Public Holidays in France 2019

The 11 public holidays in France for 2019 to put in your diary, as well as school dates.

• Tuesday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'An)
• Monday 22nd April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
• Wednesday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
• Wednesday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Thursday 30th May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
• Monday 10th June - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Sunday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
• Thursday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (l'Assomption)
• Friday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
• Monday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day (Noël)

Where a public holiday falls over a weekend, by local agreement employees may be 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 a Thursday many people make a 'bridge' holiday (faire le pont), creating a long weekend.

Alsace and Lorraine have two extra public holidays - 30th March and 26th Dec.

In terms of school holidays, you can find the dates at French School Calendar 2018/19.

In terms of public holidays in 2018, here are the dates

• Monday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'An)
• Monday 2nd April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
• Tuesday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
• Tuesday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Thursday 10th May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
• Monday 21th May - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Saturday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
• Wednesday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (l'Assomption)
• Thursday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
• Sunday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day (Noël)