Day 3189 (Monday) 2nd March 2026

This was taken from above the waterfall in Castle Hill in Nice

and this is the entrance to the citadel here in Villefranche.

 

Bertrand sent me an email last night cancelling our Zoom lesson this morning so I had the morning off. It was quite warm and sunny but the wind was very chilly so it was quite cold on the scooter. We went to the garden centre in Saint–Jean–Cap-Ferrat and the choice of flowers and plants was a lot better than the last time we were there – spring is in the air.

There was a Kumquat tree for sale which was huge and a giant bonsai tree.

The bay looked lovely glistening in the sunshine, we can’t wait till this chilly wind disappears.

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

A protestor holds a sign during a demonstration march as part of the 2025 international Women's Day in Paris. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP)

International Women’s Day marches, an important presidential speech, a key court ruling and a busy week for sport and TV.

Monday

Military — President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a long-awaited speech at Île Longue outlining the future of France’s nuclear deterrent, which is expected to include more details on how France’s nuclear weapons can contribute to European security.

Meanwhile, parliament is in recess as MPs help out with campaigning for the municipal elections, held on March 15th and 22nd.

Tuesday

Court — A verdict is due in the appeal trial of four people convicted for involvement in the 2020 murder of teacher Samuel Paty.

Wednesday

TV — Reality culinary show Top Chef returns for its 17th season on broadcaster M6.

Friday

Sport — France’s athletes will join their compatriots from all over the planet to take part in the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan. The Games themselves run from Friday until March 15th.

TV — The deadline for votes in France’s annual TV search for its village préféré. You can cast your vote here.

Saturday

Six Nations — France’s senior men’s rugby side continue their search for a Grand Slam, with a penultimate-round trip to Edinburgh to face Scotland at Murrayfield, the afternoon after the two sides’ under-20s counterparts faced one another at the Hive Stadium. Kick off is at 15.10 (French time). Later in the afternoon, England travel to Rome to face Italy, while Ireland v Wales is played on Friday night.

Sunday

International Women’s Day — Marches will be organised across France on March 8th for International Women’s Day, which in France now also serves as the anniversary of the inscription of the right to abortion in France’s constitution.

Holidays — It’s the last day of the staggered winter vacation for schoolchildren in Zone C, who head back to school on Monday.  

Sport — The week-long Paris-Nice cycling race gets underway.

And here is what changes in March…

Everything that changes in France in March 2026

People enjoying the sun in the Tuileries gardens in Paris in 2002. (Photo by JEAN-PIERRE MULLER / AFP)

From municipal elections to a new parcel tax and an increase in vehicle registration, here is what is on the agenda for March 2026 in France.

Municipal elections - The first round of France's local elections will happen on Sunday, March 15th and the second round - in places that have a second round - is on March 22nd. 

Tobacco price increases - Nearly 500 cigarette brands are set to increase starting March 1st. Certain packs of Vogue cigarettes will increase by 40 cents, while News cigarettes will increase by 20 cents. The most significant increase will be for a 40g pack of Amsterdamer tobacco, which will increase by 80 cents. Meanwhile, some brands will see their prices decrease. A pack of Royale Evolved Fusion Ssl will drop from €13 to €11.50. Other price changes will be announced in the coming months.

The end of winter festivals - The Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival, both of which bring in thousands of visitors every year, will both conclude on March 1st. 

Vehicle registration more expensive - The cost of vehicle registration certificates (carte grise) will increase starting March 1st in certain parts of France. The price is rising at both the national and regional levels, and the increase is due to stricter environmental penalties and higher regional rates. Regions such as Corsica have applied significant increases, with the cost of vehicle registration certificates rising from €43 in 2025 to €53 in 2026. 

New parcel tax - Starting March 1st, merchants importing goods valued under €150 into mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Monaco will have to pay a new Small Parcel Tax (TPC) of €2 per item, rising to €3 in July 2026 when a similar EU-wide system will take effect. The tax applies per item, and not per package which means a parcel with three items will incur €6 in charges.

The tax is targeted at Chinese companies like Shein, but will also affect French residents ordering items from non-EU countries like the UK or USA.

End of RoissyBus - The RoissyBus shuttle linking central Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport will make its final journey on Saturday, February 28th, ending a long-standing service operated by RATP. It will be replaced by another bus service from Sunday, March 1st but this is not direct and doesn't go all the way into central Paris.

Closures of PEL accounts - Starting March 1st, a wave of automatic closures of the French savings programme PEL (Plan épargne logement) will take place. Under the 2010 Finance Act, all PEL accounts opened after March 1st 2011, are limited to a maximum duration of 15 years. Once this deadline is reached, banks will automatically close the accounts. 

End of 2G and 3G - 2G and 3G are mobile telecommunications technologies deployed by French operators in the 1990s and 2000s. After decades of service, operators announced from 2022 onward their plans to phase them out in mainland France, shifting fully to newer-generation 4G and 5G networks. Starting March 31st, 2026, phone companies will gradually shut down their 2G network in several waves across nine departments in the south west. 

New flights - Air France will launch twice-daily flights between Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and London Gatwick from March 29th, strengthening connections between France and the UK.

Winter trêve - The annual winter ‘truce’, when tenants cannot be evicted from their rented homes for non-payment of rent, ends as it does every year on March 31st.

International Women's Day - Feminist marches will be organised across France on March 8th for International Women's Day, which in France now also serves as the anniversary of the inscription of the right to abortion in France's constitution.

Ramadan - The month of fasting and reflection for Muslims around the world began on February 17th and continues until March 19th, though the exact dates will depend on the lunar cycle.

Equinox - Spring begins on March 20th, when the Spring Equinox arrives, meaning that there will be more hours of daylight than darkness.

Daylight saving time - We all lose an hour’s sleep as the clocks go forward during the night of Saturday, March 28th, to Sunday, March 29th, 2026, at 2am.

... And watch out for April 1st 

April 1st is the day for 'poissons d'avril' in France - aka pranks and practical jokes. So don't believe everything that you hear on this day.

This was Badger last night playing in his tunnel.