La fête du Travail is an annual public holiday that falls on May 1 in France, when most shops are closed because many employees are legally not allowed to work.
The term used in French is un jour chômé, which could be translated as: a non-working day.
This year, May 1 falls on a Thursday which means that many workers are also expected to take the following day (Friday, May 2) off to faire le pont (create a long weekend).
May 1 has been a public holiday since 1947, but workers’ rights associated with the day go back much further.
Employees cannot be docked any pay if they do not work on this date, and cannot be asked to work overtime on other days to ‘make up’ for the day off.
Some employees however, are required to work on May 1 and are entitled to double pay for that day. This can happen if they are “employed in a company which, due to the nature of the activity, cannot interrupt work”, states France’s government website.
This generally means that essential services such as hospitals, emergency pharmacies (pharmacie de garde), funeral parlours, service stations, breakdown mechanics or emergency repair trades, remain open.
Read also: Why it may be hard to get a doctor’s appointment this week in France
Exceptions can also include commerces that are typically open on a Sunday.
Any ‘unessential’ commerces such as clothing boutiques, jewellers or toy shops will be closed.
Read also: Key cultural dates for France in May 2025
Read also: Key practical dates for France in May 2025
Supermarkets
Most food shops and supermarkets (including delivery services) will be closed. This includes chains such as Auchan, Leclerc and Monoprix.
For example, all Carrefour supermarkets will be closed, with only six Carrefour Market shops open in the whole of France. Public holiday openings are usually indicated on the store’s website.
Some food shops may be able to open if they can fully operate with automatic checkouts and therefore require no check-out staff.
Mini-markets might open if the owner decides to run the shop independently, or with family members who are not employees.
Bakeries
The situation is less straightforward for bakeries. Ministers have previously shown favourable tolerance towards bakeries opening on May 1, however many received fines of €750 per working employee on last year’s fête du Travail.
As a result, French boulangeries have been demanding the right for staff to work on May 1 so they can open. Owners say the current rules leave them losing revenue from being forced to close when they could otherwise take advantage of supermarkets being shut.
The legal uncertainty and threat of further fines is why you may see more bakeries staying closed this year.
Other independent ‘small shops’ such as butchers, cheese shops and fishmongers are in a similar position, and can open at the will of the owner.
Restaurants
Major restaurant chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, Flunch and KFC are likely to be open on 1 May.
Independent restaurant owners technically face the same rules as bakeries and other small commerces, with many choosing not to have their staff work on this day.
However, the Groupement des Hôtelleries et Restaurations de France, one of the main professional organisations in the hospitality sector, states on its website that “hotels, cafés and restaurants are authorised to open their establishments and have their employees work on this day.”
If restaurant owners follow this recommendation you may well find eating establishments will be open.
Florists
Florists are a slightly special case, and although they are technically subject to the same rules, many will be open.
Read also: Five things you may not know about florists in France
This is because of the May 1 tradition of offering muguet to bring luck and good wishes for the season ahead. The tradition is said to date back to May 1, 1561, when King Charles IX was given a lily of the valley to bring him luck.
It is considered one of the most successful days of the year for florists around France.
Cinemas, museums and libraries
Most cinemas will be open on May 1, especially chains such as UGC and Pathé.
National museums will be closed, however smaller attractions may remain open. Some monuments such as The Eiffel Tower and the arena of Nîmes will also be open.
Theme parks including Disneyland Paris, Futuroscope, Parc Astérix and Puy du Fou will remain open.
Libraries, however, will also close across the country.
DIY stores
DIY and homeware shops are generally open on Sundays, however this is less the case on May 1, when a lot of these outlets, including chains such as Mr Bricolage and Leroy Merlin, will be closed.
You can verify exceptional opening hours on the store’s website, or try calling the shop directly to confirm.
Gyms and sport facilities
The situation is similar for gyms and swimming pools - most will be closed but you can double check opening hours on the website of your local sports establishment.
Public transport
Access to public transport on May 1 will depend on where you live in France.
In the Île-de-France region, transport is likely to operate as a Sunday service, meaning trains, RER, metro and buses will be running. Note that traffic may be disrupted by Labour Day marches and demonstrations.
Other areas offering some reduced transport services include: Annecy, Chamonix, Metz and Saint-Malo.
Cities where transport services are completely cancelled include: Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Rennes, Grenoble, Dijon, Nice, Orléans, Rouen, Reims and Le Havre.
Some long-distance transport solutions will continue to operate, such as BlaBlaCar Bus and Flixbus coaches. SNCF trains including on the TGV and intercity lines will also be running.
Read also: May will be difficult month for train travel in France, warns minister
