Trying to get anything done in France in August can be frustrating as the country shifts into holiday modes and shops and offices close up - but Emma Pearson argues that this tradition reveals important values and should be defended - even against France's own politicians.
It's August and the French are on holiday.
Well, sort of - the idea that France shuts down entirely in August is somewhat exaggerated; for the tourism businesses this is obviously peak season while emergency services continue as usual as do all sorts of vital jobs from waste collection to food deliveries. In fact, August is peak season for repair works on the Paris Metro - which means lots of engineers and technicians working hard over the summer.
For the rest of the population, the August break is often true but it tends to be two or three weeks rather than the whole month.
READ ALSO: Factcheck: Do French people really take off the entire month of August?
