If you’re planning a holiday in the Pyrénées-Orientales in 2023, (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. Large chains often remain open, depending on the date, and small village shops will usually follow their Sunday trading and open in the morning.
New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An)
1st January
Good Friday (Vendredi Saint)
15th April
Easter Sunday (Dimanche de Pâques)
17th April
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
10th 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)
18th May
Whit Sunday (Pentecôte)
28th May
Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
29th May
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.
Other useful dates 2021
Clocks go forward by one hour – Sunday March 26th and backwards on Sunday October 29th.
Mother’s Day – 4th June
Father’s Day – 18th June
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