June is one of the most beautiful months to visit France! Gardens around France are in full bloom at this time of year (it’s the best time of year to see the roses). What’s more, the weather is mild around the country, so it’s a great time to enjoy a driving tour of France!
There are so many cultural events and festivals in France in the month of June. These are a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture! We’ve listed many of these festivals below, and suggested some of our favorite things to do and places to visit in France at the beginning of summer.
We hope this inspires you to come and visit!
To find out more about the tours of France we offer, we warmly invite you to visit our Self Guided Driving Tours page.
France Weather in June
The warmest part of France in June is the south, with average daytime temperatures of 63-74°F (17-24°C). This is ideal if you prefer to avoid the hottest summer temperatures. The Mediterranean is also warm enough to swim in with an average temperature of 72°F (22°C). Be sure to bring a sweater for the evenings, which are cooler, even in the south.
On the Atlantic coast, temperatures are slightly lower 57-70°F (14-21°C), so probably not warm enough for a swim, but certainly warm enough to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
In the rest of France, you should enjoy mostly mild weather, but with some rainy days. The average low temperature will be in Northeastern France (54°F/12°C) but still with a high of 77°F/25°C in this region.We recommend packing your summer wardrobe with a selection of light sweaters and a jacket for the evenings or cooler days, and an umbrella in case it rains.
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Festivals and Events in France in June
As we mentioned in the intro, there are so many festivals all over France in June. If you book a tour with us, we will recommend some nice festivals to you based on your itinerary and your interests.
These are some of our favorites:
D-Day celebrations in Normandy
The annual D-Day remembrance events take place around the anniversary on June 6th at the Normandy landing beaches and in local towns. These include parades, musical events and a military reenactment parade in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first French village to be liberated from Nazi occupation.
On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and by the end of June, one million soldiers had crossed the English Channel. This marked the beginning of the end of World World II.
There are some quite moving accounts from British and American war veterans and a short video in this article by France 24.
We very much like this photo of our travelers Chee Keong and Zack from Malaysia, who were in Normandy during the D-Day celebration a few years ago. We arranged for them to attend some of the D-Day events as part of their tour of France with us. Here they are pictured with soldiers on Pegasus Bridge. We send our very special thanks to the Loo-Khaw family for sharing this fantastic photo with us!
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The Loo-Khaw Family
Hellfest - Hard Rock Festival near Nantes
Hellfest, one of the biggest hard rock festivals in the world, takes place in Clisson over 3-4 days in mid-June. Around 200,000 people attend, and in 2023, for its 16th anniversary, more than 200 bands and artists will perform. These include Kiss, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Sum 41, Slipknot, Def Leppard, Papa Roach and Incubus.
See the line-up on the Hellfest website.
Django Reinhardt Jazz Festival, Samois-sur-Seine
Named after Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer Jean “Django” Reinhardt, this Gypsy jazz music festival takes place annually in Fontainebleau in Samois-sur-Seine at the end of June or early July. When it began in 1968, it was a single evening festival. In 1983, it became a multiple-day event commemorating Django Reinhardt and his music. The festival includes musical performers and other artistic and leisure activities relating to guitar and jazz music and Gypsy culture.
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Le Mans 24-hour Race - Sports Car Racing in Northwestern France
Known in France as the 24 heures du Mans, this is a race where competitors race fast cars for 24 hours non-stop. During this tough endurance race, speeds can exceed 200 mph on the fastest stretch of the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe course.
In 2023, the race will take place from 10-11 June. You can find out up-to-date information on the official Le Mans race website
Solidays Pop Music Festival in Paris
Solidays is an annual music festival held at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris at the end of June. Organized by Solidarité SIDA (an HIV/AIDS youth awareness charity), the event brings together dozens of rock, pop, and hip-hop artists and up to 20,000 festival-goers for three days every year. The festival raises money for organizations fighting against HIV/AIDS, with a focus on Africa. Tickets normally go on sale at the beginning of February.
