What's on in Ajaccio (Corsica), France through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Busy — Winter (February) holidays in France, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Busy — Winter (February) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Saint-Erasme, the fishermen's feast

  30 May – 2 Jun · usuallyMajor festival

  The fishermen carry their patron down to the port at the end of May, and on 2 June the statue goes out into the gulf with a following of boats before the blessing. A town evening, not a ticketed one. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Sea warm enough to swim

  15 Jun – 10 Oct · usually

  The gulf is comfortable from the middle of June and stays that way well past the September exodus, when the beaches south of town empty out but the water has not cooled.

• Hazard

  Fire risk and closed massifs

  15 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallySmoke seasonClosures

  The prefecture bans fires and outdoor work across Corse-du-Sud into the end of September, and on severe-risk days it shuts whole forest massifs to walkers and cars at a day's notice. Source ↗

Still on: Saint-Erasme, the fishermen's feast (30 May – 2 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — The August crush, Summer holidays in France

• Holiday

  The August crush

  15 Jul – 31 AugSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Corsica takes the French and Italian holidays at the same time. Ferries, flights and hire cars for August go months ahead, and the coast road out of town crawls from the middle of July. Source ↗

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (15 Jun – 10 Oct (usually)), Fire risk and closed massifs (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — The August crush, Journees Napoleoniennes

• Festival

  Journees Napoleoniennes

  12–15 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  Four days of bivouacs, costumed drills and parades around the Maison Bonaparte for the emperor's birthday, closing with the Assumption procession and fireworks off the Saint-Francois beach on the 15th. Source ↗

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (15 Jun – 10 Oct (usually)), Fire risk and closed massifs (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), The August crush (15 Jul – 31 Aug)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (15 Jun – 10 Oct (usually)), Fire risk and closed massifs (15 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sea warm enough to swim (15 Jun – 10 Oct (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Christmas holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.