The major public holidays in France are:
January 1st, Easter, Easter Monday, Ascension Thursday, May 1st(Labor Day), May
8th (End of world war II), Whit Monday, July14th (Bastille Day), August 15th,
November 1st, November 11th and Christmas
On those days, banks, shops and almost everything else will be closed.
Make sure you have enough money and a full tank of gas (petrol).
During July/August all of France goes on vacation. So traffic conditions may be
congested on highways and the hotels often fully booked out, except in Paris,
which you may so have all to yourself