Day 3440 (Monday) 9th November 2026.

This is Eze Village

and this is Menton.

It was quite cold and very grey again today - I really want to go somewhere. Please let the sun come back out tomorrow.

Here are the rest of the things to do and places to go in November.  

Lyon

Lyon is well-known for its exceptional gastronomy. On a chilly day, warm up with a delicious coq au vin, try the city’s famous sausage, the rosette de Lyon, and wash it down with your preferred glass of wine - perhaps one from the Northern Rhône Valley.

Rosette de Lyon

For the best views over Lyon, climb up the Colline de Fourvière. Upon this hill is the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, with an extravagant interior and a Museum of Sacred Art, which are worth a look. You may also like to visit the Roman ruins nearby, which mark the first Roman settlement in Lyon. You can see other Roman artefacts at the nearby Gallo-Roman museum.

The Museum of Fine Arts, located in a 17th century abbey, is also well worth a visit. 

You can admire masterpieces by the greats, including Picasso, Caneletto, Degas, Cézanne and Renoir. There's also an exhibition of hundreds of artefacts from Ancient Egypt, including the gates to the Temple of Medamud, dating back to the 3rd century BC.

Alsace

Little Venice neighbourhood in Alsace.

If you're in France in late November, you can soak up the Christmas spirit in Alsace. This region is known for having the best Christmas markets in France. In Colmar, there are five separate market areas and nearly 200 stalls. 

The atmosphere is like a fairy tale, with lights, decorations and the aromas of mulled wine. You'll be able to enjoy daily concerts and other events, and there's an ice rink.

The towns of Colmar and Strasbourg get extremely busy as we head into the Christmas period. Most of the hotels and accommodations get booked up a year in advance. If you'd like to escape these busy areas and explore some smaller Alsatian towns off the beaten track, we love Turckheim (famous for its Advent calendar), Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr (busy but worth the detour). Keep in mind that you'll need to drive to these towns.

If you're travelling too early for the Christmas markets, Alsace is still worth visiting. The medieval town of Colmar has stunning Renaissance architecture, and you won't be able to put your camera away in the gorgeous Little Venice neighbourhood.

Experience the Christmas spirit in France

As we mentioned above, if you're in France in late November, you'll be able to experience the Christmas season in France, as the Christmas lights will be up and some of the Christmas markets will be open. 

We particularly like the Christmas spirit in Avignon, Provence (especially for the Nativity scenes)

 Amiens, the Somme (for its music and light show at the city’s cathedral every evening of the Christmas market); Reims, Champagne (enjoy a glass of Champagne on the Big Wheel), and Colmar (a fairytale come alive). The atmosphere in Paris is also nice - be sure to visit the Galeries Lafayette. The decorations are beautiful and they always have a very special Christmas tree.

Hunt for Winter Truffles

The gourmets among you shouldn't miss the opportunity to hunt the elusive black winter truffle. Black winter truffles are mostly found in the Périgord, in the Dordogne region of France.

They are more aromatic than summer truffles and are harvested from November to March, peaking in January.

Castles of Cathar

South of the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne in southwestern France is what feels like a country of castles. Dating back to the Cathars, who occupied this area between the 11th and 13th centuries, many of these fortresses can be difficult to reach - so bring your hiking shoes. The Cathars were finally vanquished by the Albigensian crusades, led by the notoriously brutal Simon de Montfort.

The Château de Quéribus is what you might call the last bastion of Cathar resistance. Spectacularly located on a ridge above a sheer-drop cliff, with the village of Cucugnan below, it marked the French-Spanish border until the 17th century.

If you visit, you can enjoy fantastic views across to Canigou and Perpignan, including the last of the autumn colours.

Visit the Cité International de la Gastronomie et du Vin in Dijon 

The International City of Gastronomy and Wine opened in Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, in May 2022. There’s a wide selection of top restaurants offering fine cuisine and counters serving smaller traditional dishes. Then there’s the gastronomic village. Part exhibition, part market, you'll find food and drink producers from all over France demonstrating, talking and cooking.

Beaujolais Nouveau Festival - a celebration of new Beaujolais wine

Following the grape harvest, on the third Thursday of November at 12:01 am, there’s a party in the streets of Lyon to celebrate the new Beaujolais wine of the year, ‘Beaujolais Nouveau’. The festival includes music, street parties and fireworks.

Dijon International Food Fair

During the first two weeks of November, Dijon hosts around 600 exhibitors and more than 200,000 visitors to its annual gastronomic fair. There are hundreds of food stalls with both amateur and professional chefs offering a range of delicious things to try. There are also cooking demonstrations for anyone looking for some cooking tips. 

The Dijon International Food Fair has been running since 1921. The idea was to revive and explore the traditional culinary and gourmet traditions of Burgundy through the region’s wine and the cuisine of its past Dukes. If you’re in Dijon we warmly recommend also visiting the Cité International de la Gastronomie et du Vin (the International City of Gastronomy and Wine). 

Lyon International Chocolate Trade Show

The Salon du Chocolat de Lyon is the biggest chocolate event of its kind in the world. It's been running yearly since 2011, and if you're a chocolate-lover and will be in Lyon, France in November, this is a must-do. 

This 3-day event brings together the finest chocolate makers from all over France. It's something that all the family can enjoy, and includes recipe demonstrations, chocolate exhibitions, pastry workshops and a chocolate dress show.

All Saints Day (La Toussaint) 

Every November 1st is a public holiday to commemorate the dead. If you’re in France on this day, some venues may be closed.

Armistice Day (Armistice de la Première Guerre Mondiale)

November 11th marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, when the Armistice Agreement was signed between the countries that were at war. Many schools and businesses close to mark this solemn occasion.

If you are visiting the regions of Verdun or the Somme at this time, you may plan to go to a war cemetery. On Armistice Day, war cemeteries will be busier, with families visiting their ancestors’ graves. There will also be special events at key French battlefields.