Holidaying in France

[rov1100]

Do they have extended school holidays like Britain with the 6 week school Summer shutdown? What are the dates to avoid this annual rush to French holiday destinations by the natives?

[emmie]

France seems to shut down for August, long time since was there.

[mike11111]

Longer in France - 2 months.

[Buenchico]

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission has information about school term dates across the whole of the EU on its website.

French primary and secondary schools break up for the summer vacation at the end of next week:
http://eacea.ec.europ...chool_calendar_EN.pdf

They return to school on 5th September:
http://eacea.ec.europ...l_calendar_EN.pdf.pdf

Chris

[Mosaic]

The crowds calm down dramatically after the Feast of the Assumption, 15th August - a date that generates near-hysteria in terms of dances, firework displays, and the French delight in all crowding as many people and cars into one location as possible.
From the start of next weekend the motorways to the south coast become gridlocked, as do coastal roads from the Spanish to Italian borders. Nearly all accommodation is booked up in coastal areas but 'unfashionable' inland rural areas are more peaceful - the Ardeche and the Dordogne count as fashionable therefore are like ant heaps.
End of august / start of September - bliss.

[rov1100]

Thanks for your informative replies.