France's outdoor life resumes in spring, terrace-cafés filling up in the sunshine. Easter is a time of Catholic processions and concerts of sacred music. The Cannes Film Festival in May is the best known of the season's many conventions and trade fairs.
- Five Nations' Rugby Tournament, Parc des Princes, Paris.
- Tinta'Mars (all month), Langres.
- Cabaret and musical evenings at various venues.
- Montbéliard Chocolate Carnival (usually second week).
- International Dog-sled Championships (second week), Chamrousse.
- Grenoble Jazz Festival (18-27 Mar). Jazz concerts.
- Salon de Mars (last week), Champ de Mars.
- Paris's most important flower show.
- Wine Sales of the Hospices (last weekend), Nuits-St-Georges.
- Musical Flower Show (end Mar-May), Epinal.
- Good Friday penitential processions, Sartène, Perpignan and Holy Week processions all over France.
- Passion Plays (Easter), re-enactments of the Crucifixion throughout France.
- Bourges Spring Festival (third week).
- Europa Jazz Festival (last two weeks), Le Mans.
- Young jazz musicians from all over the world come to play.
- Horse-riding : International Paris Fair (end Apr-first week May), Parc des Expositions, Paris.
- Leisure and art exhibits.
- Joan of Arc Festival (end Apr-early May), Orléans
- Asparagus harvest, notably in the Loire Valley.
- International Grand Prix de Monaco (Ascension weekend).
- Oloron-Ste-Marie Agricultural Fair (1st May).
- Paris International Marathon (mid-May),from place du concorde to Château de Vincennes.
- La Bravade (16-18 May), St-Tropez Cannes Film Festival (second and third week).
- International Sailing Week (third week), La Rochelle.
- Gypsy Pilgrimage (24-26 May), Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
- Festival d'Amiens (last week). Jazz and world music at various Venues.
- Fête de Transhumance (end of May). Herds are taken up to summer pastures.
- Nîmes Feria (end of May), bullfights and street music festival.
- Grandes Eaux Musicales (May-Oct, Sundays), Versailles. Classical music in the grounds of the château.
 France through the year |
Autumn |
Summer |
Winter |
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Culture and heritage | 
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