Public Holidays in France

A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks holiday and people get the day off in France, with links to holidays in the UK and US

The French for: bank holiday/public holiday/legal holiday is un jour férié

French organisations and businesses close on public holidays.
Although some shopping centres and grocers open for part of the day, the majority of shops do not.
Police stations and hospitals do not close.
When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, it is common practice to "make the bridge" (faire le pont) by taking off the Friday or Monday so creating a very long weekend. When this happens you may find businesses running on short staff or smaller family run business closed for the full period.

National Public Holidays in France 2008

1 January	New Year's Day/Nouvel An (Tuesday)
23 March	Easter Sunday/Paques
24 March	Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques
1 May	Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Thursday)
1 May	Ascension Day (Thursday)
8 May	WWII Victory Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Thursday)
11 May	Pentecost (Sunday)
12 May	Pentecost Monday (reinstated 2008)
14 July	Bastille Day, France's national holiday (Monday)
15 August	Assumption Day (Friday)
1 November	All Saints' Day/Toussaint (Saturday)
11 November	Armistice Day 1918 (Tuesday)
25 December	Christmas Day/Noël (Thursday)

Other holidays in France

21 March	Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) observed in Alsace and Moselle only
26 December	Second Christmas Day (Friday) observed in Alsace and Moselle only

See French government website Service Public
The Ministère du Travail has information on the law as it affects employment and national public holidays: Click here (in French)