{"id":19355,"date":"2018-12-17T12:21:45","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T16:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=19355"},"modified":"2025-07-21T10:06:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:06:05","slug":"christmas-south-france-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/17\/christmas-south-france-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Christmas in the South of France a New Tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 08th,2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Christmas\n\t
Christmas decorations are a sight to see in the French Riviera! (Photo credit: A.Issock\/OTMNCA)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The South of France<\/strong> is adored around the world as a destination for summer vacations due to its wealth of outdoor activities, beautiful sandy beaches<\/a> and refreshing cuisine, but visiting the region during the holiday<\/strong> season might make it your new favorite Christmas<\/strong> tradition! During the winter<\/strong>, you can enjoy reduced crowds, cheaper flights and greater availability on South of France furnished villas and apartments<\/a>. In addition, the South of France has numerous unique traditions and events to help you fall even more in love with the quaint and relaxing way of life in this breathtakingly beautiful area. Whether you\u2019re looking to experience the holidays like a local or just try something new this holiday season, the South of France is sure to satisfy!<\/p>\n

The slopes or the sea: the choice is yours!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"A\n\t
A Christmas Day brunch will be extra special with waterfront views of the French Riviera (PR-1248)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The South of France\u2019s unique geography gives vacationers plenty of options, especially in the winter! If cold weather makes you cringe, you\u2019ll love a getaway to the French Riviera<\/strong>. Cities like Nice<\/strong>, Cannes and Saint Tropez<\/a> make popular resort destinations year-round because of their mild climates and proximity to the crystal-clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea<\/strong>. It\u2019s pretty easy to chase away winter blues when you spend Christmas under a palm tree with your toes buried in the white sand! If that\u2019s the holiday you dream of, you\u2019re in luck.<\/p>\n

This 4-bedroom vacation rental in Th\u00e9oule-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera<\/a>, is just 15 km from Cannes and offers breathtaking sea views. Soak up the winter sun on the panoramic terrace, explore the charming nearby villages, and enjoy a Christmas like no other on the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Image\n\t
The picturesque villages of the French Alps make a perfect backdrop for your holiday postcards when they\u2019re covered in snow. (Photo credit: Mark Fischer)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

However, if you\u2019re dreaming of a \u201cwhite Christmas,\u201d you\u2019re also in luck in the South of France! The French Alps start on the French Riviera, and the first ski resorts are just about 1.30-hour drive from Nice. The French Alps<\/strong> are known for breathtaking views of mountain<\/strong> peaks and picturesque valleys<\/strong>, and at this time of year, they\u2019re often dusted or covered with snow! This makes the Alps a great destination for skiing<\/strong>, snowboarding or other winter sports. Additionally, to get in the Christmas spirit, you can visit the Christmas market<\/strong> in Grenoble<\/strong> for artisan gifts, foods, crafts and more (as well as super scenic shopping).<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Image\n\t
Enjoy \u201csilent nights\u201d when you rent a chalet for Christmas in the French Alps. (Apartment ID: PR-954)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The southern French Alps also offer the unique chance to stay in a beautiful furnished chalet<\/strong> or cabin<\/strong> like something out of a storybook. Avoid the gouging prices of a traditional resort and rent one like this 2-bedroom chalet in La Batie Neuve<\/a>! The all-wood interior has a flair for the rustic and traditional, and makes it a super cozy place to sleep in any of the twin beds<\/strong> that can be pushed together to form an extra-spacious queen. Besides the possibility for a long winter\u2019s nap, there\u2019s also a full kitchen<\/strong> in this chalet, perfect for preparing filling and tasty casseroles and soups. The interior of the cabin is decorated with twinkle lights to make it extra magical for the holidays, and if you need to warm up after skiing, there’s even a sauna at the end of the cozy entrance room. Enjoy all the amenities and snow-covered mountain views<\/strong>, but with the added privacy and exclusivity of your own personal chalet. Imagine waking up here on Christmas morning!<\/p>\n

