Experience the charm of a French Summer

Experience the charm of a French summer

  • été
  • L’été
  • Un été
  • Les étés
  • Des étés
  • En été
Summer in French
  • The north of France
    • The temperatures are mild and the nights a little cold. It rains irregularly. In general, it is a great season to discover the beautiful landscapes of the coast and the beaches. We find an oceanic climate all along the coast.
      Some regions to visit:
      • la Normandie
      • la Bretagne
  • The central region
    • It is a temperate climate, it is warm and the nights are mild. In the capital, on hot days, you can enjoy walking along the Seine and cooling off on the terrace of a cafe.
      Some regions to visit:
      • la région parisienne
      • le Centre-Val de Loire
  • The south
    • It is hot and dry, the days are sunny. Sometimes the temperature exceeds 30 degrees celsius. The evenings are mild to warm, it’s perfect for going out to eat with friends and enjoy outdoor festivals.
      We find a mediterranean climate in:
      • la Provence
      • la Côte d’Azur
  • Mountains
    • The temperatures are cooler there, especially in the evening.
      • les Alpes
      • les Pyrénées
  • Atlantic coast
    • Temperatures range from moderately warm to hot. The days are sunny and the evenings mild and pleasant.
      We find an oceanic climate in:
      • la Gironde
      • la Vendée

  • Seafood tasting
    • It is a very popular activity for the French and tourists. To do on the Atlantic coast.
      • les huîtres (oysters)
      • les moules (mussels)
      • les coquillages (shells)
      • les crustacés (crustaceans)
  • Wine tasting
    • Explore the wine regions and discover new wines.
      The regions:
      • la Bourgogne
      • Bordeaux
      • la vallée de la Loire
  • Picnic
    • The French like to have a picnic, it’s a summer tradition: on the banks of la Seine in Paris, on a beach, in the gardens of a castle, etc.
  • Markets
    • Spending time in the open-air markets. Buy summer vegetables and fruits, local products (culinary specialties, crafts).
  • Les feux d’artifice du 14 Juillet (Fireworks on July 14)
    • This is la fête nationale française, People come out of their homes to see the fireworks. In some cities there are concerts and parades, in a festive atmosphere.
  • Le tour de France
    • It’s a bike race. It is the most famous sporting event of the summer. We can follow the different stages that take place in different regions of France, and therefore discover different landscapes.
  • Outdoor cinema
    • We can attend movie screenings in the parks. In general, the films shown are classics. Perhaps you will see films that rocked your childhood.
  • Swimming
    • The French love to go to the beach in the summer, whether in the south or on the Atlantic coast.
  • Hiking
    • Hiking in the mountains is one of the favorite activities of the French.


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    Exercise
    What is your favorite activity? Tell us in the comments.

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  • Visit France: French festivals
  • La fête de la musique (le 21 juin)
    Amateur and professional musicians play in the streets and bars.

  • La fête nationale (le 14 juillet) : to commemorate the Revolution of 1789.
  • Les rencontres d’Arles (de juillet à septembre): it is a festival of photographs.
  • Le festival d’Avignon (en juillet): this is a theater festival.
  • La nuit des étoiles (fin juillet): it’s an astronomy festival.
  • Summer markets
    • They are the place to buy fresh seasonal products.
      Fruits:
      • les pêches (peaches)
      • les abricots (apricots)
      • les oranges (oranges)
      • les fraises (strawberries)
      • les cerises (cherries)
      Vegetables:
      • les tomates (tomatoes)
      • les courgettes (zucchini)
      • les concombres (cucumbers)
      • les aubergines (eggplants)
  • Barbecues
    • We eat de la viande (meat), des sausicsses (sausages) and des légumes (vegetables) grilled.
      We can add:
      • de la charcuterie (cold cuts)
      • du fromage (cheese)
      • du pâté de campagne (country pâté)
  • Ice cream and sorbets
    • The ice cream parlors offer several flavors.
      Here are examples for ice cream:
      • vanille (vanilla)
      • chocolat (chocolate)
      • yaourt (yogurt)
        Here are examples for sorbets:
      • du melon
      • de la framboise (raspberry)
      • du citron (lemon)
  • Aperitifs on terrace
    • On summer evenings, the French like to have drinks on terrace, usually with friends.
      • Un verre de vin blanc (a glass of white wine)
      • Un cocktail
      • Une bière (a beer)



    Exercise
    Tell us in French in the comments which is your favorite food from the list above, and why? I will correct if necessary.

