Tour de France routes unveiled
The 113th edition of the Tour de France will cover 3,333km over three weeks, starting from Barcelona on July 4, 2026.
The first three stages pass through Catalonia before heading north into the French Pyrenees, with the race finishing in Paris on July 26.
The women’s Tour runs from August 1 to 9 covering 1,175km from Lausanne (Switzerland), finishing on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais.
How much money to lead a ‘decent life’ in retirement?
A retiree living alone in France needs a minimum of €1,634 net per month to have a “decent life”, according to the Institut de recherches économiques et sociales.
It defined “decent life” as more than covering the essentials, allowing enough to have a social life and be involved in the local community.
The amount included food, transport, medical care and other daily necessities, but not mortgage payments or rent, on the principle that most retirees own their home.
Wood heating costs rise again - as does risk
The price of wood has risen for a second year in succession as demand continues to grow.
Higher electricity, gas and propane costs have driven more households to search for cheaper heating alternatives. At the same time, fuel and transport costs in the forestry sector have risen. Storm damage, drought and changes in forest management have also affected timber availability.
Overall the price of a stère (1m3) of wood currently ranges from €70 to €120, depending on the species and level of drying. However, in urban zones or where supplies are tight, prices can exceed €140 to €150.
The rise in demand inevitably creates opportunities for fraud. A recent DGCCRF investigation found irregularities in around 70% of businesses selling firewood or pellets online. These ranged from incomplete information to more serious deceptive practices.
EES pause
The launch of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) for car passengers using Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover has been postponed until early 2026, with both operators saying they are ready but still awaiting final approval from the French authorities.
The digital border system, which records the entry and exit of non-EU travellers to and from the Schengen area, began on October 12 for freight, coaches and foot passengers.
The rollout to cars had been expected in November, but discussions between Getlink (Eurotunnel) and the French border police are still ongoing.
When EES eventually extends to cars, passengers will need to leave vehicles to scan passports and provide biometric data.
Under EU rules, all border points must be fully operational by April 10, 2026. Travellers are advised to check updates from ferry or tunnel operators before travel.
EDF red days
Households on EDF’s Tempo electricity plan should prepare for upcoming “red days” this winter, when peak-hour prices can be up to three times higher than normal.
The Tempo option, part of EDF’s regulated Tarif bleu, divides the year into blue, white and red days to encourage energy savings. Between September 2025 and August 2026, there will be 300 blue, 43 white, and 22 red days.
Blue days offer the cheapest rates, white days are mid-range, and red days, which occur between November 1 and March 31, coincide with high national demand - often during cold spells - and carry the steepest costs.
EDF announces the next day’s colour around 16:00 daily on its website and mobile app.
Egg shortages continue
Supermarkets are still struggling to restock eggs amid a surge in demand.
Consumer data group NielsenIQ says egg shortages are now six times higher than normal, with an average out-of-stock rate of 13.3% so far in 2025 - compared with just 2% for a typical product. At major hypermarkets, shortages have reached 15%, and earlier this year some stores were completely sold out.
Industry analyst David Lecomte said the situation was driven by households seeking affordable, healthy foods as purchasing power weakens. At an average of €2.08 for six eggs, the product remains good value compared to rising meat prices.
Producers warn that expanding output is difficult under strict welfare and environmental rules. If shortages persist, France may see a rise in imported eggs.
Motorway payment change
Drivers in eastern France will see major changes next year as motorway operator AREA phases out paper toll tickets on entry. Instead, number plates and télépéage badges will be scanned automatically to record where vehicles join the road.
The new system will cover 253km of motorway across stretches of the A41, A43, A48 and A49, though drivers will still need to stop at exit barriers to pay. Cameras installed at 27 gantries will track each vehicle’s journey and calculate the toll, with payment made by card, cash or télépéage on exit.
Former toll booths will be replaced with green spaces, including tree planting and carpool parking zones. The new setup should be operational by mid-2026.
Paris-Berlin night train to return
A night train linking Paris and Berlin is set to roll again from March 2026, Belgian-Dutch firm European Sleeper has confirmed. The company plans to operate the route three times per week, with the first departure scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Trains are expected to leave Paris Gare du Nord on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and return from Berlin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Exact timetables are still being finalised, though the route may include stops in Aulnoye or Douai (Hauts-de-France), Brussels, and Hamburg, reports Le Monde.
Tickets are due to go on sale from December 16.
The announcement follows news that SNCF is discontinuing its NightJet sleeper services to Vienna and Berlin in December, citing a lack of public funding.
Corsica ferry
A new ferry link between Toulon and Corsica launched in November. Operated by Corsica Ferries, it connects the Var port with Propriano, a small harbour town on the island’s west coast, around an hour from Ajaccio.
It is the first time the two ports have been directly linked, though rival company Corsica Linea already runs a Marseille-Propriano service.
