are French motorway service stations open on Xmas Day?

pigeonpie

Looks like we'll be driving through from Calais to SW France including on Xmas Day. Are the motorway service stations open, for petrol, drinks, food etc or would it just be petrol with a credit card, pay at the pump?

We have no alternative to leaving the UK on 24th December and it's too far (near Spanish border) to reach in one day.

We are presuming hotel chains like Ibis are open!

thanks for any info. Can't find anything on autoroutes.fr and my french friends think it's ok (as long as no strikes)

Vader123

I did it a few years ago and the stops are "open" in that you can pull into it, but there is no service in them. You can buy petrol though if you have a chip and pin card from the 24Hr unmanned pumps.

Vader

Vader123

They are "open" in that you can pull into them but the shops etc won't be open.

You can get petrol with the 24Hr unmanned pumps and your credit card.

Vader