Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for October 2025
Including the start of the Entry/Exit System, daylight saving time and open days in French chateaux
October sees (clockwise from top left) the rollout of the Entry/Exit System, the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, and the second instalment of income taxes
Shutterstock / A4 / Liv Gaunt / HJBC / Shutterstock
Practical dates in October
October 1: Tickets for TGV, Intercités and Ouigo Grande Vitesse train journeys in December go on sale at 06:00. For Ouigo Train Classique tickets, you must wait the normal 45 days before the date of your planned departure.
Ongoing from October 1: Automatic adjustment to your prélèvement à la source withholding rate takes effect, based on your spring 2025 declaration.
October 9: Financial institutions will start checking when people send money by bank transfer that the name they enter matches the IBAN
October 12: Start of phased launch of EES. Several French travel hubs will be affected by new border rules.
October 15: Standard deadline for paying taxe foncière.
October 18: School holidays until November 3.
October 20: Deadline, online payment, taxe foncière (midnight)
October 25: Second instalment of income tax (for amounts over €300) – part of the four-month automatic debit run.
October 26: Clocks go back.
October 27: Scheduled date for one-off direct debit of taxe foncière, if that option was selected by September 30.
Cultural dates in October
All October (until Nov 2): International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher.
All October (until December): Paris Autumn Festival. Contemporary arts programme including performances, installations, and exhibitions across Paris.
Until October 5: Festival Photo La Gacilly. Europe’s largest open-air photography festival, in Morbihan, Brittany, has a British theme this year.
October 8-12: Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre. Grape-harvest festival with parades, music, stomping, picnics and wine tasting.
October 17, 18, 19: Nuit des Châteaux. Hundreds of chateaux are expected to open their doors to offer a nocturnal experience.
October 21-26: Paris Internationale. Dynamic contemporary art fair showcasing both established and emerging artists.
October 13-18: Semaine du Goût (‘taste week’). Nationwide celebration of French gastronomy with cooking classes, tastings, and culinary education
October 29: Release of François Ozon’s adaptation of Albert Camus’ L’Etranger (The Stranger) in cinemas.
October 31: Halloween. Although traditionally overshadowed by la Toussaint, it is increasingly marked by children in France.
General reminder
Hunting season started in September, with opening and closing dates varying between departments.
The Fédération nationale des chasseurs provides an online map with detailed calendars. You can also consult the website of your prefecture, the local hunting federation or the Office français de la biodiversité.
The season officially closes nationwide on February 28.
