France Public Holidays 2029
France has 11 statutory public holidays in 2029 under Article L3133-1 of the French Labour Code. May is particularly rich in bridge day ("faire le pont") opportunities, with Labour Day (Tue May 1), Victory Day (Tue May 8), and Ascension Day (Thu May 10) all landing mid-week. Three Monday holidays produce natural three-day weekends: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Easter Monday (Apr 2), and Whit Monday (May 21). Two statutory holidays land on weekends without substitute days: Bastille Day (Sat Jul 14) and Armistice Day (Sun Nov 11).
At a glance
France has 11 official public holidays (11 days off) in 2029 and 6 long weekends; the longest break is Labour Day pont (Apr 28 – May 1, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 11 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 11 |
| Longest break | Labour Day pont · 4 days (Apr 28 – May 1) |
| Long weekends | 6 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2029), Easter Monday (April 2, 2029), Labour Day (May 1, 2029), Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 2029), Ascension Day (May 10, 2029), Whit Monday (May 21, 2029), Bastille Day (July 14, 2029), Assumption Day (August 15, 2029), All Saints' Day (November 1, 2029), Armistice Day (November 11, 2029), Christmas Day (December 25, 2029)
Public holidays
11
Lost to weekends
2 (Jul 14, Nov 11)
Natural 3-day weekends
3 (Jan 1, Apr 2, May 21)
Pont opportunities
5 (May 1, May 8, May 10, Nov 1, Dec 25)
France public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2029 | Monday | New Year's DayFalls on a Monday, opening the year with a three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 2, 2029 | Monday | Easter MondayMonday following Easter Sunday — three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2029 | Tuesday | Labour DayFalls on a Tuesday. The only statutory holiday where paid time off is mandatory by French law.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 8, 2029 | Tuesday | Victory in Europe DayFalls on a Tuesday, exactly one week after Labour Day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 10, 2029 | Thursday | Ascension DayAlways 39 days after Easter Sunday; falls on Thursday May 10, creating the classic four-day pont break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 21, 2029 | Monday | Whit MondayFalls 50 days after Easter Sunday on Monday May 21 — three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 14, 2029 | Saturday | Bastille DayFalls on a Saturday in 2029 — no substitute day under French labour law.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 15, 2029 | Wednesday | Assumption DayFalls on a Wednesday in 2029.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| November 1, 2029 | Thursday | All Saints' DayFalls on a Thursday in 2029 — taking Friday November 2 off creates a four-day break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| November 11, 2029 | Sunday | Armistice DayFalls on a Sunday in 2029 — no substitute day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2029 | Tuesday | Christmas DayFalls on a Tuesday in 2029 — taking Monday December 24 off creates a four-day break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
2029 France calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
France long weekends in 2029
New Year's Weekend
3 daysDec 30, 2028 – Jan 1, 2029
New Year’s Day falls on a Monday, giving a natural three-day weekend.
Easter Weekend
3 daysMar 31 – Apr 2
Easter Monday (Apr 2) brackets the weekend for a three-day break.
Labour Day pont
4 daysApr 28 – May 1
Tue May 1: taking Monday April 30 off yields a four-day weekend.
Victory Day pont
4 daysMay 5 – 8
Tue May 8: taking Monday May 7 off creates another four-day break.
Ascension pont
4 daysMay 10 – 13
Thu May 10: Friday May 11 is the classic nationwide pont for a four-day break.
Whit Monday
3 daysMay 19 – 21
Whit Monday (May 21) gives a three-day weekend in late May.
11 nationwide holidays in metropolitan France
Under Article L3133-1 of the French Labour Code, metropolitan France recognizes 11 statutory public holidays. Good Friday is celebrated only in the Alsace-Moselle departments (Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle) under local law, along with Saint Stephen’s Day on December 26.
May 2029 bridge day ("pont") strategy
May 2029 is exceptional for bridge days: Labour Day (May 1) and Victory Day (May 8) both fall on Tuesday, while Ascension Day (May 10) falls on Thursday. Taking April 30, May 7, and May 11 off transforms the first half of May into multiple four-day weekends with minimal leave days.
Absence of weekend substitute holidays
Under French standard employment regulations, public holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are not substituted on the following Monday, unless a collective bargaining agreement specifically provides otherwise. In 2029, both Bastille Day (Saturday, July 14) and Armistice Day (Sunday, November 11) coincide with weekends.
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Official sources & data
- Jours fériés dans le secteur privéVisit sourceService-Public.fr
- Code du travail — Article L3133-1Visit sourceLégifrance
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays are there in France in 2029?
Metropolitan France has 11 statutory public holidays in 2029 under Article L3133-1 of the French Labour Code.
What is the longest holiday break in France in 2029?
The longest break in France is Labour Day pont (Apr 28 – May 1, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in France in 2029?
France has 11 official public holidays in 2029: New Year's Day (January 1, 2029), Easter Monday (April 2, 2029), Labour Day (May 1, 2029), Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 2029), Ascension Day (May 10, 2029), Whit Monday (May 21, 2029), Bastille Day (July 14, 2029), Assumption Day (August 15, 2029), All Saints' Day (November 1, 2029), Armistice Day (November 11, 2029), Christmas Day (December 25, 2029).
Do French holidays shift to Monday if they fall on a weekend?
No. France does not have a general statutory substitute holiday rule. Holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday do not move to weekdays.
When is Ascension Day in France in 2029?
Ascension Day is on Thursday, May 10, 2029. Taking Friday May 11 off makes a popular four-day bridge weekend.
What is "faire le pont" in French holiday culture?
"Faire le pont" (making a bridge) refers to taking a single working day off between a mid-week holiday and the weekend to create a continuous four-day break.
Is Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) a paid public holiday in France?
It remains an official public holiday, though many employers designate it as the "Journée de solidarité" where employees work an extra day to fund elderly and disabled care.
