French school holidays 2021 (Winter, Summer, Christmas, Easter)

In this post, we will tell you about the school holidays in France 2021. Here are the start and end dates for different territories. You will learn as much information as possible about the French school holidays – summer, winter, etc.

We also recommend that you read the article about the vacation schedule in French schools for 2022. It contains up-to-date and reliable information.

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How many vacations are in France?

French schools close to students five times a year. There is also the so-called Ascension Bridge (Pont de l’Ascension). These are five additional weekends from May 13 to 17. Here are the main school holidays in France:

Christmas.
Winter.
Easter (spring).
Summer.
Feasts of All Saints.

The Ministry of Education sets the exact dates of school holidays in France. But private schools can change them. The teaching system is such that students have to unlearn 24 hours a week, 864 hours a year.

The school or lyceum sets the number and schedule of classes. Therefore, there can be 4, 5, and 6-day study weeks. Accordingly, the end or beginning of training may shift. Other principles may guide private educational institutions.

France has territories located in the Southern Hemisphere. There is an entirely different schedule of school holidays. The reason is simple – when it is summer in France, winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, there the holidays are divided into periods – the first, second, third. They can vary significantly in start and end dates.

Three zones of France and independent territories

France is divided into three zones: A, B, and C. There are also separate, independent zones. Each of them has its school vacation schedule. Zones include departments and individual districts.

Zone A

Located in the middle of France. Stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Zone A includes:

Besancon;
Bordeaux;
Grenoble;
Dijon;
Clermont-Ferrand;
Limoges;
Lyon;
Poitiers.

Zone B

It was divided into two parts. The first part includes the northern territories of France. The second part includes the south-east of the country. Zone B includes:

Amiens;
Var;
Kahn;
Lille;
Nantes;
Nice;
Nancy Metz;
Orleans Tours;
Alps-Maritimes;
Reims;
Rouen;
Reindeer;
Strasbourg;
Marseilles.

Zone C

It occupies the southern part of France at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It also includes three central cities – Paris, Versailles, and Creteil. Zone C includes:

Versailles;
Creteil;
Montpellier;
Paris;
Toulouse.

Independent territories

The territories and regions below are independent of the French zones. They include:

Guyana;
Guadeloupe;
Corsica;
Mayotte;
Martinique;
New Caledonia;
Reunion;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon;
Wallis and Futuna;
French Polynesia.

School holidays in France 2021

Below is the schedule of school holidays in France for 2021, indicating the zones.

Christmas holidays – from December 19, 2020 to January 04, 2021;
Winter holidays (Zone A) – from 6 to 22 February;
Winter holidays (Zone B) – from February 20 to March 8;
Winter Holidays (Zone C) – from February 13 to March 13;
Easter (Zone A) – from 10 to 26 April;
Easter (Zone B) – from April 24 to May 10;
Easter (Zone C) – from April 17 to May 3;
Ascension Day Bridge – from 13 to 17 May;
The summer holidays start on 6 July.

Independent territories have very different school vacation dates. Some of them are located in the southern hemisphere. As you know, when it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, it’s winter in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, their schedule is entirely different.

To view the schedule of holidays in schools in the region, click on it. You will be redirected to the corresponding official page for the area.

French National Holidays in 2021

Bastille Day celebrations — Celebrating Bastille Day in Paris.

In addition to the usual holidays, French schoolchildren take a rest on national holidays. They are common to all regions of the country, except for two. Alsace and Moselle have two additional public holidays. Below is a list of French national holidays in 2021:

January 1 – New Year.
April 10 – Good Friday – Alsace and Moselle (Lorraine).
April 13 – Easter Monday.
May 1 – Labor Day.
May 8 – Victory Day in World War II.
May 21 – Ascension Day.
June 1 – White Monday (Holy Trinity Day).
July 14 – Bastille Day.
August 15 – Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
November 1 – All Saints Day.
November 11 – Armistice Day.
December 25 – Christmas.
December 26 – Boxing Day, St. Stephen’s Day – Alsace and Moselle (Lorraine).

French school holidays in 2021/2022

At the time of writing, the French Ministry of Education has not set a timetable for the academic year 2021/2022. As soon as the information becomes available, we will publish it. Don’t forget to share the post with your friends!