France has 11 national public holidays celebrated throughout the country, in addition to some regional holidays observed in specific areas. Below is a comprehensive list of these holidays, along with information on regional variations.
National Public Holidays
Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday
Friday, 1 May – Labour Day
Friday, 8 May – Victory in Europe Day (WWII)
Thursday, 14 May – Ascension Day
Monday, 25 May – Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday)
Tuesday, 14 July – Bastille Day (French National Day)
Saturday, 15 August – Assumption of Mary
Sunday, 1 November – All Saints’ Day
Wednesday, 11 November – Armistice Day (WWI)
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day
Regional Public Holidays
In addition to the national holidays, some regions in France observe additional public holidays.
Alsace and Moselle:
April 3 - Good Friday
December 26 - Second Christmas Day / Saint Stephen’s Day
Overseas Territories (commemoration of the abolition of slavery):
Mayotte: April 27
Martinique: May 22
Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin: May 27
Guyane: June 10
Saint-Barthélemy: October 9
La Réunion: December 20
Saint-Martin: May 28
Important Notes
Weekend Holidays: If a public holiday falls on a weekend, it typically does not lead to an additional day off on the following Monday.
For more details and the official calendar, please refer to the official French government website Service-Public.fr.