Sunniest Places in France
Wednesday 01 July 2009
The city of Marseille in the Bouches du Rhone takes top spot as the sunniest place in France, according to figures provided by Meteo France*. The city has 2,801 hours (264 days) of sunshine a year.
The neighbouring town of Toulon has the same number of days of sunshine, but is beaten into second place as it records slightly fewer hours of sunshine per day over the year.
| Sunniest Places in France | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | Town | Department | Sunshine Hours |
| 01 | Marseille | Bouches du Rhône | 2,801 |
| 02 | Toulon | Var | 2,793 |
| 03 | Carpentras | Vaucluse | 2,759 |
| 04 | Saint Auban | Alpes Maritimes | 2,785 |
| 05 | Le Luc | Var | 2,729 |
| 06 | Ajaccio | Corse du Sud | 2,726 |
| 07 | Nice | Alpes Maritimes | 2,668 |
| 08 | Montpellier | Hérault | 2,618 |
| 09 | Nîmes | Gard | 2,588 |
| 10 | Bastia | Haute Corse | 2,533 |
| 11 | Embrun | Hautes Alpes | 2,488 |
| 12 | Perpignan | Pyrénées Orientales | 2,392 |
| 13 | Aubenas | Ardèche | 2,374 |
| 14 | Montélimar | Drôme | 2,354 |
| 15 | Millau | Aveyron | 2,121 |
| 16 | Carcassonne | Aude | 2,106 |
| 17 | Aurillac | Cantal | 2,084 |
| 18 | Albi | Tarn | 2,077 |
| 19 | La Rochelle | Charente Maritime | 2,055 |
| 20 | Gourdon | Lot | 2,054 |
The leading town in Languedoc-Roussillon is Montpellier with 2,618 hours (219 days) of sunshine, whilst the inhabitants of Perpignan enjoy 2,392 hours (200 days) of sunshine per year.
Eyes may be raised at the high placing of Aubenas in the Ardeche, which has 2,374 hours (200 days) of sunshine a year. This is because of the location of the town, sitting as it does on the border of the Cévennes mountains and the Mediterranean region.
La Rochelle also confirms its reputation as the sunshine resort of South West France, posting 2.055 hours (193 days) of annual sunshine.
Outside of the top twenty, other places of note include Mende in the Lozere with 203 days of sunshine, but with fewer average hours per day. Toulouse is in 24th spot with 202 days, Bordeaux 190 days, Bergerac 196 days, Cognac 191 days, Lyon 211 days, and Biarritz 199 days.
Those places that fared worst were Charleville Mezieres in the Ardennes, Cherbourg (Manche), Brest (Finistere), Saint Brieuc (Cotes d’Armor) and Rouen (Seine Maritime).
We have not been able to publish the full list here, but if you wish any more information on a particular town or city, then contact us and we will see what we can do.
*Study period covers 1970-2000.
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