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On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From strikes to travel getaways, via a mournful appearance from the French football team and - of course - Christmas, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 19 December 2022 09:00 CET

On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week

Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

Monday

Sadness – be gentle with your French friends, colleagues and neighbours today in case they’re still upset about that World Cup final. The French team will land at Charles de Gaulle airport at 6pm, but there is no official reception planned.

Rail strike – there may be limited disruption on the TGV Atlantique axis (in the south west) as some train drivers strike.

Covid advice – Covars (the advisory committee that took over from the Scientific Council) is due to present its report on the latest Covid situation, including recommendations on whether to make the mask compulsory again in certain settings.

Tuesday

Johnny Hallyday expo – if you’re a big fan of French rocker Johnny Hallyday, get yourself to Brussels where an ‘immersive’ exhibition opens today.

Wednesday

Winter solstice – the shortest day of the year, it will only get lighter from now.

Thursday

Fuel aid – From December 22nd, people who use wood-burning stoves to heat their homes will also be able to apply for financial aid, as the cost of pellets for wood-burners has soared in recent months.

Friday

UK strikes – if you’re travelling to the UK, be aware that airport and port border guards begin their strike on Friday, while rail workers will strike from Saturday.

READ ALSO Everything you need to know about travel between France and the UK this Christmas

Sunday

It’s Christmas! – December 25th is the only official public holiday over the Christmas period (unless you live in Alsace, in which case you also get December 26th off). This year, that falls on a Sunday so workers don’t get any extra time off (although some offices close for a few days over the holidays). Most shops and businesses will be closed on the 25th but boulangeries, patisseries and florists normally open in the morning, and some restaurants also open for a Christmas lunch.

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What changes in France in August 2024

Savings accounts

The French government will decrease the interest rate on the Livret d’Epargne Populaire savings account, which is available to lower income households (on a means-tested basis) from five percent to four percent starting on August 1st.

No increase in electricity prices

Despite previous plans to increase electricity tariffs on August 1st, the French government announced that this would no longer take place. As a result, French consumers will avoid a one percent rise in their electricity bills.

Rail Pass for young people

France launched its €49-a-month rail pass – modelled on Germany’s successful €49 ticket – for people aged 16-27 to be able to benefit from unlimited travel on TER and Intercités trains. It will be available until the end of August.

READ MORE: How France’s €49 summer rail pass works

New government?

France is currently governed by a caretaker government, following the results of the snap parliamentary elections in which no party or group emerged with a majority. Coalition talks are ongoing, but French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he won’t appoint a new government until the Olympics have ended. As such, it is unlikely that France will have a new prime minister before – at the earliest – mid-August. You can keep up to date with the never-ending twists and turns of French politics HERE.

READ MORE: Who runs France if there is no government?

Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Olympic Games continue until August 11th, and then there will be a short break before the Paralympics begin on August 28th. They will run until September 8th.

The large security zone along the River Seine for which QR codes are required ends on July 27th, but some smaller security zones will remain in place around Games venues, while some disruption and closures remain in place on public – learn how to check for disruption in the Paris area.

For all practical information about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, head to our ‘Olympics guide section’.

Public holiday

The Christian festival of Assumption, on August 15th, is a public holiday in France. This year it falls on a Thursday, giving workers the option to faire le pont (do the bridge) to create a nice four day weekend by taking off Friday.

Women’s Tour de France

From August 12th to 18th, cyclists will compete in the women’s Tour de France. It will start in Rotterdam in the Netherlands and it will involve eight stages, with the finish line at Alpe d’Huez in France.

Summer festivals

From the Rock en Seine festival on the outskirts of Paris (August 21-25), featuring huge stars like Lana Del Ray, Maneskin and Massive Attack, to the Nice jazz festival (August 20-23) and a festival all about lavender in Dignes les Bains, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (August 4-8), there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy across France this August.

READ MORE: 26 unmissable summer 2024 festivals and events in France

Back to school allowance

More than 3 million French families will receive the government back-to-school allowance, ARS (Allocation rentrée scolaire), which was set up to help low-income families pay for their children’s education.

For the 2024/25 school year, the amounts have increased slightly from last year, and they are expected to be paid out to eligible families in mainland France on August 20th.

The amount this year will be:

€416.40 per child aged 6 to 10
€439.38 per child aged 11 to 14
€454.60 per child aged 15 to 18

READ MORE: The 8 signs that August has arrived in France

Last moments of the school holidays

Kids go back to school for a new school year on Monday, September 2nd, although teachers in some schools have a planning day on Friday, August 30th.

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