Day 3066 (Thursday) 30th October 2025

This was Villefranche-sur-Mer in 1875

and this was it in 1920.

The weather was really horrible this morning – it’s been a miserable few days and we stayed home again.

It’s coming up to November the 1st so here is what’s happening in France in November.

What changes in France in November 2025

Winter driving rules come into force in mountainous regions of France. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

New European border checks are extended at the Port of Dover, France marks Armistice Day, and motorists in parts of France need to be properly equipped for winter, Christmas is officially coming, and there’s some appointment TV.

Border checks

The EU's EES border checks went live on October 12th, but many places have opted for a phased introduction, with coach parties and business class passengers in the first phases. November will see the checks extended to more passengers, especially people travelling from the UK by ferry or Le Shuttle. 

Public holidays

Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) is the first of two public holidays in France this month, taking place on Saturday, November 1st. It is the traditional day French people visit the graves of loved ones.

Then the Armistice public holiday, recognising the end of World War I, is on Tuesday, November 11th. Towns and cities host parades and wreaths are laid at the war memorials. Virtually every commune in France has a war memorial listing the men from the local area who died for their country (mort pour la patrie). In Paris, the French president will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.

School holidays

Pupils across France head back to school on Monday, November 3rd, following the two-week Toussaint holidays.

Retiree protests

France’s pension reforms may have been put on the long finger for Prime Ministerial survival reasons — but that doesn’t mean all is well in Retirement World in France. The proposed freezing of retirement pensions, among other inclusions in the 2026 budget have prompted calls for a ‘Day of Action for retirees’ on November 6th.

Budget discussions

Linked to the above, MPs in parliament will be debating the 2026 Budget - the parliamentary timetable means that votes will likely start in early November. This is likely to be an extremely tense debate that could easily bring down yet another government.

If that happens, president Emmanuel Macron has said that he will have no choice but to call fresh parliamentary elections. 

Winter truce

France’s annual trêve hivernale – winter eviction truce – begins on November 1st. From that date until March 31st, landlords are forbidden from evicting tenants struggling to pay their rent. Utility companies also cannot disconnect supplies because of unpaid bills.

Electricity bills

New seasonal ‘peak time’ electricity hours will be introduced from November 1st for those on certain tariffs, though bill-payers won’t notice an immediate impact, as off-peak hours remain overnight during the winter. From April, however, the cheaper off-peak rates will be during the day to take better advantage of solar-generated power.

Gas prices

Good news for anyone in France who heats their home with gas as outside temperatures dip. Prices in November are set to rise by such a small amount — 0.07 percent — that you will barely notice the difference in your bills. 

The increase represents €0.04/year for those who only use gas for cooking, €0.40/year for those who use it for cooking and hot water and €1/year for heating.

Tobacco-free month

November 2025 marks France's 10th annual ‘No Smoking Month’, where people are challenged to give up smoking for 30 days. It is a campaign organised by French public health authorities. 

What’s in a name

Consultations are set to begin in the south-western Pyrénées-Orientales département on a possible name change, in line with a pledge made by départemental council President Hermeline Malherbe in 2021 and again in 2024. 

An online consultation conducted in 2024 by Ici Roussillon garnered 17,000 votes — with 56 percent of those taking part favouring a change of name to Pays Catalan. If the name-change goes ahead, the département would be the eighth to change its name since 1794.

Tyres

Motorists must equip their vehicles with all-weather tyres, winter tyres or snow chains in certain mountainous areas from November 1st to March 31st.

Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Who cares if it’s nothing more than a clever marketing ploy – the third Thursday of November  (November 20th  this year) is a celebration for wine lovers, as the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau is released in a party atmosphere from Beaujeu to Lyon via Villefranche-Sur-Saône.

Jet-set president

President Emmanuel Macron will head to Mauritius on November 21st, before heading to the G20 in Johannesburg on November 22nd. 

Christmas street parties start

Yes, we’re that close to Christmas. An early start to the celebrations in Nancy, as the city’s St Nicholas’ festival kick off on November 21st.

France is home to several wonderful Christmas markets – including in Strasbourg a city that has got pretty good at celebrating the season over the years – it has been doing it since around 1570 and proudly brands itself the ‘Christmas capital of France’. This year’s celebrations begin on November 26th. 

Projected ski resort opening dates

High-elevation ski resort Val Thorens is scheduled to open for the season on the weekend of November 22nd, subject — obviously — to snow conditions.

Sarko

France's top court is expected to rule on November 26th on former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s final appeal over illegal campaign financing in 2012. He was due to report to prison on October 21st for a separate conviction of criminal conspiracy.

Thanksgiving 

For Americans, the fourth Thursday in November is synonymous with Thanksgiving. 

Event TV

Happy Stranger Things Day to those who celebrate. The first instalments of the fifth and — we’re promised dramatic — final series will hit Netflix on November 27th. But you’ll have to wait until December 26th for the second batch, while the actual finale itself arrives on January 1st, 2026. Things may never be the same again...