Riviera Pebbles Blog: Public holidays in France

Posted on 17th Aug 2018 in Guest Info

Public holidays in France

Every year, France celebrates a rather generous 11 public holidays, with Bastille Day (14th July) and All Saints Day (1st November) being the most widely celebrated. Bastille Day is France’s national day, and falls on the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille. It is a huge celebration, with spectacular public fireworks displays, dances, musical performances, and traditional French food. All Saints Day (La Toussaint) is a much more sombre occasion: families get together to honour the lives of deceased relatives, visiting cemeteries and placing flowers (typically chrysanthemums) on their graves.

Although Bastille Day and All Saints Day are the most famed, even smaller public holidays could potentially affect your stay in Nice. On these days, all banks and most governmental and administration departments are closed, along with numerous restaurants, museums, monuments, and shops.

However, in tourist towns such as Nice, some museums, monuments and restaurants can be flexible; they remain open or keep modified hours so that you won’t go hungry or be lost for things to do.

If your stay in Nice coincides with any public holidays, we recommend checking opening hours on official websites ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Below is a list of all of France’s public holidays – jot them down in your diary if you’re planning a trip to Nice with us this year!

New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) 1 January
Easter Sunday & Monday (Pâques & lundi de Pâques) late March/April
May Day (Fête du Travail) 1 May
Victoire 1945 8 May – celebrates the Allied victory that ended WWII
Ascension Thursday (L’Ascension) May – the 40th day after Easter
Pentecost/Whit Sunday & Whit Monday (Pentecôte & lundi de Pentecôte) mid-May to mid-June – celebrated seventh Sunday after Easter
Bastille Day/National Day (Fête Nationale) 14 July Assumption Day (L’Assomption) 15 August
All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint) 1 November
Remembrance Day (L’onze Novembre) 11 November – marks WWI armistice
Christmas (Noël) 25 December