Vacation nation: Preparing for a French summer holiday

According to France 24, the 'congés payés'—French paid leave—represents far more than a job benefit; it's a pillar of national identity. Workers enjoy a guaranteed minimum of thirty days per year, and during summer, the consequence becomes undeniable: from July through August, the country shuts down almost entirely as people depart for beaches, countryside retreats, and family time. The story explores why this vacation culture runs so deep and how an entire nation has organized itself around the principle that extended time off is not a luxury, but a fundamental right.

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