Compiled by Erin Fowler
If you’re planning a holiday in the Pyrénées-Orientales in 2017, (or long term planning for the future), do bear in mind the dates of the numerous ‘jours fériés’ (bank holidays) during which some or all shops and businesses may be closed.
New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An)
1st January
Easter Sunday (Dimanche de Pâques)
16th April
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
17th April
May Day (La Fête du Travail)
1st May
VE Day – WWII Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire
8th May
Ascension Day (Le Jour de l’Ascension – 40 days after Easter Sunday)
25th May
Whit Sunday (Pentecôte)
4th June
Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
5th June
Bastille Day (La Fête nationale de la Bastille)
14th July
Assumption (l’Assomption)
15th August
La Toussaint (All Saint’s Day)
1st November
Anniversary of the 1918 armistice which signalled the end of the First World War (Anniversaire de l’armistice de 1918)
11th November
“Faire le pont”
Where a Bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, many small businesses will ‘faire le pont’ (make a bridge) and take Friday or Monday off too to ;make a long weekend. This rarely applies to large shops, supermarkets etc, many of whom no longer close for most of the public holidays.
