I live, 1,400 feet up, in the hills of Southern Burgundy, and we've had snow up here for weeks now. Strange thing is that the lovely girl, in her little 2 wheel drive La Poste van, has not missed a delivery despite the conditions. All the French people I know in the area have winter tyres on their cars and some have chains - life goes on - it's WInter - it's expected.
Scorp.