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LIVING IN FRANCE

Calendar: School and public holidays in France in 2022

Less than a month into the summer holidays, parents of school-age children in France may already be looking wistfully towards la rentrée in September - but officials have now published the dates for the 2022/23 school year.

Published: 21 July 2021 12:02 CEST
Calendar: School and public holidays in France in 2022
The dates for the school year 2022/23 in France have been released. Photo: Martin Bureau | AFP

Schools close for the summer at the end of the previous school year on Wednesday, July 6th, 2022, and children will return – as usual – on Thursday, September 1st.

The holidays will then break down as follows:

Toussaint

  • Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, October 21st. 2022;
  • Pupils return to class: Monday, November 7th.

Christmas

  • Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, December 16th;
  • Pupils return to class: Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.

For the last two major holidays of the 2022/23 school year, the country is divided into three zones. 

The map below shows how the country is divided up:

Image: service-public.fr

The dates for the Winter and Spring holidays are as follows:

Winter Half term

  • Zone A schools (Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, February 3rd, 2023
    Pupils return to class: Monday, February 20th.

  • Zone B schools (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, February 10th;
    Pupils return to class: Monday, February 27th.

  • Zone C schools (Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, February 17th;
    Pupils return to class: Monday, March 6th.

Spring holiday

  • Zone A schools (Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, April 7th, 2023
    Pupils return to class: Monday, April 24th.

  • Zone B schools (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, April 14th;
    Pupils return to class: Tuesday, May 2nd.

  • Zone C schools (Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles)
    Schools break up at the end of classes: Friday, April 21st;
    Pupils return to class: Tuesday, May 9th.

Grandes Vacances

  • The summer holidays begin at the end of classes on Friday, July 7th, 2023.

Public holidays in France in 2022

Meanwhile, if you are already looking that far ahead, we have compiled a list of public holidays in France in 2022.

In total there are 11 public holidays every year, apart from in Alsace-Lorraine where people get 13 days off for historical reasons – that’s explained here.

However all public holidays in France are taken on the day they fall on that year, rather than being moved to the nearest Monday as is the case in some other countries.

If a public holiday falls on a Monday or a Friday, it means a nice long weekend. If it falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday it means that people can faire le pont (do the bridge) or take one day of their annual holiday entitlement to create a nice four-day break.

But if the holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, then the holiday is lost.

In 2022, seven of France’s 11 jours fériés fall on weekdays – with New Year’s Day, May Day, VE Day, and Christmas Day all on weekends.

But if you’re patient, 2023 looks good for public holidays, with only two falling on a weekend – and no fewer than four falling on weekdays in May alone.

December 25th is the only official holiday day over Christmas in France – December 24th and 26th are normal working days, so that means no extra day off for Christmas unless your bosses are feeling generous.

Four holidays fall on either a Monday or a Friday, cutting down options to faire le pont. Holidays that can be ‘bridged’ in 2022 are Ascension Day on Thursday, May 26th, the Fête Nationale on Thursday, July 14th, and Toussaint, on Tuesday, November 1st. One day’s holiday could get you four days off as part of a long weekend.

Here is the full list of 2022 holidays in France:

  • Saturday, January 1st – New Year’s Day 
  • Monday, April 18th – Easter Monday
  • Sunday, May 1st – May Day
  • Sunday, May 8th – VE Day
  • Thursday, May 26th – Ascension
  • Monday, June 6th – Pentecost
  • Thursday, July 14th – Fête Nationale
  • Monday, August 15th – Assumption
  • Tuesday, November 1st – Toussaint (All Saints)
  • Friday, November 11th – Armistice Day
  • Sunday, December 25th – Christmas

READ ALSO Pentecost: The French public holiday when people work for free

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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