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  • Talk about summer holidays
  • What kind of experiment do you want to do?
      • Relaxing at the beach
      • Visit small typical villages
      • Doing sports
      • Visiting museums
      • Etc.
  • Which region do you like the most?
      • The PACA region
      • La Bourgogne (Burgundy) and its wine-growing landscapes
      • The Pyrenees and their mountains
      • The south west and its waves for surfing
      • Etc.
  • What is your budget?
    • The most touristic regions are the most expensive.
  • Is the place easily accessible?
    • Public transport VS renting a car.
  • And obviously the climate
    • Accomodation
      • Book your rental before leaving
      • Choose the type of accommodation you prefer
        • A guest room
        • An apartment
        • A house
        • A villa
        • A hotel
        • Etc.
      • The place
        • Close to the beach
        • Close to the city center
        • Etc.
    • Travel
      • Choose your routes in advance: use travel apps
      • Public transport VS rent a car


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    The most beautiful islands of France
  • L’île de Ré
  • L’île d’Oléron
  • L’île de Noirmoutier
  • L’île de Porquerolles
  • Les îles de Lérins
  • L’île de Batz
  • French beaches
    Les saisons (seasons)

    Le printemps (spring)
    L’été (summer)
    L’auomne (autumn)
    L’hiver (winter)
  • Light outfits
    • Linen and cotton are breathable materials, so they are commonly chosen.
      • Summer dresses
      • Light skirts
      • Shorts
      • Light shorts
      • Etc.
  • The visual of the clothes
      • Sailor stripe
      • Floral patterns
      • Etc.
  • Other:
      • Hats, caps
      • Sunglasses
      • Light scarves
      • Sandals
      • Sunglasses
      • Etc.
  • Soft colors
  • Greetings and politness
    • The French appreciate the efforts to communicate in their language.
      • Bonjour (good morning)
      • Bon après-midi (good afternoon)
      • Bonsoir (good evening)
      • Bonne nuit (good night)
      • S’il vous plaît (please)
      • Excusez-moi (excuse me)
      • Merci (thank you)
  • Non verbal greetings
      • Kisses on the cheeks (two or three depending on the region).
      • In a formal or professional context, we use our hands.
  • During meals
      • Stand up straight
      • Avoid putting your elbows on the table
      • The forearms visible, do not put them under the table
      • Take small portions to leave food for others
  • Respect the other
      • Avoid excessive physical contact
  • Punctuality

  • To order in a restaurant
      • Bonjour, avez-vous une table disponible pour deux personnes, s’il vous plaît ?
        (Hello, do you have a table available for two people, please?)
      • Un verre de vin rouge pour moi (A glass of red wine for me)
      • Je vais prendre un poulet avec des frites (I’m going to have a chicken with fries)
      • L’addition, s’il vous plaît (The bill, please)
  • Ask for a direction
      • Quel est le chemin pour aller à la plage depuis ici ? (What is the way to the beach from here?)
      • Quel est le chemin pour aller au supermarché ? (What is the way to the supermarket?)
      • Où se trouve la boulangerie ? (Where is the bakery located?)



    Exercise
    In your home country, how do you dress during the summer? Write it in French in the comments.

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  • Summer holidays photographs
  • North
    • Les Hauts-de-France
      • Les plages de la Côte d’Opale: large beaches, dunes and gigantic cliffs.
      • La baie de Somme: vast marshes, sandbanks, a very rich fauna and flora.
  • South
    • La Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
      • Les calanques de Marseille: many coves, many large cliffs, turquoise blue water.
      • Les gorges du Verdon: the largest canyon in France, magnificent blue waters and large cliffs.
  • East
    • Le Grande Est
      • Les Vosges: it is a mountainous massif composed of forest, lakes and many viewpoints.
      • La route des vins d’Alsace: hills, vineyards, very beautiful country villages. It is a land known for the production of a typical wine.
  • West
    • La Bretagne
      • La pointe du Raz: a grandiose cliff, this is the most famous viewpoint in the region.
      La Normandie
      • Le Mont Saint-Michel: it is a huge rock on which an abbey was built. The strength of the tides is impressive.

