The 11 public holidays in France for 2021 to put in your diary, as well as school dates.

• Friday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)
• Monday 5th April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
• Saturday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
• Saturday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Thursday 13th May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
• Monday 24th May - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Wednesday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
• Sunday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
• Monday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
• Thursday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Saturday 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 - 2nd April and 26th Dec.

In terms of school holidays, you can find the dates at French School Calendar 2021/22.

The public holidays in 2020 were:

• Wednesday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'An)
• Monday 13th April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
• Friday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
• Friday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
• Thursday 21st May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
• Monday 1st June - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
• Tuesday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
• Saturday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (l'Assomption)
• Sunday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
• Wednesday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
• Friday 25th December - Christmas Day (Noël)