How Many Bank Holidays Are There in France? A Full Guide to French Public Holidays in 2025
Hello everyone, I am your dedicated public holiday assistant. Recently, a little friend consulted me about the title of how many bank holidays in France. Now I will summarize the relevant problems, hoping to help the little friends who want to know.
Alright, so you’re planning a trip to France, or maybe you’re moving there for work, and you’re wondering how many days off you’ll actually get. I get it – nobody wants to show up to a closed bank or an empty office. France is famous for its work-life balance, but the exact number of bank holidays can be a little tricky. Unlike the U.S. where federal holidays are pretty straightforward, France has a mix of national and regional holidays, and some of them move around each year because they’re tied to Easter. Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to expect.
First off, the official term for bank holidays in France is jours fériés. The national government sets a standard list, but a couple of regions get extra days because of historical quirks – I’m talking about Alsace and Moselle. Nationwide, there are 11 official public holidays. But if you’re in those two eastern areas, you actually get 13. That’s right, folks – location matters even for holidays.
Here’s the full list of the 11 national bank holidays in France. Remember, these are the days when most banks, post offices, government buildings, and many shops shut down. Public transport might run on a reduced schedule too.
- New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) – January 1
- Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) – date varies, always the Monday after Easter Sunday
- Labor Day (Fête du Travail) – May 1
- Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire) – May 8
- Ascension Thursday (Ascension) – 40 days after Easter, always a Thursday
- Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) – 50 days after Easter, always a Monday
- Bastille Day (Fête Nationale) – July 14
- Assumption of Mary (Assomption) – August 15
- All Saints’ Day (Toussaint) – November 1
- Armistice Day (Armistice) – November 11
- Christmas Day (Noël) – December 25
Now, if you happen to live in or visit the regions of Alsace (Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin) or Moselle (part of the Grand Est region), you get two extra days because of local traditions dating back to when those areas were part of Germany. Those extra holidays are:
- Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) – the Friday before Easter Sunday
- St. Stephen’s Day (Saint-Étienne) – December 26
So if you’re in Alsace or Moselle, you’re looking at 13 bank holidays total. Everywhere else in France, it’s 11. But here’s a catch: French law does not automatically move a holiday that falls on a weekend to the next weekday, like they do in the UK or some U.S. states. So if Bastille Day lands on a Saturday, you simply miss out on that day off – no make-up Monday. That’s why the actual number of paid days off can vary from year to year. For example, in 2025, New Year’s Day is a Wednesday, Easter Monday is April 21, Labor Day is Thursday, etc. Some years you’ll get a bunch of three-day weekends; other years not so much.
Also, keep in mind that while these are the official bank holidays, not all workers get them automatically. Some industries like retail, hospitality, and healthcare have to staff up, but usually you get either the day off or extra pay (often double time). And schools? They’re closed on all these days, plus they get additional vacation weeks around Christmas, spring, and summer.
One more thing – France has a concept called “pont” (bridge). If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, some companies let you take the Monday or Friday off as well to make a long weekend. That’s not a legal right, just a common practice, especially in offices. So don’t count on it unless your employer says so.
Questions related to how many bank holidays in France
Q: Exactly how many bank holidays are there in France nationwide?
A: France has 11 official nationwide public holidays. However, in the Alsace and Moselle regions, there are 13 due to local historical reasons. Those extra days are Good Friday and St. Stephen’s Day. So if someone asks “how many bank holidays in France,” the answer is usually 11, but with the caveat that it’s 13 in those two areas.
Q: Do French bank holidays get moved if they fall on a weekend?
A: No, they do not. Unlike some other countries, France does not have a “Monday-ization” rule. If a holiday like Christmas or Bastille Day lands on a Saturday or Sunday, you simply lose that day off. That’s why it’s smart to check the calendar each year – in some years you’ll get fewer actual days off if several holidays fall on weekends.
Q: Are all bank holidays paid days off in France?
A: Yes, for most employees. The French Labor Code states that all 11 national holidays are paid days off for workers, provided they have been employed for at least three months. However, there are exceptions for certain industries – like hospitals, hotels, and restaurants – where work is required on holidays, but then you get extra pay or compensatory time off. Also, May 1 (Labor Day) is special: it’s the only holiday that is almost universally a paid day off, and if you do work, you must get double pay.
So to wrap it up: the standard number of bank holidays in France is 11, with the regional bonus of 13 in Alsace and Moselle. But the actual number of days you get off in a given year depends on which day of the week they fall on. If you’re planning a trip or a move, always pull up a French holiday calendar for the specific year. And don’t forget about those bridge days – they can turn a single holiday into a nice mini-vacation.
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