-
How to prepare your pool for the summer season in France
You must 'wake up' your pool and treat the water before taking a dip
-
French woman named one of world’s best teachers
Céline Haller, inspired by English and US teaching methods, has gained recognition for revolutionising learning with hands-on projects and inclusivity
-
How to receive personalised healthcare reminders in France
The reminders are designed to prevent people from forgetting to book important medical appointments
Calendar: France school holidays 2021/2022
When is la rentrée scolaire? Which French education authorities are in which school zones? What about la Toussaint? Check our calendar with the important dates to know

Holidays in French schools are split into three zones: A, B and C. Holiday dates are spread out for the winter and spring holidays, while others such as Toussaint, Christmas and summer holidays, are taken at the same time.
What are the French school holiday zones?
The zones cover different education authorities to spread out traffic movements and avoid holiday crowding. They are:
- Zone A – Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers
- Zone B – Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg
- Zone C – Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles
When is la rentrée scolaire 2021?
This year, school pupils across France will return to school on Thursday 2 September 2021. As usual, all the school zones will be starting at the same time.
Pupils will be in school for the rest of September and into October until they break for la Toussaint which starts on Saturday 23 October. They'll be back at school on Monday 8 November.
Christmas holidays will start on Saturday 18 December for all three zones, with the return to school scheduled for Monday 3 January 2022.
Winter holidays will be staggered for the different zones through February and early March 2022. Spring holidays will run through April, and for zones A and C into early May.
Different holiday dates are planned for schools in Corsica, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion Island, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
France school holidays dates for 2021 and 2022


More for parents of schoolchildren in France
What are the risks for families in France taking term-time holidays?
A guide to how to find extra help with schoolwork in France
France school and public holiday dates for 2021/22