Local shopping and one-of-a-kind gifts: a Provencal holiday treat<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"Image\n\t
Christmas markets in the South of France are scenic and stocked with goodies that will make unique Christmas gifts! (Photo credit: Francois Schnell)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Every year when the holiday season rolls around, Provence<\/strong> celebrates with the opening of several fabulous holiday markets<\/strong> throughout the region! The holiday markets are a wonderful chance to mingle with locals as you shop in the open air, and often the markets are decorated with holiday lights<\/strong> and garlands and have amusement rides<\/strong> for families. The markets are filled with local artisans selling everything from decorations and holiday treats, to artwork, to clothing, making the markets an ideal place to hunt for your perfect souvenir from Provence<\/a>! Markets can be found all over the Provence region, but some of the best are in Avignon<\/strong>, Marseille<\/a> and Aix-en-Provence<\/a>. For more ideas of where to shop, browse our guide to the best markets in Provence<\/a>\u2014they\u2019re all sure to receive a facelift for the holiday season.<\/p>\n

Give your traditional holiday feast a French twist<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\"A\n\t
A yummy b\u00fbche de No\u00ebl cake is the pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance of a French Reveillon celebration! (Photo credit: Kisoulou via Unsplash)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Another reason to visit the South of France during the winter and holiday season is the food<\/strong>! The cuisine from the South of France<\/a> is venerated for its delicious mix of lighter Mediterranean cuisine and the richer food from the French Alps. And of course, there are a multitude of vineyards<\/strong> in the area producing world-famous French wine<\/strong>. During the holidays, you can count on the availability of sweet wines and of course, the namesake bubbly celebration drink from the Champagne<\/strong> region of northeast France!<\/p>\n

A spread of tapenade<\/strong>, savory soups and ragout is sure to be found on a Provencal holiday table, especially for the feast of Reveillon<\/strong>\u2014the Christmas Eve<\/strong> feast that lasts past midnight. Participate in Reveillon and you can expect to be served some of France\u2019s finest, ranging from lobster, escargots<\/em>, turkey and more. Plus, Provence has a special twist to the Reveillon feast: a spread of 13 desserts<\/strong> that everyone is expected to try! One traditional dessert is the delicious b\u00fbche de No\u00ebl<\/em>, the French Yule log. We don\u2019t blame you if you go back for second helpings!<\/p>\n

\n\t\"The\n\t
The breezy, open dining room of this vacation rental will let you enjoy the simple pleasures over Christmas dinner (PR-1272)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If you crave the more traditional country look for your holiday, try this 5-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Saint-R\u00e9my-de-Provence<\/a>. This rental has it all for a quaint, classic Christmas: classic furnishings, a decorative fireplace, and wide, sunny windows! The first kitchen has a rustic look thanks to wooden cabinets and comes outfitted with all the tools you\u2019ll need to prepare a holiday feast. You\u2019ll also find sleeping space for twelve in this vacation rental and two living rooms will accommodate everyone during family time. If you happen on warm weather this Christmas during your vacation<\/strong> in the Provence<\/strong>, you can even enjoy the unique chance to dine al fresco at the dining table on the terrace<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Last but not least on our list is perhaps one of the most universally-appreciated things about Christmas in the South of France: the holiday lights<\/strong> and decorations<\/strong>! Villages across Provence traditionally decorate with a cr\u00e8che<\/em> scene of the nativity at their town halls, but you can also find more modern lights decorating destination towns all across the South of France, from Nice to Aix-en-Provence.<\/p>\n

The unique climate, breathtaking beauty and charming traditions of the South of France will make it a sure contender for the holiday getaway of a lifetime! If you\u2019re interested in putting a Provencal spin on your holiday season, be sure to check out our full inventory of vacation rentals, villas and furnished apartments<\/a> to find a place to stay that will give you a truly local experience. Happy holidays!<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated July 08th,2025 The South of France is adored around the world as a destination for summer vacations due to its wealth of outdoor activities,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[43],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19355"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19355"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22008,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19355\/revisions\/22008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}