FRENCH SUMMERS: PAID VACATIONS, CAMPS FOR KIDS, AND MORE

In terms of vacation days, France is currently the sixth most generous nation in the world. The French take pride in having at least 36 vacation days annually, something the US does not guarantee. (In case you were unaware: paid vacation minimums are not governed by federal law in the United States!) However, the well-known “congés payés” are a relatively recent addition to French history, having not always existed. Continue reading to find out more about the origins of French vacations and the current French vacation culture! You’ll learn how many French children spend their summers as well.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

THE HISTORY OF FRENCH VACATIONS

Napoleon III instituted paid vacations (les congés payés) for the first time in 1853. At first, only civil servants were eligible for these vacations. Although many French people enjoyed paid vacations by the 1920s, there was no legal guarantee for them. Large-scale strikes broke out in France following the 1936 victory of the left-wing Popular Front party, led by Leon Blum, and workers started to demand paid vacation time. The French won three weeks of vacation after World War II in 1956, four in 1969, and five in 1982. The renowned “ordonnance du 16 janvier 1982” created the 39-hour work week in France in addition to five weeks of paid vacation time.

FRENCH VACATIONS TODAY 

In 2000, a new French law put in place the 35-hour work week and gave rise to “la réduction du temps de travail en France,” which is commonly called “la RTT.” RTTs are basically half-days or days that you earn–on top of your guaranteed 5 weeks–if you work overtime. 5 weeks of vacation may seem like a lot to Americans, but some European countries–like the United Kingdom and Spain–guarantee more time off. Some French people get 9 or even 10 weeks of vacation per year. It depends on the sector you work in! Recently, some French companies have even implemented unlimited paid leave policies (always with a minimum of 5 weeks) to make their job offers most attractive. 

WHERE DO THE FRENCH GO ON VACATION?

In July and August, the French typically take at least two and a half weeks off. Most go to another part of France; some of the most well-liked locations are Provence, the Côte d’Azur, and Corsica. The most popular travel destinations for French people outside of France are Spain and Italy, though many also visit Portugal and Greece. Ten percent of French visitors would rather hike in the mountains, while the majority visit the coast. Summertime continues to be a very popular season to visit the Alps and Annecy.