French public holidays in 2016
January 1: New Year’s Day (Friday)
March 28: Easter Monday
May 1: Labour Day (Sunday)
May 5: Ascension (Thursday)
May 8: VE Day (Sunday)
May 16: Whit Monday
July 14: National Day (Thursday)
August 15: Assumption (Monday)
November 1: Toussaint (Tuesday)
November 11: Armistice Day (Friday)
December 25: Christmas Day (Sunday)
Three of the country’s 11 public holidays fall on a Sunday this year. It is up to individual company policy, and agreements with unions, whether workers are entitled to take a weekday off in lieu. No time off in lieu is granted when a Public Holiday falls on a Saturday. If a public holiday falls on a Thursday, it is common for many workers to take the Friday as a ‘pont’ (bridge) to create a long weekend. Only Labour Day (May 1st) is a statutory public holiday in France.
Sandra Hanks Guide to South West France 