Most shops are closed on Sundays in France due to a 1906 law establishing it as a mandatory day of rest, deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and labor protection. It is designed to ensure a work-life balance, allowing citizens time with family, although exceptions exist for tourist areas, bakeries, and small markets.
Traditionally speaking, shops do not open in France on Sundays; however the rules have changed in recent years, and now across France you will find supermarkets, DIY and gardening shops open on Sunday morning. In tourist areas the rules are more flexible, and all sorts of shops can now stay open all day.
Working on Sundays is strictly forbidden in France, except in exceptional industries where there's the need to fulfil the public's demands, such as restaurants, food manufacturing and entertainment.
Unlike the fast-paced weekdays, Sundays offer a slower, more reflective pace where Parisians take time to enjoy life's small pleasures. From morning markets to lazy brunches, cultural visits to scenic walks, here's how locals truly make the most of their Sundays in the City of Light.
Sunday was established as a day of rest in France by a 1906 law, which banned people from working on a Sunday. And, when people who work in bakeries, supermarkets, banks, don't work, everyone else has no choice but to relax a bit.
It's not illegal for shops to be open on Sunday in the UK, but large stores (over 280 sq m) have restrictions, allowing only 6 continuous hours between 10 am-6 pm and requiring closure on Easter Sunday & Christmas Day; small shops have no restrictions, while various types like pharmacies, pubs, farm shops, and petrol stations are exempt, all under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, notes the Bolton Council and GOV.UK.
What was it called when everything was closed on Sunday?
Blue laws (also known as Sunday laws, Sunday trade laws, and Sunday closing laws) are laws restricting or banning certain activities on specified days, usually Sundays in the western world. The laws were adopted originally for religious reasons, specifically to promote the observance of the Christian day of worship.
In France, the typical workweek runs Monday to Friday, with standard hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. However, the official full-time workweek is 35 hours, offering more free time than many other countries. This shorter workweek is designed to promote work-life balance, a core value in French professional culture.
In France, families gather at mother's or grandmother's house on Sunday for a traditional midday meal. Part of the pleasure, especially for the host or hostess, is that guests and family arrive with contributions to the meal. And, most often, those offerings aren't cooked at home. They're purchased along the way.
An employer who needs staff to work on Sundays must tell them in writing that they can opt out. They must do this within 2 months of the person starting work - if they do not, only 1 month's notice is needed to opt out. An employee cannot be dismissed or treated unfairly for choosing not to work on Sundays.
What should you say when you enter a store in France?
Each time you enter a store, make eye contact with the salesperson and say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur. As you leave the store, don't forget say au revoir madame or au revoir monsieur.
Many Parisians are also out and about on public holidays and Sundays in Paris so popular museums, gardens and other activities can be quite busy, so what to do in Paris on Sunday and public holidays can be a bit tricky.
Pharmacies are typically open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, and close during lunch time (12PM-2PM) and on Sunday. However, everyday there is “une pharmacie de garde,” to be used only for emergencies, when treatment should not be delayed, and open all day and all night.
Blue laws still exist because they can be considered secularly beneficial. Like no alcohol sales on Sunday promotes health and a day of rest for all citizens, even if it's really an old fashioned way to have more people attend church on Sundays. Look at McGowan v. Maryland (1961).
On Sundays, large shops may open for no more than 6 continual hours between the period 10am and 6pm. All large shops must close on Easter Sunday. Under the Christmas Day (Trading Act) 2004 all large shops must close on Christmas Day on whatever day of the week it falls.
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 (c. 20) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom governing the right of shops in England and Wales to trade on a Sunday. Buying and selling on Sunday had previously been illegal, with exceptions, under the Shops Act 1950.
The following European Union countries currently allow all shops to open for at least part of every Sunday: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden.
Yes, most stores in the UK are open on Sundays, but large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) in England and Wales have restricted hours, typically opening for only six continuous hours between 10 am and 6 pm, while smaller shops have no restrictions, and Scotland has no Sunday trading laws at all. Pharmacies, service stations, and airport shops are often exempt from these rules.
There is actually a legal reason why shops shut early on Sundays. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 states that large stores are only able to be open for trading for a maximum of six consecutive hours between the hours of 10am and 6pm.
It depends where you live. Most of Europe, Asia, and Oceania consider Monday the first day of the week. North and South America, China, Japan, Israel, South Africa, and many Catholic and Protestant countries consider Sunday the first day of the week.
It's a small but meaningful rhythm, a shared ritual of simplicity, warmth, and time. On Sundays in France, people cook, stroll, read, and call their families. But most importantly, they allow themselves to do absolutely nothing, without guilt :).