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Bordeaux Wine & River Festival
The Bordeaux Wine & River festival takes place along the quayside of the Garonne river, winding its way through villages of the various wine appellations. During this 4-day festival, you can sample a wide variety of wines from Bordeaux and New Aquitaine, tour vineyards and enjoy tastings with winegrowers and merchants, attend wine workshops, and enjoy spectacular firework displays.
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Pixabay - CC0
Feux de Saint Jean
During the Festival of Saint Jean on the last Saturday of June, small towns across France light bonfires and dance around them to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Fête de la Musique, World Music Festival
The World Music Festival takes place across France in June every year and is very popular.
Music-lovers of all tastes can enjoy classical, reggae, jazz, pop and many more genres of their favorite music.
There are shows in bars, gardens, concert halls and even in Metro stations. In Paris the biggest open-air shows take place at Place de la Bastille, Hotel des Invalides, Parc de la Villette and Place de la Republic.
For more information about the program this year, venues and line-ups, visit the festival’s website.
Antibes Sailing Festival, French Riviera
Les Voiles d’Antibes normally takes place in the first week of June, and has been running since 1996. It’s a friendly sporting tradition that marks the opening of the Mediterranean circuit for Classic Yachts. If you go, you’ll get to see some of the most gorgeous, most luxurious sailing boats in the world.
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Rawpixel - CC0
Medieval Festival in Provins, Northern France
The annual two-day Medieval Festival has been held in Provins, a former medieval trade hub in northern France, since 1984. Provins is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about an hour and a half by train from Paris. This interesting festival is a celebration of the town’s medieval past, and takes place during the last weekend of June. Everyone is encouraged to get dressed up in medieval costumes and join in, though this isn’t obligatory - you can just watch if you want!
The festival includes entertainers, acrobatic shows, musical performances, and there are many medieval games you can try! You’ll see displays of typical medieval jewelry made by local craftspeople and there’s even a full-scale re-enactment of the Champagne trade fairs that took place every year in this region starting in the 1100s.
Let us know if you’re interested in experiencing this special historical and cultural event if you’ll be traveling in France toward the end of June! This can be incorporated into many of our tours of Paris and our driving tours of northern France.
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Lyon Street Food Festival
On the third weekend of June, the Lyon Street Food Festival takes place in Lyons, the third largest city in France. This annual 4-day festival attracts people from all over the country for its food (including 120 Michelin-starred chefs, street-food chefs, gourmet bistro chefs and more), music and partying (with dozens of performances scheduled - ideal for festival-lovers) and culture (there will be around 250 workshops you can take part in).
This is a great festival to experience if you’ll be visiting France in June on one of our tours of Lyon and eastern France.
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MaxPixel - CC0
Best Places to visit in France in June
France’s beautiful gardens
June is THE month for visiting gardens, which will be in full bloom (especially those with roses). Some of our favorite gardens include:
- Villandry gardens at the Chateau de Villandry in the Loire Valley
- Monet’s Garden in Giverny, Normandy
- The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac in Dordogne
We have created a blog post about the best gardens in France - we include more of our top recommendations there.
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The beaches and hidden gems of the French Riviera
As the weather warms up, you may want to take the opportunity to soak up the sun on one of the beaches of the French Riviera. One of our favorites is La Garoupe, which is located between Cannes and Nice. It’s a small, beautiful beach in Antibes with stunning views across the Mediterranean, with the Alps in the distance. Some of the beaches in this area are private, belonging to local restaurants. There’s a public sandy beach with loungers and parasols available to rent from mid-June to September, between La Joliette and Le Rocher restaurants.
After a day at the beach, we recommend exploring some of the French Riviera’s hidden gems along the coast and up into the hinterlands.
We love the town of Menton, close to the Italian border, with its bright pastel colored houses on the seafront and beautiful beach.
The pink Villa Ephrussi and its nine themed gardens are also stunning, with lovely sea views.
For dinner, head to the quiet village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a colorful Mediterranean port away from the hustle and bustle of Nice. Have a drink at one of the places on the port, and head into the town for a great meal and a better price.
