What regions in France are actually warm in June?

[jacobean]

Last June I cycled to the Dordogne with tent. Nice relaxing place.

However, the nights there were pretty chilly. Had a fairly decent sleeping bag
but still had to wear a fleece in my tent.

Was I just unlucky with the weather or do you really have to go to Mediterranean to really
avoid chilly nights in a tent?

[MrsHJ]

Generally further east is warmer and dryer (until you’re in the mountains). But I don’t think I’ve done a June camping trip in France since we got rained on a lot in the Dordogne in May many years ago. I find that balance of warm enough to camp can be a challenge with “not to hot for cycling” during the day. It’s easier further North in some ways where the summer days aren’t too hot.

[pwa]

I have been cold and wet in Provence in August, so there are no guarantees regarding warmth. But the South East is your best bet, if that's what you want.

[jacobean]

Thanks for the replies.

I was expecting warm and sultry nights in the Dordogne.

Instead, it was damp and chilly (at night anyway). Travel sections of newspapers really do a great job in hyping up a destination! I would go back there - Limousin was particularly nice but waking up at 4am looking for a jumper certainly detracts from a holiday.

>>>I find that balance of warm enough to camp can be a challenge with “not to hot for cycling” during the day.

Yeah, this is the crux of it. I think a little bit of give and take has to be adhered to on this spectrum!

[Angstrom]

I'd suggest the Aude and Pyrénées Orientales.
I can get more specific if you need.

[jacobean]

I'd suggest the Aude and Pyrénées Orientales.
I can get more specific if you need.

Yeah, please!

[simonhill]

It's weather rather than climate. Climate would have the south warmer, drier, etc. However weather intervenes and gives local conditions.

Last year in June in cool damp Normandy I had 32° one morning.

[pwa]

I don't like hot weather much. Anything over 25c has me seeking out shade. But even I can cycle on days going up to 30c by getting in most of the miles before 11am, only resting in the shade, and dunking my head in any water available en route. The breeze from cycling helps to keep me cool. At night, if it gets cold, just wear several thin layers of comfy clothing inside your sleeping bag, and include socks.

[bohrsatom]

Whilst generally-speaking the further south/east you go the better the weather, at a day-to-day level it's pretty much down to the luck of the draw. As others have said, the more you increase the chance of warm days the more you also increase the chance of it being too hot to cycle comfortably.

Last June I was in Bordeaux during a heatwave with temperatures over 40c (and even higher in direct sunlight, it was awful). As things turned out it was good practice for the SE England heatwave a few weeks later. But I've also been in that part of the country in late May/early June and found it to be cold, wet and pretty miserable.

Personally I like a bit of a chill at night. Not too much (I have a 3 season sleeping bag), but enough to make me feel cosy inside the tent. Warm sticky nights under canvas are not fun.

[MrsHJ]

. Warm sticky nights under canvas are not fun.

Plus mosquitoes love those conditions although they are less of a problem early in the season.

[Angstrom]

I'd suggest the Aude and Pyrénées Orientales.
I can get more specific if you need.

Yeah, please!

The Aude and Pyrénées Orientales (PO) départements are bordering the southern most French shore of the Mediterranean sea, but have a mix of mountains, vineyard plains and sea side landscape.
Their geography is quite important because they are on the med side of the Atlantic/Med devide, which has a big impact on climate.
Although the shores are well developed with all kinds of resorts, some not so great, some charming, the inland parts of those départements are great for cycling. Aude's slogan is "Pays Cathare" and although many of the chateaux claim to be cathares, they weren't but that's not the point. It's full of historic places to visit, from caves to abbeys, castles, wineries etc. The city of Carcassone is a Unesco World Heritage site and is in the Aude plain. ABsolutely worth a day's visit. The canal du midi is a classic too.
I would say that although it is possible to stay in the flat parts of this area and enjoy, I'd still recommend it to cyclists who don't mind to climb. It would open up an array of possibilities whilst on the contrary, demands on flat terrain would restrict the number of options.
The Aude département is subject to frequent and strong winds (tramontane) so beware of the direction you choose to cycle.

If you want more, you can check my blog where I wrote about a 3 day tour. G Translate does an amazing job at translating from French.
I also blogged about another tour in the neighbouring département, the PO. Doing a longer tour can allow riding in both (and more).
If you want more ideas, if you can tell me how long you plan to ride, and what your style is (especially with regards to climbing) I can propose some tour ideas.

PS: I re-read your original post and picked up your question "do you really have to go to the Mediterranean to find warm weather?".
My above answer tends to provide a "yes" answer, but in reality, the western part of the Aude département benefits from a med climate yet the landscapes, vegetation ect. do reflect some oceanic influence. Obviously, the more est you go, the less true it is.

[Audax67]

FWIW, here in Alsace the average temperature on my rides varied from 19 to 27°C last year, max in the low 30s. Lots of opportunities to shiver at night if you camp up in the mountains.

[francovendee]

Here in the Vendee, June last we had temperatures in the high 30's, not comfortable to cycle in.
Earlier in the year it can swing from cold in the morning and blistering in the sun.
It's often different each day but when the heat sets in it can be here for weeks.
Most of last year we were on water rationing and every farmers pond for miles around was dry. Because of this many crops just withered and became useless.

[MrsHJ]

+1 for cathar country. Spellbindingly lovely- we’ve cycled it and visited a few times. I really enjoyed your blog angstrom.

I’d also consider inland Provence- the lavender will probably be in bloom and I’d not leave it til too late or it will be hot but early June is likely to be nice. Exceptional cycling plus you can have a go at bagging ventoux if that’s your sort of thing.

The Rhône valley is likely to be very nice too- again it could be getting a bit hot if you go too far south and hit the camargue (which is the Rhône delta I think) but I loved the Roman towns and features of the southern Rhône.

[Goosey]

I'm biased, obviously, but here in the SW is perfect for cycling. If you want cooler evenings, or days there's the Pyrénées and there's the Basque coast. If you want flat there's Les Landes. We don't get much wind either, not like towards the Med.