The first of May’s numerous public holidays, a big week for sports fans, new fees for driving licences and carte de séjour kick in — and household gas prices are set to rise
Monday
Back to school — Children attending schools in France’s Zone B, which includes Aix-Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg, return to classes after their Spring break, as do children at schools in Corsica. Children at schools in Zone C (Paris and the south-west) are the only ones on holiday now. They return to school next Monday, May 4th.
Art — An exhibition of works by Michelangelo and Rodin begins at the Louvre.
Tuesday
Football — Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes in the first Champions League semi-final first leg. The match kicks off at 9pm France time, and will be broadcast on Canal Plus. The opening leg of the second semi final between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal kicks off at 9pm on Wednesday.
Language — A new 12-week online beginner French course, created specially for The Local’s readers starts.
READ ALSO Learn French with The Local
Holiday I
May Day — Labour Day is a public holiday in France — the first of several in May — and one with very special status. Expect to see marches in towns and cities across the country, and muguet for sale on street corners.
READ ALSO Demos and flowers: What May 1st really means to the French
Household gas prices — Due to the war in Iran, the benchmark price for natural gas is rising significantly. According to the Commission de Régulation de l’Energie (CRE, France’s energy monitor), the benchmark retail price for gas will rise by an average of 15.4 percent (including VAT) from May 1st.
Driving licences — A law requiring foreigners living in France who need to swap their driving licence for a French one to pay a €40 ‘administration fee’ in order to get their new licence comes into force. As it is a public holiday, it will affect applications submitted on or after May 4th.
READ ALSO France to impose fees for driving licence exchange
Residency and citizenship fees – Also on May 1st, higher fees come into effect for getting or renewing a carte de séjour residency permit, or to apply for French citizenship.
READ ALSO: IN DETAIL: New fees for French citizenship and residency permits✎
Saturday
Rugby — Irish giants Leinster host Top 14 side Toulon in the first of the weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals. The match kicks off at the Aviva Stadium at 4pm, and will be broadcast on free-to-air France Télévisions and pay-TV broadcaster beIN Sport.
The Challenge Cup semi-final between Ulster and Exeter, meanwhile, kicks off at 6.30pm, and will be broadcast on beIN.
Sunday
Rugby II — Champions Cup holders Bordeaux host Bath at the Stade Atlantique in the second semi-final to see who will face the winners of Leinster-Toulon in Bilbao on Saturday, May 23rd. The match kicks off at 6.30pm, and will be broadcast on France Télévisions and beIN Sport.
At 1.30pm, another Top 14 side, Montpellier, host Welsh side Dragons at the Septeo Stadium in the second Challenge Cup semi-final. The match will be broadcast on France 3 and beIN Sport. The winners of Ulster-Exeter and Montpellier-Dragons will meet in the final in Bilbao on Friday, May 22nd.