Here we share more of our favorite places in the French Riviera.
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The Roman Ruins of Provence
Although we love the beaches of Provence (especially the calanques around Cassis), there is so much history to discover inland.
Provence has many Roman sites, three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Roman theater in Orange is one of the best preserved Roman sites in the world, dating back to 25 A.D.
In the lovely town of Arles, you can marvel at the Roman arena, the amphitheater and underground galleries that date back to the first century B.C.
Last but not least, the breath-taking view of the Port du Gard Roman aqueduct is a sight not to be missed! This astonishing three-story structure was built without mortar in the first century A.D, and was used for transporting water from local springs. If you enjoy kayaking, a great option is to hire a kayak on the Gardon river and paddle right next to it! You can also swim in the river if the water’s warm enough.
If you love the idea of exploring beautiful Provence and learning more about its ancient history, we recommend our tour of southern France from west to east. This includes the Basque Country, the medieval walled city of Carcassonne and Provence.
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France Just For You
Provence’s Lavender Fields
If you enjoy scenic drives, June is the ideal time to visit Provence’s lavender fields, just before the lavender harvest in mid-July. We love the Valensole Plateau region of southern Provence. Its rolling lavender fields and stunning rural, mountainous landscapes will be an unforgettable memory.
There are some gorgeous fields near Lavandes Angelvin, a lavender distillery, and between Valensole and Puimoisson along the D8 road.
Valensole is within easy driving distance of Aix-en-Provence or Avignon.
For more lavender field recommendations, as well as our favorite driving routes, check out our post Provence by Car.
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Pixabay - CC0
The Castles of the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is known for its more than 300 castles, many of which are hundreds of years old and have beautiful formal gardens. These are normally in full bloom in June and are places of beauty, peace and quiet, and the ideal place to stop for a picnic!
Our favorite castles include the Chateau de Chenonceau, Chambord, Azay le Rideaux and a few lesser-known hidden gems, like the Chateau de l'Islette, that most tourists haven’t discovered!
If you’re especially interested in discovering the Loire Valley, its castles, gardens and unique gastronomy, we think you’ll love our Loire Valley Heritage and Gastronomy self-drive tour!
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Ann & Jim Hichak
The Pink Granite Coast in Brittany
In western France the beaches of Brittany are often compared to the Caribbean, with their white sand, crystalline turquoise waters and idyllic settings.
The giant boulders and rock formations along the Pink Granite Coast make for some stunning scenery and beautiful coastal hikes, or cycling if you prefer.
We share some of the best beaches in Brittany on our blog. If you book with us, we’ll tell you the nicest beaches for you to visit on your trip based on your itinerary.
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The World War Battle Sites in Normandy, Somme & Verdun
Many of us have ancestors who fought in the terrible wars of the 20th century. We have planned tailored tours for travelers who are interested in the history of WWI and WWII in France. We can also help you visit places where your ancestors would have fought, and where they lay at rest if they were killed in action.
Our World War History Tour of France gives you a taste of the kind of itinerary we could plan for you. If you give us information about your ancestors, we will customize this tour so that you can visit the specific places they would have been in during their time fighting in France. This may include the Normandy landing beaches, or the WWI trenches in Verdun, or the former battlefields of the Somme.
During your trip, we’ll plan for tour guides who are experts in World War history to take you to all the most important places. If relevant, we’ll also pass on information about your ancestors to them, so that they can tell you specific stories relating to the battles they would have fought in, and take you to the battle sites.
June is an interesting time to do this tour, because at the beginning of June, towns across Normandy mark the D-Day anniversary. The weather in June is also nice for exploring the battle sites of northern France.
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France Just For You
Best Things to do in France in June
Bring your picnic to any independent winemaker in France
On the first weekend of June you can bring a picnic lunch to any independent winemaker and enjoy meeting with the winemakers and tasting their wines.
They will be able to recommend the ideal wine to complement your lunch, which you can then enjoy there!
We think wine-lovers will love our France for Wine-Lovers Tour - planned just for you!
