If you’re planning a holiday in the Pyrénées-Orientales in 2019, (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.

French Bank Holidays 2019

New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An)
1st January


Good Friday (Vendredi  Saint)
19th March


Easter Sunday (Dimanche de Pâques)
21st April


Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
22nd 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)
30th May


Whit Sunday (Pentecôte)
9th June


Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
10th 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.

CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN YOUR REGION

Other useful dates 2019

Clocks go forward by one hour – Sunday March 31st and backwards   on Sunday October 27th.
Mother’s Day26th May
Father’s Day 16th  June

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