2010 Holiday planner for France
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The weeks of 2010 – Sunday to Saturday
Busy holiday weeks; 2010 holiday planner, showing the busy and less busy vacation / holiday weeks in France.
Use this table to check the peak holiday weeks, when tourist traffic is heaviest and resorts most crowded, the intermediate weeks , and the off-peak weeks when holiday traffic is lightest, and hotels and resorts least crowded.
Key: Busiest holiday weeks _____ Busy weeks _____ : Low season (winter) _____ : Low season summer / autumn ______
Special events (nationwide) in yellow:
  • Museums night 2010; 15th May Nuit des Musées - hundreds of museums open free until 1 a.m.
  • Gardens weekend: first weekend in June ( to be confirmed) - Journées des Jardins - thousands of public and private gardens all over France open for free visits. Some only open this weekend.
  • Music night: Fête de la Musique: Midsummer's Day. Many free concerts, plus music in the streets in most towns until midnight or later. In 2009 it's a Sunday night
  • Heritage Days - 18-19th Sept. Journées du Patrimoine: an opportunity to visit monuments that are not usually open to the public, as well as those that are. Special guided tours at many locations.
Week Dates Holiday status / special events
Week Dates Holiday status / special events
Week 1: 2 Jan. - 9 Jan.

Week 27: 4 July - 10 July
French school summer holidays
Week 2: 10 Jan. - 16 Jan.

Week 28: 11 July - 17 July French school summer holidays Public Holiday: Wednesday 14th July
Week 3: 17 Jan. - 23 Jan.

Week 29: 18 July - 24 July French school summer holidays
Week 4: 24 Jan. - 30 Jan.

Week 30: 25 July - 31 July French school summer holidays
Week 5: 31 Jan. - 6 Feb.

Week 31: 1 Aug. - 7 Aug. French school summer holidays
Week 6: 7 Feb. - 13 Feb. School holidays France - zone B*
Week 32: 8 Aug. - 14 Aug. French school summer holidays
Week 7: 14 Feb. - 20 Feb. School holidays France - zone A
School holidays France - zone B*
School holidays in Belgium
Week 33: 15 Aug. - 21 Aug. French school summer holidays Public Holiday: Sunday 15th August
Week 8: 21 Feb. - 27 Feb. School holidays France - zone A*
School holidays France - zone C
Week 34: 22 Aug. - 28 Aug. French school summer holidays
Week 9: 28 Feb. - 6 Mar. School holidays France - zone C
Week 35: 29 Aug. - 4 Sep. French school summer holidays end Thur. 2 Sep
Week 10: 7 Mar. - 13 Mar.

Week 36: 5 Sep. - 11 Sep.
Week 11: 14 Mar. - 20 Mar.

Week 37: 12 Sep. - 18 Sep. 18th-19th Sept Heritage Days
Week 12: 21 Mar. - 27 Mar.

Week 38: 19 Sep. - 25 Sep.
Week 13: 28 Mar. - 3 Apr.

Week 39: 26 Sep. - 2 Oct.
Week 14: 4 Apr. - 10 Apr. Public Holiday: 5th April Easter Monday
School holidays France - zone B
School holidays Belgium
Week 40: 3 Oct. - 9 Oct.
Week 15: 11 Apr. - 17 Apr. School holidays France - zone A
School holidays France - zone B
School holidays Belgium
Week 41: 10 Oct. - 16 Oct.
Week 16: 18 Apr. - 24 Apr. School holidays France - zone A
School holidays France - zone C
Week 42: 17 Oct. - 23 Oct.
Week 17: 25 Apr. - 1 May School holidays France - zone C
Public Holiday: - Saturday 1st May
Week 43: 24 Oct. - 30 Oct. French schools on holiday - Toussaint week
Week 18: 2 May - 8 May Public Holiday: - Saturday 8th May - VE Day
Week 44: 31 Oct. - 6 Nov. French schools on holiday until Wed.
Belgian school half term.
Week 19: 9 May - 15 May Public Holiday: Thurs. 13th May Ascension
Sat 15th May: Museums night - Free entry until 1 a.m
Week 45: 7 Nov. - 13 Nov. Public Holiday: Armistice day 11th Nov.
Week 20: 16 May - 22 May

Week 46: 14 Nov. - 20 Nov.
Week 21: 23 May - 29 May Public Holiday: Monday 24th May - Pentecôte (Whit Monday - France)
Week 47: 21 Nov. - 27 Nov.
Week 22: 30 May - 5 June
Sat 5th June: Gardens weekend
Week 48: 28 Nov. - 4 Dec.
Week 23: 6 June - 12 June Sun 6th June : Gardens weekend
Week 49: 5 Dec. - 11 Dec.
Week 24: 13 June - 19 June

Week 50: 12 Dec. - 18 Dec.
Week 25: 20 June - 26 June Monday 21st June - Fête de la Musique
Week 51: 19 Dec. - 25 Dec. French school holidays
Week 26: 27 June - 3July

Week 52: 26 Dec. - 1Jan. French school holidays
Belgian school holidays

* French school holiday zones: France is divided into three parts for certain school holiday dates. Zone C is notably the Greater Paris area, and the zone that causes most extra holiday traffic on the roads. Full details on French school holiday zones
Points worth bearing in mind:
Driving conditons: in busy holiday/ vacation periods, motorways towards holiday areas (and from holiday areas) are busiest at the weekend, particularly on Saturdays. During other periods of the year, Saturdays and Sundays are the best time to travel, as traffic is lighter, and there are less lorries / trucks on the roads. See Driving in France for more details.
Hotels, attractions, restaurants: Out of season, and specifically in places where tourism is the main industry, many hotels, restaurants and attractions are closed. Those that are open are often cheaper out of season that at peak periods. For more information about hotels, attractions, eating out, visit:

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