 1st. 

Thursday

Protests – France’s Intersyndicale, which represents the country's main union federations, called for another day of nationwide strikes and protests on Thursday, October 2nd. The previous day of action – on September 18th – saw over 500,000 people take to the streets across France, and it brought Paris public transport to a halt.

Politics – France’s new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is expected to give his general policy speech in front of France’s Assemblée Nationale on Thursday, October 2nd – a year and a day after his predecessor’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, stood up to deliver his version. 

Sport – France football coach Didier Deschamps announces Les Bleus’ squad for Azerbaidjan and Iceland World Cup qualifiers.

Sunday

Horse racing – The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe gets under starters’ orders at Longchamps.

We’re going to take a break from the weird traditions in France today and look at some beautiful places in France.

The most beautiful landscapes of France

No need to go abroad, France has magnificent places not to be missed. Varied landscapes in the various French regions, let's discover the most beautiful places in France.

The creeks in Provence

The creeks are a place not to be missed in the PACA region, due to their breathtaking landscapes, the memorable walks in translucent waters. You can rest, snorkel in summer, take a boat trip to observe the creeks on the sea side or hike on the land side, visit the surroundings such as Cassis, Marseille, Carry-le-Rouet... Prefer the creeks in the spring, the days are cooler and less crowded.

The Camargue - The mouths of the Rhones

Discover pink flamingos by the hundreds, bulls and horses. You can also observe the pond turned pink.

Located between the Gard and the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Camargue is partly a regional natural park with a strong identity. A nature of exceptional beauty, and a wild environment that gives visitors a feeling of freedom.

The Gorges du Verdon - Alpes de Hautes Provence

The Gorges du Verdon, an incredible place to swim or hike. They are really beautiful and are very popular. You will find many activities, such as rafting, canyoning or take the opportunity to take a paragliding jump with a breathtaking view.

The Colorado Provencal - a colourful walk

In the Lubéron, the Colorado Provencal offers colours and splendid nature. The Colorado Provençal is an unmissable site in Provence. Orange sediments form amazing landscapes reminiscent of certain places in the United States. The site is now wild and you can walk easily between the cliffs. A mixture of magnificent colours, between the red/orange of the land and the verse of nature and the surrounding forests.

The volcanoes of Auvergne

A place to recharge your batteries in complete tranquility, surrounded by nature, in the natural park of the volcanoes of Auvergne. 400,000 hectares, a place to recharge your batteries surrounded by nature with contrasting landscapes and a traditional and rejuvenating cultural heritage.

A step into the void, at the Pic du Midi

An overhanging view of the entire chain of the Pyrenees. From Chamonix you can take the cable car which in 20 minutes will take you to the Pic at an altitude of 3,842 metres. You can do the "Step into the void" attraction; a technological feat unique in the world. At more than 1,000 metres of void underfoot in a glass box on 5 sides you can observe the mountain... and the void. Chills guaranteed.