The 11 public holidays in France in 2016 to put in your diary.

• Friday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'An)
• Monday 28th March - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
• Sunday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
• Thursday 5th May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
• Sunday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Monday 16th May - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Thursday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
• Monday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (l'Assomption)
• Tuesday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
• Friday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day (Noël)

As can be seen, a number of the public holidays fall over a weekend. By local agreement employees may given an extra day paid holiday in lieu, but this is not obligatory.

Only May Day is classed as a statutory (paid) public holiday in France.

When a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday France many people make a 'bridge' holiday (faire le pont), creating a long weekend.

Alsace and Lorraine have two extra public holidays.