The spectral characteristics of the French vowel schwa and of its neighbours [oe] and [ø], are investigated. We compared the production of these three vowels in a controlled segmental context by speakers from three different regions : Nyon (CH), Brunoy (F) and Québec (C). Schwa in Brunoy is more closed and less rounded than in the other regions, as is the whole vowel system. In all three regions, schwa differs from [oe] and [ø], on at least one formant. Often closer to [ø] in frontness and aperture, schwa is closer to [oe] in rounding. Furthermore, schwa is not more variable than its neighboors. Our results underline the necessity of taking into account the origin of the speakers, the segmental context as well as the three first formants to describe this vowel.