picnicking & weather in Normandy in November

Hello Henry/Trey,

Autumn weather in Normandie is variable. It could easily be colder than the figures you've cited, or it may be as warm as you've noted. It could rain the whole time, or you could have rain intermixed with sun, or there could be an unusual dry spell. It will be more likely wet than dry, but no one can predict. Sorry to not be more specific, but it's largely a changeable, northern ocean-dominated climate. As planning advice, I would assume temperatures will be colder than you've mentioned, and that rain will happen on more days than it doesn't.

In other words, I think you've overestimated temperatures and underestimated rain, especially for western Normandie toward Mont-Saint-Michel. .

Picnicking could be dicey, unless you don't mind scarfing down a baguette sandwich from a boulangerie in your car, sheltering from the rain. Even if you get dry weather, chances are it will be too wet to sit down anywhere unless you bring your own chair, which seems like a lot to buy for a brief visit.

Most larger grocery stores will have wood or bamboo utensils (couverts) packaged in a little paper pouch and you can find paper plates pretty easily at a supermarket. Same goes for a bottle opener. If you want a folding chair, I would head to an hypermarché such as Auchan or E. Leclerc. A sporting goods store like Decathlon would be another place for picnic gear and chairs -- in either their hiking or hunting departments.

As to where to have a picnic, any rest stop along a highway would be suitable. Most towns have parks with areas one can have a picnic (pique-nique) meal. The good news is that hardly anyone will be using them, because they'll be wet and in the rain. So -- chances are you'll have to them to yourself.

For picknicking in Normandy in mid-Novembet, I recommend car pickniking, and being pleasantly surprised if you are able to do anything else !

I always take a waterproof jacket with hood to France...any month of the year. Water resistant is not enough.

I'd also take some plastic bags for sitting on in case it is nice enough to eat outside your car but the seating is wet. I started taking bags from either Trader Joes or TJ Maxx a couple of years ago on my visits to Paris because even when the weather is lovely many of the park benches are covered with bird poo, lol. I just fold the bags up into a ziplock bag along with a spork from my local food coop.

I'm pretty hardy from living in North Idaho but even for me picnicking in wind (yes there will be wind in Normandie) and rain and possible 40 degree temps would probably be too much! Sunny, calm, in the 50's and no wind I could do, lol. I like Kim's suggestion of car picnicking....

We'll want a report on your experience when you get back home!

We spent 3 nights in Bayeux in late November in 2019. It was cold, windy & rainy. Bring waterproof shoes and expect them to get muddy.

We found many, many shops and restaurants closed for the off season. About half were closed in Bayeux. In some of the smaller towns, everything was closed. The entire beach front at Omaha Beach was like they rolled up the sidewalks. We were told that things would re-open mid-December.

In one village on the way home from Utah Beach, we were lucky to find a little shop selling baguettes, ham & cheese croissants, quiche, etc. They heated some things up and we ate in the car.

Definitely be prepared to eat in the car. When heading out for the day, don’t assume that any food options will be open in the small towns. Bring food & drinks with you, or be prepared for a long drive home to eat.

You can probably find most picnic supplies (except the chair) at a place called “C’est deux Euros”. It’s their equivalent of a Dollar General.

I’ll never forget the time our Bayeux hotel packed our group of 45 college students and us a simple picnic lunch for our Normandy battlefields day. The coach driver parked in an empty parking lot and got our lunches out from under the coach but of course wouldn’t let us eat on the coach. We all huddled on the wind protected side of the coach eating our baguettes as quickly as we could in the sleet. At least you will be able to have some warm, car picnics if the weather isn’t accommodating. Thankfully the sun popped out for awhile that afternoon as we explored more.

You’ll have a much better idea 10 days before you travel by checking the weather forecast for one of your coastal cities. But if it says 40% chance of showers put your raincoats, hats and gloves in the car. It’s very changeable.

Wikipedia gives Rouen's average high temperature for November as 50.7 F and the average low as 40.3 F, with a total of 58 hours of sunshine for the entire month. While I think you're being quite optimistic in your temperature expectations, Wikipedia's averages are based on a time perriod ending in the year 2000, so they are not necessarily very predictive of current weather trends.

Temperature averages have rather limited utility, I find, because averages hide extremes, and it's the extremes that can be unpleasant and may need to be considered when you create a packing list. I like to review the most recent five years' worth of actual, day-by-day, historical weather data on the website timeandate.com.

Rouen weather Nov 2022 (there's some missing data here)

Bayeux weather Nov 2022

Use the pull-down box at the right just above the graph to change the month and year displayed. Use the Search box at the upper right to see data for other destinations.

You all are terrific. Thank you so much for the quick replies and the sage advice. I hear you about the rain gear! I need to work on that.

This helps me immensely. We're going to have a great time, and I will think of you when we're "picnicking" from the front seat.

Trey

You might want to find one of those self-service car washes with a vacuum cleaner to get those car picnic crumbs sucked up. It's a tiny investment compared to the ridiculous charge the rental company will add on for baguette crumbs and sand.