Holiday in Paris
 

I will have a short trip to Paris
from May 6 (Sunday) to May 8 (Tuesday)
It is my first time to travel Paris.

I suddenly find that May 8 is a public holiday in France. And from internet, many one says if Tuesday is a holiday, many shops
will be closed too on Monday!!
Is it true?
Will Galeries Lafayette Paris also close on Monday?
If yes, that means i can't shopping during this three days?

Also May 6 is the first sunday in the month,
that means the entrance fee of Musée du Louvre is free.
What time i should go there to avoid spending too many time for queuing up?

And i plan to go to Versailles on 8 May(holiday).
Can i buy tickets in advance in RER station?
I can wake up very early, if i can arrive
Versailles at 8:30, how long i need to queuing up for entrance?
Someone suggeset to go there around 1 ok, there will not as many ppl as in morning, is it a good idea?

May 8th is not much of a business holiday -- stores will be open. I don't know where you read that things would close on Monday, but that information is totally false. A lot of small (mostly food) shops are closed EVERY Monday, either because they are open on Sunday, or else eing a small shop that operates on Saturday and gives its employees two consecutive days off (hairdressers, etc.).

In any case, the department stores and all places like Monoprix will be open on both the 7th and the 8th.

One way to save time and avoid queues at Versailles would be to buy your ticket in advance.
For example, you can buy Versailles tickets at the ticket counter of any Fnac store (a chain of music and book stores) - the branch on the Champs Elysées is even open on Sundays.

Alternatively, you can buy a combined transport and entrance ticket ("Forfait loisirs Château de Versailles) through the SNCF (French rail company) - more info here: http://www.transilien.com/web/site/a...ailles/lang/en

hello kerouac!
Thanks for your reply

i see the holiday information in
http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/f..._in_france.cfm

It states that:
1. 8 May Fête de la Victoire 1945 (WWII Victory Day)
2. Note that when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many French people may take the respective Monday or Friday off as well.

Is it true?

Yes, people who work in offices like to take a day off and make a 4-day weekend. In my own office, up to 50% of the staff might be off on such a day -- but the office is open anyway.

Shops, cafés, restaurants do not have such an option! They have more business than usual.

Yeah! Thanks kerouac.
That means i have at least 1 day (7 May) to go shopping.
Really happy to hear this information!
Thank you very much!

But how about 8 May?
It is still a public holiday and most of the shops will be closed right?

"In any case, the department stores and all places like Monoprix will be open on both the 7th and the 8th."