Best season to travel in Provence, Languedoc and The French Riviera

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/best-time-to-go-to-provence-french-riviera

Festivals can be great for the experience, but will draw some crowds. For best balance of warm (not HOT) weather and not as many fellow visitors. Enjoy!

Just spent a month in Provence. Weather in March was great. Cool, sweater weather. One afternoon of rain with blustry, horizontal wind, the rest was sunny. I like it in the high 50s, 60-65. Don't do hot, summer or crowds.

A Nice local told me the weather tends to be more settled (not the same as "warmer") in April than in May. Indeed I had a good bit of rain along the Riviera and in Provence in May 2017. I don't remember specifically about Languedoc and didn't go to Carcassonne. Temperatures in May were generally pleasant (I just seemed to be carrying around a rain jacket and umbrella a lot), but by the end of the month and in early June it was getting pretty hot.

More possibility of fog on the Riviera in June. More possibility of rain in all three places in May June. It’s the same for coastal Languedoc. I can’t speak for inland Carcassonne, but we’ve encountered strong winds there in June. The trade off is that daylight is much longer in May June than September October, but you’re from Montreal, so you know how to deal with daylight, fog, and rain.

September to mid-October without doubt.

Spring is the time in Provence with the massive seasonal winds (Mistral). The winds can last for days at a time. I felt late September was still a little too warm in Provence, October would be ideal. A friend visited Provence in the Spring and only remembers the wind. I'd make Provence the tail end of your trip.

I visited Carcassonne, Languedoc, Lot Valley, Dordogne and Bordeaux on a separate trip in June. It was unseasonably rainy that year (2018), otherwise it was fine. The Pyrenees don't get the Mistral winds like Provence.

Brad

FYI: Carcassonne gets the Tramontane winds that are just as strong as the Mistral. Chances of a Mistral in late May to June are low. But, I’d choose fall, also.

I was in Carcassone, Avignon and Nice in November 2018, and the weather was generally great. Light jacket temps, some rain, one crazy thunderstorm. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to all for your comments and advice.

Question to Brat, the Travel Boss!!
If I go late September through October, why are you recommending to visit Provence at the end of my trip, after the French Riviera and Languedoc ( Nimes, Montpellier, Carcassonne ) ?
Have I misunderstood your suggestion?
Thanks,
Dagna

Sorry Brad for misspelling your name!!

I’m envious of your long trip! I personally would hate to go to Provence and miss the lavender fields which bloom mid-June to mid July. We were in the Luberon Valley area the end of June this year. The lavender was in full bloom and the temperatures were upper 70’s. It was perfect. Is there anyway you could shift your dates and put Provence at the end for a few days? Of course, you would need a car or a driver. So that might not be feasible.

Did Provence and the lavender fields many years ago so you're right--would have hated to miss them.