The new line will run once per week over winter, leaving Toulon on Thursday evenings and arriving Friday morning via a brief stop in Ajaccio. The return sailing departs Propriano on Friday evening, reaching Toulon on Saturday morning.
Tickets start from €26 one-way, excluding cabin accommodation and onboard meals. Taking a car costs about €60 extra.
Corsica Ferries says the service aims to maintain island connections during the quieter season, when many routes are suspended. Other year-round sailings continue from Nice, Marseille, and Toulon to Corsica’s main ports.
Switch insurance, poll shows
More than half of drivers in France have not changed car insurance provider in the past decade - despite potential savings of almost €500 a year, a new poll for insurance comparison service LeLynx.fr has found.
Some 57% of motorists said they had not switched insurer in 10 years, while 34% said they had never changed. Yet, those who do change can save an average of €438 per year for the same cover.
The survey found that fear of complexity and administrative hassle remain major barriers.
Switching after the first year of a policy is free and automatic - with the new insurer handling the entire process.
App for France-Spain motorway
A new traffic information app will soon be available for drivers on the AP-7 motorway connecting France (Pyrénées-Orientales) and Spain (Barcelona).
The Catalan road service Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT) says it will trigger geolocated voice alerts concerning traffic updates, road accidents, and emergencies such as flooding. Drivers can then change their route to avoid causing further congestion.
No official rules state that installation is compulsory to drive along the AP-7. However, it is implied that road users will be encouraged to make use of the digital service. The app should be available by December 2026.
Grant for burglar alarms
Residents in parts of Gironde are being offered up to €150 to install anti-burglary devices such as alarms, cameras and motion sensors, as local authorities respond to a rise in break-ins.
The mairies of Taillan-Médoc and Bègles, near Bordeaux, have launched subsidy schemes to encourage home surveillance and deter thieves.
Taillan-Médoc recorded 102 burglaries in 2024, up from the usual 50-80 per year, prompting a €15,000 fund for grants of up to €150 per household. After receiving 122 applications, the mairie added another €3,000.
In Bègles, a similar initiative offers €100 grants per household, supported by a €100,000 budget.
Var débroussillage
Homeowners across Var must now clear vegetation around their properties under new forest fire prevention rules, following a decree signed on September 26.
With only a few urban and protected natural zones exempt, the decree extends obligations légales de débroussaillement (OLD) to almost the entire department. Property owners must clear at least 50 metres of undergrowth around buildings and along access paths - or up to 100 metres in some cases.
The rules are permanent and annual, with most work expected in autumn and early spring. Those who fail to comply risk fines up to €1,500 and, if negligence causes a fire to spread, possible criminal charges.
Residents can check local maps and guidance via their mairie or the Var prefecture website.
Toulouse-London Gatwick service returns
Low-cost carrier easyJet has expanded its presence in France for the winter season with 17 new routes, including five to the UK.
Eight of the 17 are not currently offered by any other airline, giving the British carrier a monopoly on these routes. The exclusive flights are: Nantes - Budapest (Hungary); Bordeaux - Budapest (Hungary); Lyon - Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt); Lyon - Pristina (Kosovo); Paris Charles de Gaulle - Luxor (Egypt); Rennes - Geneva (Switzerland); Rennes - Barcelona (Spain).
In addition, the previously popular Toulouse - London Gatwick route has returned, with six flights per week between December 8 and January 4 and otherwise two services on Mondays and Fridays. The cheapest one-way ticket is €39.
Other new flights between France and the UK from easyJet this winter are: Paris Charles de Gaulle - Aberdeen; Grenoble - London-Southend; Grenoble - Birmingham; Strasbourg - Manchester.
Wizz Air trial ‘budget business seat’
Wizz Air is trialling a premium ticket service that includes blocking off the middle seat to guarantee extra space, in an attempt to bridge the gap between budget and business travel.
The ‘Wizz Class’ service also promises quicker boarding, without additions such as on-board meals and in-flight entertainment that planes are not equipped for.
Initially, only flights from five of the Hungarian airline’s key bases will take part, but this will include flights to other locations such as France. The bases are: Budapest (BUD); Bucharest (OTP); London Luton (LTN); Rome (FCO); Warsaw (WAW).
Prices are not fully available as the service is flexible as and when demand arises.
Wizz Air has also relaunched its All You Can Fly pass for €499.99. Passengers can book seats on any plane scheduled by the airline throughout the subscription period, for only a €9.99 booking fee for each flight. This includes several UK-France routes.
Ryanair goes paperless
Ryanair has gone fully digital: since November 12, passengers have no longer been able to use printed boarding passes. All check-ins must be done via the myRyanair app.
Passengers without a digital pass may be charged €55/£55 (€30/£30 for Spain, €40/£40 for Austria) unless they have a legitimate reason for not using the app, in which case assistance will be provided.
