An international study shows that the French take more holidays than any other European nation, reports The Guardian.
Anyone who has ever visited Paris – or any major city this side of the Channel – in summer can vouch; the French do like their vacances.
Public schools close for at least two months in July and August while many municipal sports centres, stores, restaurants and businesses shut up shop as families head for the beach or the countryside, leaving a "Back in September" note on the door.
Or so the stereotype goes. However, a poll has shown that there may be more truth to the caricature than previously imagined.
The study by Harris Interactive claims our Gallic neighbours take more holidays than anyone else in Europe – an average of 30 days compared with 26 elsewhere on the continent and 15 worldwide.
And economic crisis or not, the French intend to carry on doing so, with 72 % planning at least as many holidays in the next 12 months, and 10% to take even more.
Many of those taking fewer days off – around 11 % – are not doing so for financial reasons, but because they want to accumulate time off to get away for longer next year, says the poll.
Of the French quizzed, 60% said they had never cancelled or postponed a holiday for work reasons.