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-   -   Paris during Holy Week (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-during-holy-week-976469/)

plambers May 1st, 2013 12:10 PM

Paris during Holy Week
 
Hi all. Have been to Paris with my husband a few times during the lovely month of May. Am considering taking kids for the first time for a week next April. We would be in Paris for Holy Week and leave the Saturday before Easter.
Are shops/museums/restaurants closed in Paris during this week? In Spain many are. Was wondering what to expect and if June might be a better time if many locales will be shut. Thanks

kerouac May 1st, 2013 12:30 PM

France pays little or no attention to Holy Week. Easter Monday is a holiday but most shops are open. Easter itself is just a normal Sunday. Good Friday is totally ignored and is a working day.

Robert2533 May 1st, 2013 07:12 PM

kerouac is right, Easter Week doesn't mean much in France, Catholic country or not, quite like the good old US of A. The only exception would be the Pays Basque in southwest France.

justineparis May 1st, 2013 09:03 PM

France is not really a "Catholic country " ( although I was born there and we were Catholics, lol )Now Italy that would be a very Catholic country!
France is very secular.

rhon May 2nd, 2013 01:20 AM

We have had a couple of Easters in France. Coming from Australia where most things are closed on Good Friday, on our first visit, we were surprised to find it was business as usual and schools open. We had expected it to be very quiet.

plambers May 2nd, 2013 04:08 AM

Thanks all for your responses. So it will be Paris as usual right up to Easter.

Goldens May 2nd, 2013 07:28 AM

We have been during that time. It is crowded due to spring break travel but business as usual.
If the Eiffel Tower is a must be sure to purchase your tickets online way ahead of time. They do sell out and you will be stuck in a long line.

plambers May 14th, 2013 08:16 AM

Hi. Am also considering Barcelona for that week. Since Spain is a more Catholic country, would many places be closed from Holy THurs leading up to Easter? thanks

kerouac May 14th, 2013 10:25 AM

Might you not be better off asking this question on the Spain branch?


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