Most people think of holidays in France as a summer thing, lots of sunshine, fabulous for the beaches, sightseeing and enjoying our lovely countryside.

Life still goes on here in winter and early spring; and this can be a great time to visit, and miss the July and August crowds. In the villages there are a lot of soirees, live music and concerts, and quite different entertainment than in summer. One nearby village has just had an imitation ice rink set up, and the kids had a great time, and the adults too, although some hadn’t realised before they put the skates on, how scary it was. There was mulled wine, white wine and chocolates, crepes and chips, and for 2 euros, everyone had a great time.  The same village had a live band in the bar that played on until the early hours. 

The French always make the most of any entertainment, and really don’t want to leave a minute before they have to.
Out of season is the best time to visit the Abbey at Mont St. Michel, as summer crowds are very dense here almost all the time. Even in winter the views from the top are fabulous, and the excercise in getting there, along with the ozone will make your visit worthwhile. There are two or three museums there, lots of shops and some nice restaurants, but also some not so nice ones, so take care to view the menu.
The only payment to visit the Mont is the car park at 4 euros. If you wish to go into the Abbey there is an extra payment, but if you are interested in history and the magnificent work that stonemasons did hundreds of years ago, it is certainly a memorable visit.

The windmill overlooking Mont St Michel Bay is a fully working renovation and the flour is sold on site. This opens from the 1st April, and you can take a 30 minute guided tour. There are also some chateaux that are open all year, but check first, as quite a lot only open July, August and September.
In Villedieu-Les-Poeles in Manche, the town famous for it’s bell making, copper, tin and lace making, the museums there are open all year. This very pretty town is certainly worth a visit.

Military cemeteries of the 2nd World War are open all year too. These include, American, German, English and other countries. Of course you can visit many of our lovely churches as most have their opening times on the door.
The swimming pools, cinemas, bowling alleys and all restaurants are also open all year. The markets are on their usual days, come what may, as this is a big part of life for the local people.

A time to meet and greet, stop and chat, and take a morning coffee or something a little stronger. In January there wasn’t a Wednesday morning that the sun didn’t shine for a couple of hours, and we managed to sit outside for coffee at St Hilaire’s market, every Wednesday. The number of stalls may be reduced compared to summer, but the stalwarts are always there.

Also, don’t forget the beaches and cliff sides. The French visit the beach at weekend, collecting mussels and cockles by the bucketful, and use large nets, in the shallow water for fishing for shrimp. Even if you don’t care for seafood (Really?) the bracing walk along the beach will truly make you feel great. Granville, on the coast, is a very historic town, and in the old part of town, high on the cliff, there are two museums, also a walk along the Atlantic wall, will bring you to the lighthouse. The old streets are a labyrinth of courtyards, cobbled streets and alleyways that lead to the sea.

There are lovely little restaurants up there, which make a change from the usual ‘tourist’ ones, below in the modern part of town. I find this area has a magical quality and whenever I visit can’t help but think of the resistance cell working there during the war. What a good hiding place it must have been, until the Germans cordoned it off in 1943.

So, to sum up, if you feel like a change, even if it’s only for a few days, France is still here, and there is still a lot to do and see.

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