Free and low-cost leisure activities in France

Certain museums are free on Sunday. Flea markets, regular markets, Christmas markets, all kinds of markets, are quite lively and musicians often play there. In the summer many villages in the south will have international folklore events in the streets, or musical and cinema events that are open air and free. Read the papers! Ask at the tourist office! There are the Nuits de Musees also. Just keep your eyes open. Newspapers like the Montpellier and Nimes Gazette have a column of free activities. Of course, hikes and promenades in lovely places are free and can be quite enjoyable. Have fun!

In addition to Jean's excellent advice:
- many towns have ongoing mini-events intended to get their populace more active. Sète, for instance, has free yoga/parcourse/walking/etc classes most Saturdays and some Thursdays. Watch the town's website, and/or subscribe to their Facebook page
- join an association (usually 10-30€ per year) related to a hobby. I now go hiking (free except for covoiturage), sailing (30€ per outing), paint with feedback (free), exchange English/French (cost of coffee or potluck meal), and tour local and not-so-local landmarks (between 5€ and 74€)
- try local restaurants for lunch (cheaper than dinner); check the local Halles (covered markets) for lunch, usually smoke-free and somewhat climate-controlled; make a picnic in a forest, park, or beach
- check out the 1€ train! Usually sold out fast in Summer; can't book more than 3 weeks ahead, but a great way to explore. Failing that, try ouigo - often 10€

Associations are a great idea. Meet people too. In the Herault and some other areas - I know in Brittany, the Pyrenees Orientales - buses are 1.50/1 euro with a book of ten. You can take a bus to some charming place, of which there are many, and wander about. Wonderful outing. There are ride shares like Blabla car for an adventure, and even the SNCF is catching on. There are so many lovely towns and villages and landscapes that just exploring - on a nice day of course! - can be very cool indeed....