Provence-Hideaways

French School Vacation Dates 2011/2012

2012 Public Holidays:

1. January 1 (New Year's Day)
2. April 9 (Easter Monday)
3. May 1 (Labor Day)
4. May 8 (End of WWII celebration)
5. May 17 (Ascension)
6. July 14 (Bastille Day - French Independence)
7. August 15 (Assumption)
8. November 1 (All Saints' Day)
9. November 11 (Armistice Day)
10. December 25 (Christmas)

2011/2012 School Vacation

French schoolchildren have five holidays during a year: 1 week at the end of October, 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks winter vacation in February, 2 weeks Easter vacation and all of July and August for summer vacation.

For the purpose of staggering vacations the mainland is grouped into 3 zones. This measure is supposed to ameliorate the traffic congestion. As the main autoroutes are also used by other European vacationers these benefits are to a certain extent neutralized.

Autoroutes going to and from prime vacation areas, like the Provence, are notoriously difficult on Saturdays, when most holiday rentals have changeovers. Check the Bison Futé website for traffic conditions.

Source: Ministère de l'Education Nationale

last updated: December 14, 2009Posted by Editor of Provence-Hideaways | Filed under: Travel Tips