  • Les marchés de provence: fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers, etc. show various colors.

  • Les champs de lavande: the rows of purple lavender that stretch as far as the eye can see.

  • Les plages de la Côte d’Azur: the discreet coves, the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea. The seaside restaurants.

  • Les terrasses de café: the lively terraces where friends and lovers come to laugh and chat. The Haussmann buildings, the Sacré-Coeur.

  • Festivals: music and theater festivals, night markets, local festivals and fireworks.

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    Exercise
    What is your favorite region and why? … in French 🙂

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  • French food
  • La tarte à l’oignon des Vosges: it is made with caramelized onions.

  • Les huîtres de Cancale: they come from the bay of Mont Saint-Michel. They are usually eaten with a squeeze of lemon and a glass of white wine.

  • Le cassoulet au confit de canard: it is consumed in winter and summer. It consists of white beans, duck confit and sausages.


    • Participate in cooking classes where you live.
    • Go to the markets and ask the peasants questions, to find out what the ingredients are for cooking the local dishes.
    • Make recipes with seasonal ingredients.
    • Enrich your dishes with fresh aromatic herbs.
    • Eat typical dishes with the locals to learn from them.


    The best typical food
    • Paris
      • Le croque-monsieur
      • Les chouquettes
    • Normandie
      • Le camembert rôti au four
      • Le poulet au cidre
    • Bretagne
      • Le Kouign amann
      • Le far breton aux pruneaux
    • Bordeaux
      • Le canelé
      • Les macarons
    • Côte d’Azur
      • La fougasse
      • La tapenade
    • Alsace
      • Le pain d’épice
      • Le strudel aux pommes
    Summer adventure
    • Hiking in the mountains (the Massif central, the Pyrenees, the Alps, etc.).
    • Cycling in the countryside.
    • Climbing in Drôme-Ardèche (Vercors or Chartreuse).
    • Paragliding on la dune du Pilat.
    • Surfing on the Atlantic coast.
    • Camping in the mountains or by the sea.
    • Aller à la pêche (Go fishing)
    • Day 1 to 3 in Paris
      • Visit:
        • les Champs-Elysées
        • le Louvre
        • la cathédrale Notre-Dame
        • le musée Grévin
      • Walk in the neighborhoods:
        • Montmartre
        • le quartier Latin
      • Eat:
        • pastries in a cafe
    • Day 4 to 6 in Normandie
      • Visit:
        • Le Mont Saint-Michel
        • The landing beaches and discover more in depth what happened during the Second World War.
        • The beautiful and well-known city of Honfleur
    • Day 7 to 9 in Bordeaux and its region
      • To do:
        • Explore the wine regions and its magnificent landscapes
        • Taste among the best wines of France
        • Enjoy the typical food of the region
    • Day 10 to 12 in La Côte d’Azur
      • To do:
        • Enjoy the Mediterranean sun
        • Take a walk on la Promenade des Anglais
        • Visit the beautiful old town of Nice
    • Day 13 to 15 in la Provence
      • To do:
        • Go for a walk in the markets to see the colorful fruits, vegetables and flowers
        • Visit the picturesque villages
        • Go sunbathing at the beach


    Exercise
    What is the activity that you would like to do during your holidays in France? … in French in the comments.

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  • FAQ for summer in France


    https://www.lemonde.fr/m-voyage/article/2020/05/31/ou-partir-en-vacances-en-france-cet-ete-quarante-cinq-idees-d-escapades_6041313_4497613.html

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/23209179/train-travel-france-summer-under-one-pound/

    https://www.theguardian.com/travel/france+summer-holidays

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