The Various French Climates

If you are buying property in France, whether it be for holidays, investment or indeed to live in, it is worth a few minutes time researching what the weather is going to be like in the area you have chosen, or are choosing, but on an annual basis. Many peoplefrench property for sale holiday in France or are regular visitors, and can often go at the 'right' times of year. If you are going to buy a French property and live in France all year round you will be aware that winters can be cool, and in some areas very cool indeed. The Mediterranean areas of France can get very chilly in December, January and February, but few 'normal' houses or villas have efficient central heating to North American or North European standards, in the same way that these other countries do not have good air-conditioning for their occasional hot summer days. Whilst the Mediterranean areas in winter may be comfortable for people property for sale in france used to deep snow and very cold temperatures, many French people, if they can afford it, go to tropical climes from November until just before Easter to avoid the cold. This is so of most European Mediterranean countries, so pack a few woollies for your Christmas in your new house in the South of France, and get someone local to fill the log-shed before you get there. Of course, the further north you get in France or the further 'up the mountain' you are, the more likely you are to find houses, villas and homes with facilities to cope with longer winters. The Climate in France falls into four distinct types, however high and low temperatures vary dramatically:- -a 'temperate maritime climate' is found in the west, near the coasts, where winters are mild with a 7 deg C average in January, summers are cool (around 16 deg C average) and rainfall is likely in 180 days of the year; -in the interior of France a 'mid-latitude continental climate' gives different weather from the coasts, giving hotter summers (18 deg C in Paris) and more unpleasant winters (2 deg C average in January Paris) but less rain; -in the mountains (obviously called a 'mountain climate') both the weather and climate depend often upon elevation and altitude, and whilst winters can be very long and bitterly cold, both in the Alps and the Pyrenees, the snow brings winter sports and people with it, with many villages in the higher valleys receiving 50 days of snow or more every year; -in the south of France there is a famous 'strip' of land along the Mediterranean where a climate of that name is found. This area tends to have hot, dry summers, humid and mild winters as well as only a few rainy days. 7 deg C in January is made up for by 23 in July and often much hotter. So when you sit down and work out where you want to buy your holiday cottage in France, your chateau, villa, new home or investment property, do ensure that the weather and climate are going to be suitable for your needs. It only takes a minute.