Restaurants closed outside of Paris in August?

Must have been quite a while ago , your last visit to Paris ! Some close but thoudsands more are open, especially anywhere there are alot of tourists .

I'm in Paris pretty often, but the last time I was there over the summer was August 2014. About half the restaurants on my list that time were closed for the month.

Margaret, the owners of those closed restaurants in Paris were on holiday elsewhere in France where the restaurants were open .

Some restaurants do close, others don't. I suggest you look at it this way: If you have your heart set on one particular restaurant, it's possible that you may find it closed for the month. However, enough other restaurants will be open that you won't go hungry. It can get a bit dicey in some smaller towns (you may need to drive to the next), but it's not as if there's some universal congé (time off) going on in the restaurant business.

In my experience restaurants in small towns close in winter i.e. not tourist season. (and small towns tend to shut down on Mondays)

Many restaurants close on Sunday and/or Monday, because fishermen don't work, then.

The tradition of "everyone closing up shop and going on vacation" in France has hit the reality of economic concerns. So, more and more businesses are either "making the bridge" - taking a 3-4 day weekend, if there's a bank holiday - or taking one or two weeks when and if the weather turns bad.
You didn't state where you were in Normandy - it's a big area - so, it's difficult to explain exactly what might have happened.

Normally, in Paris, most people skip town the 3rd week in August, then race back to their businesses when everyone else comes back to show off their tans.

Thanks everyone - that information is helpful. Chexbres, I was referring to a prior trip to Paris; I haven't been to Normandy before, so I wasn't sure if it would be an issue there when I go this year, but Norma's point that "the owners of those closed restaurants in Paris were on holiday elsewhere in France where the restaurants were open" is a good one!

I think the best option would be to check the live weather reports the day before for the area you're interested in visiting. Weather changes drastically along the coast, so nothing is ever certain.

If there are raging storms, high seas, etc - I'd find something else to do, because I'm pretty certain that restaurants will be closed, and maybe some shops, too.

On the other hand, since you'll be going during the last few days of August, I'd expect a madhouse. You might have to ask your hotel to reserve a table for you, or walk by and do it yourself.