If you’re living in France this spring, here is what you’ll be enjoying

Spring in France doesn’t arrive with a bang. It slips in quietly. One morning, the light looks different. The air feels softer. You hear birdsong where there was silence only weeks before. After the cold, darker months of winter, spring brings a genuine sense of lightness — not just to the landscape, but to everyday life.

There’s a subtle but unmistakable lift in mood across the country. Flowers begin to bloom, village calendars slowly refill with fêtes and celebrations, and life starts to move outdoors again. Spring in France feels less like a season and more like a gentle reawakening.

Why springtime in France is special

Although spring may not begin officially until next month, it often announces itself much earlier. By February, you’ll already notice a growing sense of brightness and colour.

This year in particular, daffodils, crocuses and mimosa have appeared early, bringing splashes of yellow to gardens, roadsides and hills.

In smaller villages — especially in the south of France — yellow becomes the colour of the season. Wild spring flowers flourish in abundance, and locals quietly celebrate their return. It’s a reminder of how closely daily life here remains tied to nature and the changing seasons.

The small signs that life is moving

As winter falls away, the changes aren’t dramatic — but they are deeply felt. You’ll notice shutters opening on village houses that have been closed for months. Games of pétanque reappear in the square. The local bar opens a little earlier and stays open a little later, as conversations drift into the evening and the days stretch out.

These are the moments that mark spring in France. Life becomes less hurried. People linger. Everyday routines soften.

Fêtes, flowers, local traditions

If there is one thing the French excel at, it’s celebrating the everyday and spring provides endless reasons to do so. Fêtes feel almost woven into French life – well, it is a French word – with villages marking everything from flowers to food. In the south of France, it’s not unusual to find a whole community gathering to celebrate something as humble as the onion. One famous event is the Lemon Festival in Menton, from 14 February to 1 March, near Nice.

In the Côte d’Azur town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, mimosa takes centre stage. Indeed the mimosa is celebrated throughout February with parades and flower displays. Hillsides glow gold as swathes of mimosa bloom, and villages along the route to Grasse — the perfume capital of France — hold their own festivals in its honour. It’s hard not to feel uplifted by it.

Later, at the start of May, the lily of the valley — le muguet — is celebrated in much the same way. Symbolising happiness and good luck, it is traditionally exchanged on 1 May, which also happens to be Labour Day. For a few days, flower stalls appear on street corners and outside shops, and the scent of muguet becomes part of the season itself.

For many French people, the arrival of mimosa, muguet and the first wild spring flowers signals more than a change in weather. It brings a lighter mood, a renewed sense of wellbeing — and, for some, the belief that nature itself brings luck.

Public holidays – the joy of slowing down

France is fortunate to have 11 public holidays each year, and spring is particularly generous. Five fall during the season, with May alone boasting three. After Easter comes Labour Day on 1 May, followed by Victory in Europe Day on 8 May, then Ascension Day and Whit Monday (lundi de Pentecôte), whose dates vary from year to year.

The French make full use of this abundance of days off, especially when they can create le pont — the bridge. If a holiday falls on a Thursday, many people take the Friday too, turning it into a four-day weekend. Villages fill with walkers, cyclists and families heading into the countryside. It can feel as though the country has collectively woken from hibernation.

Everyday spring pleasures

Spring is an invitation to step outside and re-engage. Markets become lingering affairs rather than quick errands. Coffee is sipped on sunny terraces in village squares. There’s a sense that time has expanded.

It’s also a season of connection. Striking up a conversation — even in hesitant French — is often met with warmth, particularly in rural areas. Simply having a home, whether permanent or part-time, gives you a natural starting point. Asking advice, commenting on the weather, or admiring a garden can open the door to neighbourly exchange. Spring is the perfect moment to do it.

What’s in season at the market?

For a full sensory experience of spring in France, a visit to the local market is essential. This is the season of white and green asparagus, piled high on every stall. Early runner beans appear, alongside fresh herbs and soft goat’s cheeses.

Even mimosa makes its way onto the plate. Œufs mimosa, inspired by the flower’s colour, feature on many village menus — hard-boiled eggs filled with mayonnaise, paprika and their own yolks. Simple, familiar and quietly celebratory. Rosé season, too, begins to make a discreet return.

Exploring France while it’s uncrowded

Spring is also one of the easiest times to travel around France. Roads in popular regions are still relatively quiet, making it ideal for exploring by car. Taking the smaller B roads, stopping in an unexpected hamlet, or following a scenic route through the countryside becomes part of the pleasure.

There are countless regions that truly come into their own at this time of year. A journey along the west coast towards the Dordogne is a delight, with the river winding calmly through fresh green landscapes. The Loire Valley, with its châteaux and medieval towns, seems to emerge gently from winter, framed by blossom and new growth.

The South of France isn’t too hot yet. It’s a chance to explore regions like the Camargue before the mosquitoes arrive. While in Arles, the swifts will have arrived by mid-April and be screaming through the air above. Astonishingly, they won’t land for two to three years – eating, mating and even sleeping on the wing.

The mountains are still snow-capped, but in cities like Annecy the snowmelt will be rushing through the town.

Gardening, allotments and a sense of renewal

Spring also marks the return to gardens and allotments. People begin inspecting new shoots, tidying winter’s edges and planning the months ahead. Whether gardening is your passion or not, this is a season that gently pulls everyone outdoors — into their own patch of land or simply into the wider rhythm of village life.

You’ll find many French people doing exactly the same. And for expats, this shared rhythm can be quietly reassuring.

Spring in France isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about participation. Being there when shutters open, markets return and conversations begin again. And that, perhaps, is where its real joy lies.

A time to view property

Springtime in France is also the start of the unofficial property viewing trip season. Of course, there is no reason not to go beforehand – there are good reasons to view property in winter – but spring tends to be the time for new beginnings.

If you are viewing property, things are about to start feeing very real on your journey to owing in France. It’s important to feel confident and in control, so download our newly updated France Viewing Trip Guide.