Due to over-crowding in tourist resorts such as the Mediterranean coast and the ski resorts the school holiday dates in France are staggered by dividing the country into three zones.
Holidays are divided into three separate zones except for the first two French school holidays of the academic year: All Saints and the Christmas / New Year holiday.
Must See Places in Paris:Just thinking about all there is to do in Paris: the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, a walk down the Champs-Élysées or by the Seine, the hill of Montmartre, the food, the shopping... it seems like too much to do in just two days.
Sadly, not all travelers are fortunate around to visit the city of light at a leisurely pace, but two days is more than enough to get a good impression and long-lasting memories of Paris, and all it has to offer.
The Eiffel Tower, bien sûr! The long lines of people waiting to go up can be a bit disheartening, so... why don't you skip them? You can book your tickets online and print them out months ahead of time through the monument's official website.
A walk along the Seine. Or better yet, how about a boat ride? If you are traveling with someone special, it's just as romantic.
There are many companies offering the rides on the famous bateau mouche, from which you will enjoy the Seine and its scenery: the Eiffel tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame cathedral, Île de la Cité.
Visit The Louvre.
This world-famous museum holds many secrets, one of them being that the best way to beat the crowds and enjoy a thorough yet quick visit is to simply get a map of its interior before arriving.
You might have heard that one can spend days at the Louvre and not see it all, but if you know exactly what you want to see beforehand, you will save a lot of time walking idly through its crowded rooms by simply planning your route beforehand.
From guided tours with a group to private romantic dinners, you can book them all online ahead of time!
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France School Holidays 2013, 2014 and 2015. French Half Term Dates.
Choose an area of France from the list below to view the latest published holidays in France.
Vacances scolaires en France.
All Saints holidays in France start one week before November and last one week and a half or two
Christmas holidays start a couple of days before Christmas itself and last two weeks encompassing New Year's day.
Winter holidays last two weeks and are distributed in France depending on zones between the second week of February and the first week of March.
The Easter school holidays last two weeks and are distributed in France depending on zones between the second week of April and the first week of May.
Official Published School Holidays in France
Official French school holidays for Zones A, B and C
The above page is in French but Google Chrome will offer to translate. The link above is direct to the education authority.
English Language Site - Not Official French Page
France Zone A areas include:
Caen, Rennes, and Nantes in the North West, Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, Grenoble and Montpellier in the South, and Nancy-Metz in the North East.
Zone B areas include:
Lille, Rouen, Amiens, Reims, Strasbourg, Besançon, Dijon, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Limoges in central France (but excluding Paris) and Aix-Marseille and Nice in the South East.
Zone C include:
Paris and Versailles, Créteil along with Bordeaux in the South West.
The UK could learn a lot from the French example of zoning the school term times, there is less strain on the transport system, there is more availability with regards to holiday accommodation and there is less time spent watching the tailgate of the vehicle in front.
School Holidays in The Channel Island of Jersey and Guernsey
Official school holidays in the Channel Islands
Why not choose France for your next school summer holiday break, with regular ferry crossings, the channel tunnel and low coast airlines, there really is no excuse to be sat on the M25 with the masses.
Visit the stunning Atlantic Coast and Cognac region of France
Must-Eat:
You have not been to Paris, or to France by that matter, if you haven't savored the delicious macaroons. These small delicacies come in every flavor imaginable, and can be bought at any boulangerie (bakery), but the very best come from the exclusive confectioners specialized in macaroons: Ladurée. They have five different locations in Paris in which you can enjoy these sweet treats along with a delicious hot drink.
Don't be surprised if you have to wait in line to be seated: they're quite popular with locals and tourists alike. If you miss out while you are in town, do not worry: they have one location at the Charles de Gaulle airport that you can visit on your way out of town!
If sweets are not your thing, there is still something you can enjoy in Paris: delicious wines and cheeses. There are many bars that only serve wines, together with assorted platters of fromage (cheese) or charcuterie (meats) to accompany your choice.
Take advantage of every single moment of your two days in Paris to savor the city and take in its sights. If you need to get a quick bite while you're touring the city of light, avoid fast food chains and head straight to a boulangerie or local sandwich shop to enjoy three famed French products all at once: baguette, fromage and charcuterie.
Must Do Activities in Paris:
Take a walk down the Champs-Élysées, the most famous boulevard in Paris. Its sidewalks are lined with an wide array of shops that fit every pocket: from affordable boutiques to haute couture by well-known designers. Ladurée also has a branch on this street, where you can indulge yourself in some mouth-watering macaroons, or any other delicious treat from their menu.
No visit to Paris is finished without a walk across Montmartre, the bohemian neighborhood which was home to many a famous artist, as well as the infamous Moulin Rouge. Montmartre is spread across a hill, yet the climb up to the top is well-worth the effort: not only is it crowned by the famed Sacré-Cœur Basilica, but also one of the best panoramic views of Paris can be enjoyed from this very hilltop.
It is quite possible to do all these activities and visit these sights in just two days with enough planning beforehand, but remember to make time for yourself and truly enjoy your days in Paris. Stop at a bookstore and browse through musty antique books, or take a break by sitting on a cafe's terrace and watch the world go by. Go ahead and personalize your Parisian experience with all that Paris has to offer, while making the most out of your time in the city of light.
You can also use the search box to look up Half Term Dates and School Holiday Events in France for 2013, 2014 and 2015. To return to this website please use the 'Back' button on your web browser.
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