How cold is France in the winter?

It's a big country so it may depend on whether you are in the North e.g.Lille, or in Paris, Provence or indeed the Alps!!
Lucky you!! ??????

Can be VERY cold depending where you are going - we are in the SW - Dordgne and it goes well below freezing and can remain like that all day. Should you be renting somewhere make sure there is a good heating system and if a wood burning stove a supply of wood.
Once we get to the end of Nov I wear a thermal camisole, a long sleeved heatgen T shirt from Marks and my jumper - I have two forms of footwear - flip flops and boots - only wear shoes really when in UK. But I am a person who notices the cold.
It is still lovely though - one year we had Hoar frost form over night on Christmas Day and it remained for nine days without melting at all. Minus 13 is not uncommon and in some exposed areas has been as low as -19.
I always find that hotels and restaurants are kept beautifully warm. I think near the coast it may not be so cold but we are in the middle of a land mass.

It really does depend on where you are. Here in Normandy is pretty similar to Kent and Sussex.

Chilly in Northern France. We were wearing big woollies and fleeces by November, but nowhere near as freezing as in January/February.
Other areas will differ.

I have been in France at Christmas and it was pretty cold but I have friends who have dined by the swimming pool in Provence.

Depends where you are of course, here in the Limousin it has been quite mild for the last three years but it has been minus 17 on occasions. We chose this area because the climate was similar to UK just a bit more so. I don't like the heat.

We live just south of Welshwife, and even so have had some very severe spells of cold since we've been here.
I think the centre of the country can be colder than the west coast.
Try looking around Bordeaux, or south of there towards Biarritz.
France is such a beautiful country, and so much space!

I have read people in Brittany saying they have warmer temperatures than those further south - perhaps the Gulf Stream?

I am not sure the OP is coming back, but as we France dwellers are all gathered here - how is the weather with you? Here it has rained all day, "comme une vache qui pisse" as the locals say. ?⛈

Cold this morning - warmed up and we had lunch outside but drizzle on and off for lots of the day. The farmer is cutting the maize around us.

Yes rained on and off all day but not cold. Strong winds were forecast for today and tomorrow but all is calm at the moment. Farmers out here in force too harvesting.

I think the rain and winds are bad across all of the north. We watch the lunchtime programme on TF3 called Meteo à la carte; recipes, visits to artisans and interesting places plus weather. Raining non-stop for the next week I think. ?

It's been sunny here all day, up to 26° this pm.
But rain forecast for tomorrow, and it rained most of yesterday too.

It hasn't got above 16° here. ? We got back from the south on Sunday and had to put the cental heating on.

We've had the kind of day that I call 'inside out' which often happens at this time of year. A wet, drizzly but warm outside, but chilly indoors. Not the lovely cool that happens in the heat of summer, but just damn chilly. Socks and jumpers needed - but resisting warming the house up. Off to Spain in a day or so; back to summer I hope.

Here it has rained all day, "comme une vache qui pisse"
That's a great expression Mamie! When I first lived in France, I said to someone "il pleut les chats et les chiens." They fell about laughing!

As others said- just depends where in France lol (or mdr mort/e de rire) - we have had a magnificent, colourful and warm Indian Summer, but we had our first heavy frost in the Jura mountains last night. Snow can't be very far away. Before someone says- but you live in Switzerland- well yes, less than half a mile from the French border- so we have the same weather. It can get to minus 20, 30 Degree C - the record being minus 41.8 C. So I'd say, can get pretty cold (oh and it is pretty- sparkling, and crisp).

Try this website for weather

www.holiday-weather.com/country/france/