Detailed carbon isotope stratigraphy was calibrated with standard ammonite stratigraphy for two Valanginian to Lower Hauterivian sections in Southern France, La Charce in the Vocontian basin and Pont de Carajuan on the Provence platform margin. The excellent correspondence of ammonite zonation and carbon isotope composition between the two sections allowed us to create a composite C-isotope curve. The Valanginian carbon isotope excursion starts with a positive δ¹³C-shift of ca. +1.3 ‰ in the upper Campylotoxus Zone. δ¹³C-values culminate in the Verrucosum Zone and decrease from the upper Verrucosum Zone to the Hauterivian Loryi Zone where they reach pre-excursion values again. Correlation of the Valanginian to Lower Hauterivian standard ammonite zonation of Southern France (N. Tethys) with other bio- and chronostratigraphies, such as the South Alpine nannofossil- and magnetostratigraphy (S. Tethys) is significantly improved by the link via carbon isotope stratigraphy.