French Public Holidays

A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks may close and most people get the day off in France...

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.

Further Information

The Ministère du Travail has information on the law as it affects employment and national public holidays: Click here (in French)
For the dates of French school holidays from the Department of Education: Click here

National and Regional Holidays