How shut is France over Easter?

[Bill]

We're planning to drive through France (Cherbourg to Perpignan in three stages) over the Easter weekend and I'm sure I've been caught out before on a bank holiday in France. We've got three young kids so could do with diversions en route and don't want to find everything shut.

Come to think of it, how open are French tourist sites likely to be in April?

[5potTurbo]

Most tourist stuff opens on the Easter weekend.
Shops will almost all be closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Monday, although this varies depending on how "touristy" the areas are.

[Bill]

Brilliant, cheers.

[Bluebarge]

Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in France, but many small shops close on Mondays all year round anyway. The big supermarkets will be open on Saturday and Monday, and may be open on Friday for reduced opening hours. Patisseries will be open on Sunday morning (and usually Friday morning esp. if they sell easter eggs) but will then shut up shop until Tuesday. If you want to get an Easter egg from a patissier/chocolatier, best order it asap before Sunday.