Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the greatest portion of France has a sea climate. The least sunshine and lowest temperatures are to be found in the north and in Brittany. The average temperature there is around 22 °C in summer. Towards the south and heading inland, the summer months are a few degrees warmer. It is dry especially in central France. Towards the south Atlantic coast, near Bordeaux, the sun shines the most: 2000 hours per year. The south-east of France has a Mediterranean climate. In Toulouse and Nice the summer average is 29 °C. Also in Alsace and the Rhone Valley it is often more than 25 °C. The Pyrenees, Alps and Massif Central have a semi-continental climate: hot in summer, cold in the winter. In the winter this gives rise to plenty of winter sports.
