What's Closed in France on Holidays?
Apr 6th, 2007, 12:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What's Closed in France on Holidays?
I'll be arriving in Paris (a trip delayed from March) April 30th and departing France on May 16th.
It appears that I'll have 2 extra days of "closures" there, holidays May 1 and May 8. We'll be in Provence at the end of the trip.
Anyone out there who knows how it will affect shops, restaurants and museums?
Thanks so much!
It appears that I'll have 2 extra days of "closures" there, holidays May 1 and May 8. We'll be in Provence at the end of the trip.
Anyone out there who knows how it will affect shops, restaurants and museums?
Thanks so much!
Apr 6th, 2007, 05:20 PM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 970
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love being in Paris on the 1st/8th. If the weather is nice, everyone is out, kids in the parks, etc. If there is a specific museum you are interested in, I would seek out the website, but otherwise, I don't think it will pose a problem.
Apr 7th, 2007, 06:21 AM
#5
May 1st is the sacred day. Everything will be closed, except the Eiffel Tower and the bateaux-mouches (and of course cafés and restaurants that want to make money, cinemas, etc.). Anybody who works on May 1st receives both 200% salary AND a compensatory day off.
You will see people selling muguet (lily of the valley) everywhere. Buying it on May 1st ensures good luck for the rest of the year.
Depending on the outcome of the first round of the presidential election, May 1st could be a very important day. 5 years ago, when the racist, fascist National Front candidate made it to the second round, 2 million people demonstrated in the traditional labor union march on May 1st (usually, they are lucky to have 100,000 participants). If ever the same thing happens this year, by all means go to see the march -- it is an illustration of French democracy at its best.
As for May 8th, no big deal. Everything will be open except administrative offices, schools, post offices and other such things. Monuments, museums and stores will all be open.
You will see people selling muguet (lily of the valley) everywhere. Buying it on May 1st ensures good luck for the rest of the year.
Depending on the outcome of the first round of the presidential election, May 1st could be a very important day. 5 years ago, when the racist, fascist National Front candidate made it to the second round, 2 million people demonstrated in the traditional labor union march on May 1st (usually, they are lucky to have 100,000 participants). If ever the same thing happens this year, by all means go to see the march -- it is an illustration of French democracy at its best.
As for May 8th, no big deal. Everything will be open except administrative offices, schools, post offices and other such things. Monuments, museums and stores will all be open.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
surfmom
Europe
5
Apr 19th, 2009 05:58 AM
