France has 12 National holiday dates for 2017 plus one local holiday date. If you’re in France and it’s a holiday date, some shops will be closed, others will open but close early. Some markets will be closed , public offices and banks etc will not be open but most tourist buildings will not be shut. We’d advise that if you intend visiting somewhere on a national holiday, you should check to make sure that it’s going to be open when you want to go.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday name | Holiday type |
| Jan-01 | Sunday | New Year’s Day | National holiday |
| Apr-14 | Friday | Good Friday | Local holiday (north east France only) |
| Apr-17 | Monday | Easter Monday | National holiday |
| May-01 | Monday | Labor Day / May Day | National holiday |
| May-08 | Monday | WWII Victory Day | National holiday |
| May-25 | Thursday | Ascension Day | National holiday |
| Jun-05 | Monday | Whit Monday | National holiday |
| Jul-14 | Friday | Bastille Day | National holiday |
| Aug-15 | Tuesday | Assumption of Mary | National holiday |
| Nov-01 | Wednesday | All Saints’ Day | National holiday |
| Nov-11 | Saturday | Armistice Day | National holiday |
| Dec-25 | Monday | Christmas Day | National holiday |
More key dates in France 2017
These are not national holidays and everything is open on these days.
| Mar 20 | Monday | March equinox |
| Mar 26 | Sunday | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time (clocks go forward one hour in France) |
| Apr 16 | Sunday | Easter Day |
| May 28 | Sunday | Mother’s Day |
| Jun 4 | Sunday | Whit Sunday |
| Jun 18 | Sunday | Father’s Day |
| Jun 21 | Wednesday | June Solstice |
| Sept 22 | Friday | September equinox |
| Oct 29 | Sunday | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time (clocks go back one hour in France) |
| Dec 21 | Thursday | December Solstice |
| Dec 24 | Sunday | Christmas Eve |
| Dec 26 | Tuesday | St Stephen’s Day |
| Dec 31 | Sunday | New Year’s Eve |
