France observes 11 national public holidays, strict Sunday-closing rules for most retail, and a strong August-vacation culture where many businesses (especially in smaller towns) close for two to four weeks.
Compiled from France's official national public holiday calendar · Last verified 2026-07-16
Why This Matters
France's Sunday-closing law is strict and legally enforced for most retail categories, unlike some other EU countries — this affects weekly errand planning immediately after moving. August closures can also mean a business you rely on (a specific bakery, a repair shop) is simply gone for weeks with no warning beyond a sign in the window.
Key Facts
Fixed-date national holidays: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Labour Day (May 1), Victory Day (May 8), Bastille Day (Jul 14), Assumption of Mary (Aug 15), All Saints' Day (Nov 1), Armistice Day (Nov 11), Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Movable holidays tied to Easter: Easter Monday, Ascension Day (39 days after Easter), and Whit Monday/Pentecost Monday (50 days after Easter).
Sunday closing is a legal norm for most shops (with exceptions for bakeries, some tourist zones, and small grocers) — this is stricter than in many neighboring countries.
August is the traditional national vacation month — many small businesses, especially outside Paris, close for 2–4 weeks and post a handwritten sign with their return date rather than a fixed schedule.
Public holidays that fall on a Tuesday or Thursday are often "bridged" (faire le pont) — many people also take the intervening Monday or Friday off, effectively extending the closure to a 4-day weekend.
Common Mistakes
Not planning around Sunday closures — unlike some countries, this is a strict, widely-enforced norm in France, not just a small-town habit.
Expecting a fixed reopening date after an August closure — many small businesses reopen on their own schedule, not a set calendar date.