Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Easter Monday is a public holiday in France. Opening hours, transport and restaurant availability may be affected, especially outside the big cities.
Official information: Timeanddate – Easter in France 2026
An Easter holiday in France can mean spring in Paris, châteaux in the Loire, villages in Provence, processions in Corsica, markets, coastal trips and culture before the summer season begins.
Easter moves from year to year, and the weather can vary a great deal. That is exactly why the trip should be built around places that work in both sun and rain: cities, châteaux, markets, museums, historic sites and short excursions.
In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April and Easter Monday on 6 April in France. The dates are useful as an example, but this article is written as a general planning guide.
Easter is a good time for Paris, the Loire, Provence, Alsace, the Côte d’Azur and Corsica. You get a spring atmosphere, but you should not plan as if it were summer.
Some events are tied directly to Easter, such as the Feria de Pâques in Arles and religious traditions in several places. At the same time, spring events such as Chartres en Lumières begin around this period.
This page is designed as a practical seasonal guide. It combines travel suggestions, regular events and advice on when to book, where to stay and what to look out for.
Here are events that make the period especially interesting for travellers. Some dates are fixed, others change from year to year. Always check the organiser’s own website before booking your trip.
Easter Monday is a public holiday in France. Opening hours, transport and restaurant availability may be affected, especially outside the big cities.
Official information: Timeanddate – Easter in France 2026A traditional Easter feria in Roman surroundings. The event is linked to bullfighting and the feria culture of southern France, so travellers should look into what it involves before choosing it.
Official information: Feria de Pâques d’ArlesLight installations and an evening route through Chartres. Easy to combine with Paris or the Loire Valley over the Easter period.
Official information: Chartres en lumièresDecorations, markets, patisseries and a spring atmosphere make Alsace a lovely Easter choice, especially combined with Strasbourg and Colmar.
Official information: Visit Strasbourg – Capital of ChristmasFrance is a big country, and the right destination depends on the weather, opening hours, your interests and how much you want to move around. These suggestions are particularly well suited to the period.
Paris works well at Easter because the city has museums, parks, restaurants, shopping and train connections whatever the weather.
Aix, Avignon, Arles and the Luberon offer markets, Roman history and a spring atmosphere before the summer heat.
The châteaux and gardens are perfect for an Easter touring holiday, especially if you combine the train to Tours with a hire car.
Strasbourg, Colmar and the villages offer spring, tradition and short distances between the experiences.
Easter can be a good time for Corsica if you want mountains, coast and a quieter trip before summer. The sea temperature is often low.
If you want to make the trip more concrete, you can search for guided tours, tickets, excursions and activities for the period in question. Use this as a supplement to hotels, trains and your own itinerary.
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Yes, if you want spring, culture and a touring holiday. For a beach holiday it is often too early.
Paris, the Loire, Provence, Alsace and the Côte d’Azur are good choices. Corsica suits nature and a quieter trip.
In the big cities you will find plenty open, but public holidays can affect opening hours. Check locally, especially outside Paris.
Events can change their dates, programmes and opening hours. Use these links as a final check before publishing or booking.
An Easter holiday in France is at its best when it is planned as a spring trip, not a summer trip. With the right bases you get culture, markets, châteaux, city life and beautiful landscapes at a time when the country is coming back to life.