Head to the Versailles Festival
If you’re visiting Paris in June and money is no object, pick up some tickets for the Grand Masked Ball at the Palace of Versailles! The VIP tickets include costume hire and fitting, hair and make-up, transport to and from your hotel, and expert guide who will accompany you and tell you stories of the masked balls during Marie-Antoinette’s time, and an unlimited Champagne buffet!
The masked ball is part of the Versailles Festival, which has classic music concerts, operas, dance shows and firework displays scheduled throughout the year. Check the Versailles website (here is the 2022-2023 calendar) and see if there are any events you’d like to attend. You can coordinate these with your visit to the Palace of Versailles!
Go surfing in the Basque Country or Brittany
Biarritz in the Basque Country has become a popular surfing destination due to its fantastic waves. This trend was started by American screenwriter Peter Viertel in the 1950s, when he was making the film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises. He was so impressed by the surf that he had his surfboard shipped over from California so he could surf on the Basque coast!
You can discover more about the best things to do in Biarritz (including some of our insider tips!) and if you like, browse our sample tours of the Basque Country!
There are also brilliant surfing opportunities along the coast of Brittany. If you’re a keen surfer or enjoy other watersports, let us know when you’re booking your tour, and we’ll include visits to the best surfing beaches in Brittany in your itinerary.
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Explore the Medieval Walled City of Carcassonne
Did you know that the enchanting medieval walled city of Carcassonne was almost destroyed in 1849? After being demilitarized under Napoleon Bonaparte and the Restoration, Carcassonne fell into such disrepair that the French government decreed that it should be demolished.
Local residents were outraged, and supported a campaign led by the mayor of Carcassonne to preserve the fortress as an historical monument. Architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc was commissioned to renovate the city, and thus a wonderful place of French heritage still exists for locals and travelers to enjoy today.
It is well worth doing a walking tour of the city with an expert tour guide that we work with, Carlos Lluch. He can tell you about the history and stories of the city, and take you to some wonderful places and viewpoints.
If you’re a wine and chocolate lover, we can’t think of a better experience than doing a wine and chocolate tour with an expert! We can organise this for you if you book one of our self guided tours of Carcassonne.
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Alain Bonnardeaux - CC0
Go hiking through Provence’s stunning mountainous landscapes
If you enjoy hiking, you’ll love the Vallée des Merveilles (Valley of Wonders) in Mercantour National Park. Along with stunning hiking routes, there are also more than 40,000 examples of rock art created by ancient humans in the Southern Alps.
Walkers will also love the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains (a region which also offers exceptional wines!). There are stunning panoramic views to enjoy across three parallel mountain chains. We’ll recommend our favorite walking routes if you book with France Just For You!
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The Kim Family
FAQ about traveling to France in June
How hot is France in June?
June is a beautiful time of year to enjoy a road trip through France.
The warmest part of France in June is the south, with average daytime temperatures of 63-74°F (17-24°C). Be sure to bring a sweater for the evenings, which are cooler, even in the south.
On the Atlantic coast, temperatures are around 57-70°F (14-21°C). In the rest of France, you should enjoy mild weather with some rainy days. The average low temperature will be in Northeastern France (54°F/12°C) but still with a high of 77°F/25°C in this region.
Get more details on the temperatures in each French region on our FAQ about the French weather.
Where is the hottest in France in June?
The hottest regions of France in June are Provence, Dordogne, Carcassonne and the French Riviera.
Is June a good month to visit France?
June, early summer in France, is a lovely time to travel through France, as you'll enjoy warm, sunny days, little rain and the gardens, fields and flowery villages in full bloom. This is the time to explore the great French outdoors, strolling through villages, hiking through the gorgeous countryside, cycling along rivers and by vineyards and walking through our beautiful towns cities.
We hope we have given you some ideas for your next trip to France, and inspired you to come on a custom self-drive tour of France with France Just For You! You may browse our sample tours of France or reach out to trip planners, Emilie and Laura, with any questions you may have.
Considering visiting France in a different month? Check out our other guides below:
