The holiday season is just around the corner, bringing with it the most magical weeks of the year. As the temperatures drop outside and the days grow shorter, life naturally moves indoors, where things become wonderfully cozy. Even here in the south of France, where winters are far milder than back home in Germany, the Advent season is beginning to take shape. The first fairy lights are twinkling in the streets, Christmas trees are going up, and preparations for the Marchés de Noël are in full swing.
I love this time of year, the scent of vin chaud, roasted almonds, and freshly baked pastries; the sparkle of lights; and that delicious sense of anticipation for Christmas. While I’m deciding which Christmas markets in and around Nice to visit this year, I’m also trying to remember what made my favorite mulled wine recipe so special (more on that very soon!).
If you love France as much as I do, you might be thinking about bringing a little French flair to your own holiday countdown. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite Advent calendar finds for fellow Francophiles. And further down, I’ll show you two that I made myself — or perhaps I should say Frenchified — along with plenty of ideas for how to fill them 
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French Advent Calendars to Buy
If you’d love to bring a little piece of France into your home this Christmas season, here are some beautiful, French-inspired Advent calendars: sweet jams, local wines, fragrant beauty surprises, and more.
I went down the Advent-calendar rabbit hole for you, researched, compared, read through countless descriptions, and narrowed it all down to my absolute favorites. They make wonderful gifts… or you can just treat yourself 🙂
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar
Start every December morning with a little sweetness. This limited-edition calendar (around €40) includes 23 delicious mini jams and one final surprise. Perfect for anyone who loves beginning the day on a sweet note ✨
Discover it here
Mr. and Mrs. Panda Advent Calendar
This adorable shop offers the cutest fill-your-own Advent calendars and ready-made versions with candles or chocolates. Honestly, what could be more heartwarming than starting your morning with a little owl in a béret? Too cute!
Top tip: The owl-themed calendars can even be personalized 💖
L’Occitane Advent Calendar
A touch of Provence every day: 24 mini surprises including fragrances, creams, and soaps scented with lavender, almond, and sunshine. Around €107.
Puzzle Advent Calendar with French Motifs
This Advent calendar features 24 puzzle boxes that come together to reveal a beautiful France-inspired image. A creative way to satisfy your wanderlust for France, piece by piece. Personally, I love the Nice and Menton versions, but that probably doesn’t come as a surprise 😉
Available in various sizes, starting at around €20.
L’Oréal Paris Advent Calendar
Makeup, skincare, and a touch of glamour à la française: 24 little beauty surprises for a sparkling countdown to Christmas. You can choose between a version with 12 surprises (around €50) or the classic 24-day calendar (around €90).
Wine Advent Calendar
24 fine wines from France and beyond, handpicked by a Meilleur Sommelier de France. Each mini bottle holds two glasses of pure pleasure, inviting you on a daily tasting journey through some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions. The included tasting booklet explores grape varieties, aromas, and food pairings. Around €180.
Yves Rocher Advent Calendar
The limited-edition Yves Rocher calendar (around €57) is filled with skincare, makeup, and fragrances, including six full-size products and 18 minis for any occasion. Wrapped in festive green and gold, it’s as beautiful on the outside as it is inside.
🇫🇷 My DIY French Advent Calendars
I love getting crafty, and I wanted to channel my love for France into something creative. The result? Two DIY Advent calendars that are easy to personalize and fun to fill. Highly recommend trying them yourself!
Idea No. 1: Advent Calendar with French Stickers
My first calendar is made of brown paper bags that I decorated with adorable French-themed stickers. I used this super cute sticker set from Baker Ross; I picked it because the little characters let you create full mini-scenes. I had so much fun putting it together!
The stickers give the bags a playful, whimsical look that I absolutely love. You can hang them on a string like a garland or arrange them in a basket for a cozy, rustic feel.
Filling ideas:
- small French treats (like Carambars, Madeleines, or Macarons)
- mini beauty products (hand cream, lip balm, etc.)
- French teas or spice samples
- little notes with French quotes or vocabulary
Tip: If you’re feeling extra creative, you can draw or add streets, cafés, and houses around your stickers for a more detailed, French-inspired scene. It makes your calendar even more personal and unique.
Idea No. 2: A Village of Colorful French Houses
For my second calendar, I used an Advent calendar kit from Maisons du Monde (around €10). It comes with 24 paper bags already printed with little house designs and numbered from 1 to 24.
Some of the houses now shine in warm, Mediterranean tones — sunny yellows, ochres, and terracottas inspired by the old town of Nice. The others, painted in more muted shades, got a makeover with timber-frame details reminiscent of the charming villages in Alsace (my second favorite region!).
A few festive touches completed the look, and the result is a cheerful little French village that looks perfect displayed on a shelf or mantelpiece.
Filling ideas:
- miniature French specialties (like candies, mini jams, or pralines)
- small decorations or ornaments with French motifs
- perfume samples, lavender sachets, or postcards
- a travel voucher or a favorite recipe as the final surprise on the 24th
Tip: Wrap a tiny string of fairy lights around your houses; it turns the display into a beautifully illuminated French Christmas village.
✨ Whether playful with stickers or hand-painted with care, both versions are easy to personalize and bring a touch of French charm to your Advent season.
A Little French Magic for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Whether you go for a ready-made Advent calendar or pick up a paintbrush yourself, a hint of French flair makes the run-up to Christmas twice as delightful. A puzzle calendar adds moments of calm, a beauty calendar brings daily self-care, and a handmade one tells your very own French story.
During this often hectic time of year, it’s lovely to carve out a few minutes each day to enjoy a scent, a sweet treat, or a tiny detail that reminds you of France.
Wishing you a wonderful, cozy, and inspiring Advent season
And as promised, I’ll be sharing my favorite mulled wine recipes very soon. Stay tuned!
Francesca
- Cover Image: Pixabay / Bru-nO
- Photo 2: Pixabay / LUM3N
- Photo 3: Pixabay / Pexels
- Photo 4: Francesca
- Photo 5: Francesca
- Photo 6: Francesca
- Photo 7: Pixabay / GoranH