What to do in April in France?

Spring has arrived! The return of the fine weather makes you want to go out and discover new regions? Here is our tour d’horizon of the major events in April in France.

For the more sporty among you, on 14 April, the Paris Marathon takes place. This sporting event brings together 55,000 runners from around the world. The race offers a crossing of Paris, allowing you to discover the monuments and breathtaking settings. From the Champs-Élysées to avenue Foch, via the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, this is a way to visit Paris in an original manner.

For music lovers, the Spring Festival in Bourges will welcome you from 16 to 21 April 2019. For 5 days, you can listen to all sorts of music, from rock to electronic, via French chanson. Across 9 different stages, the event welcomes 70,000 festival-goers each year. Take advantage of these few days to discover the Cher department and let yourself be carried away by the music in the evenings.

Since 21 March and until 22 April, the city of Saint-Etienne is hosting the International Design Biennale. This event, organised by the regional School of Fine Arts in Saint-Etienne, promotes contemporary design. Each year, the organisers associate societal issues with the world of design. Throughout the month, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and meetings take place. This event is open to all, do not hesitate to discover it!

The month of April also kicks off the fairs (ferias) in France. From 19 to 22 April, the city of Arles welcomes more than 500,000 visitors, in a festive and good-humoured atmosphere. On the programme: bullfights, Camargue bull racing, musical entertainment, equestrian shows, parades through the city. In the evening, music and sangria take over, in the friendly atmosphere characteristic of the South of France.

Finally, if you do not want to go far from Paris, from 12 to 15 April, the International Cheese and Wine Fair of Coulommiers takes place in Seine-Maritime. This agricultural fair presents cheese and wine specialities. Each year, more than 60,000 visitors are expected to taste the produce from the producers. Four days of tastings to discover French culinary culture.