With seasonal markets, foraging, Halloween fun, and La Toussaint traditions, autumn is a wonderful season to visit France…

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Autumn in France is a season filled with rich traditions and cozy celebrations that bring communities together to enjoy the cooling weather and the abundance of seasonal delights. As the landscape shifts to warm hues, French towns and villages embrace customs that highlight both the harvest and the lead-up to winter. Forest walks, or balades en forêt, are a favorite autumn activity, as families and friends head to the woods for mushroom foraging, or la cueillette des champignons. It’s a cherished pastime to search for local varieties like cèpes and girolles, and it often ends with a visit to the pharmacist to confirm the mushrooms are safe to eat—a uniquely French ritual for culinary adventurers. 

Halloween, though a relatively new arrival, has grown in popularity over recent years. French families now enjoy pumpkin carving, decorating their homes, and sometimes dressing up for trick-or-treating. October festivities lead into November, which brings All Saints’ Day, or La Toussaint, on November 1st. This public holiday is a reflective tradition when many families visit cemeteries to honor loved ones by placing flowers, especially chrysanthemums, on graves. The season is also one for gathering around warming dishes and enjoying seasonal foods like roasted chestnuts, fresh apples, and hearty stews. With a mix of old customs and new influences, fall in France offers visitors an intimate view into French culture, family life, and the beautiful traditions that bring warmth and color to this crisp season.

Autumn food delicacies in France 

Autumn is champignons (mushroom) season in France, with varieties like cèpes (porcini), girolles (chanterelles), and trompettes de la mort (black trumpet mushrooms) foraged and used in stews, sauces, and omelets.

Varieties of courges (squash), such as potimarron (onion/red kuri squash) and butternut, are popular in velvety soups, gratins, and purees. They’re often seasoned with herbs like thyme and nutmeg for a comforting flavor. Autumn is hunting season, so gibier (game meats) like wild boar, venison, and pheasant are common. These meats are often slow-cooked in stews or paired with mushrooms and red wine sauces. 

Seasonal fruits include pommes (apples) and poires (pears) which are harvested then. They are used in classic desserts like tarte Tatin, apple compote, or poached pears. Often turned into jams, jellies, or poached in syrup, coings (quince) is a beloved autumn fruit in France. Noix (walnuts) and noisettes (hazelnuts) are also freshly harvested and enjoyed on their own, in salads, or as part of richer dishes, like walnut tarts, sauces, or alongside cheese. Châtaignes (chestnuts) are often roasted, pureed, or turned into chestnut cream. They are a fall staple, especially in regions like Ardèche. 

The all-important vendanges (grape harvest) takes place in early autumn, so fresh grapes are in abundance, along with grape-based dishes. The season also marks the arrival of young wines, like Beaujolais Nouveau in November. 

Useful French vocabulary for autumn 

• “Les feuilles mortes”
  Literally “the dead leaves,” this refers to the falling leaves in autumn. It’s also the title of a famous song by Yves Montand.
• “Un été indien”
  “Indian summer” refers to the period of warm weather that sometimes occurs in early autumn.
• “la saison des récoltes”
  “the season of harvests,” highlighting the time of year when crops and fruit are gathered.
• “Sentir l’air frais de l’automne”
  “To feel the crisp autumn air,” describing the coolness that comes with the season.
• “Un vent d’automne”
  “An autumn wind,” referring to the characteristic chilly, blustery winds that start in autumn.
• “Les couleurs d’automne”
  “The colors of autumn,” used to describe the changing colors of leaves—orange, rouge (red), and jaune (yellow).
• “Les journées raccourcissent”
  “The days are shortening,” referring to the days getting darker earlier and, of course, le changement d’heure (daylight saving).
• “il fait froid”, “ça caille”
  “it’s cold”, “it’s chilly” (familiar).

French proverbs for autumn 

• “À la Sainte-Catherine, tout bois prend racine.” 

“On St. Catherine’s day, all wood takes root.” This proverb, linked to November 25, signifies that autumn is the ideal time to plant trees, as they begin to take root before winter. 

• “Automne en fleurs, hiver plein de rigueurs.” 

“Autumn in bloom, winter full of rigor.” This means that if autumn is unusually mild or warm, it’s a sign that a harsh winter is coming. 

• “En octobre, qui n’a pas de manteau doit en trouver un bientôt.” 

“In October, whoever doesn’t have a coat must find one soon.” A reminder that the weather is about to turn cold, and it’s time to prepare for winter. 

• “En automne, ne cueille pas plus de fruits que de raison.” 

“In autumn, don’t pick more fruit than you need.” A metaphor for not being greedy or overindulging when times are abundant. 

• “Octobre en bruine, hiver en ruine.” 

“October drizzle, a ruined winter.” Suggesting that a rainy October may bring a troublesome winter, often used by farmers as a weather prediction. 

• “Le temps de l’automne, saison de raison.” 

“Autumn’s time, season of reason.” Reflecting how autumn is often seen as a more reflective, thoughtful season. 

• “À la Toussaint, commence l’hiver et finit le raisin.” 

“At All Saints’ Day, winter begins and the grapes end.” Referring to November 1st, this highlights the end of grape harvest season and the arrival of colder weather. 

• “Quand l’automne est bien en fleurs, le froid n’est plus à l’extérieur.” 

“When autumn blooms beautifully, the cold is no longer outside.” A poetic way of saying that as autumn fully settles, the chill becomes a more constant presence.

Comment below any phrases or proverbs you like! Have you used any of the ones we mentioned?