If you are a resident of France, you should be registered with a specific doctor, a médecin traitant. If you do not have a nominated GP, you will receive less money back from the Assurance Maladie (National Health) via your care vitale.

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.