Are we free to move in nature? Not completely. Whether hiking a mountaintop or hiking a marked trail in a regional nature park, we are always on someone’s home, private property, or public property. This includes following certain rules.
Hiking along the marked trails. is always allowed
This is the most obvious case. If you are walking on a marked path A great hike (GR, white and red markings), Country GR: (GRP, yellow and red beacon), Walk and walk (PR, yellow, blue or green markings) The French Trekking Federation (FFR) has already taken steps against the owners. You are free to travel on a road, whether it crosses public property or private property.
Other signs are sometimes visible and follow the same rule. The orange line means the road is accessible by horse, and the triangle attached to the two red circles marks the mountain bike trail. Each municipality can then designate a certain number of trails in its area according to the Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes (PDIPR).
Walk on the marked paths. possible, if not strictly prohibited
Be careful, not all markings give you a blank check for hiking. Indeed, it is common to confuse “official” markings with markings made by private individuals, for example on trees in a private forest. If in doubt, it is better to ask the municipality, tourist guide or IGN map (a purple route means the path is marked), as these paths are not open to public traffic in principle.
In practice, it is common for a private owner to tolerate the passage of hikers through his basin or his forest. This tolerance is assumed unless the property is gated, the road is blocked, or there is no sign indicating no trespassing. However, this is not a definitive right of way and the owner may terminate this tolerance at any time. This rule is described, for example, in the case of the Tour Percée, in the Chartreuse massif, in the Isère; this arch is on private land and is not served by a marked road. Under which hikers must turn if passage is prohibited or if the owner or lessee requires it.
There remains the question of the rider leaving a marked road (eg community or GRP) in the heart of private property. In this case, the trail is subject to an easement or right-of-way by the owner, but this does not extend to the area outside the trail. Therefore, we return to the principle of no public trespass on private land. In addition, some natural areas, such as Vanoise National Park (Savoie), prohibit off-trail hiking, explicitly targeting it in their regulations.
Wild camp. highly controlled practice
Sections R111-32 and R111-33 of the City Planning Code address the issue of isolated camping (ie, outside designated areas). These regulations make no distinction between spending one night in a tent and camping for several days and nights.
About: private land, it is possible to make a bivouac or camp there only with the consent of the person using the land (tenant, owner, etc.), the owner can oppose it in the last case. Theoretically, therefore, it is necessary to search in the municipality who is the owner of the cadastral plot where you want to settle and contact him.
What about? public property, the rules are accurate. Unless otherwise specified, camping is prohibited.
- On the roads
- In the beach
- In classified places, whether historical, scientific, natural, etc.
- within the perimeter of notable heritage sites and historical monuments (500 meters in total)
- Within a radius of 200 meters of captured water points for consumption.
Under Section R111-34 of the City Planning Code, certain mayors may also prohibit camping based on their local city plan or by ordinance to that effect. The reasons are many: public health, safety or peace, or risk of damage to landscapes.
However, these restrictions only apply if a tent or caravan is equipped in advance. For example, there is no law against sleeping on the beach under the stars. As for sites and protected areas, it will be necessary to analyze the situation on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it is possible to sleep without a tent.
Regional national and natural parks. distinction between camping and bivouac
France has several types of protected natural areas (National Parks, Regional Natural Parks, Nature Reserves, Sensitive Natural Areas, etc.). Everyone has their own rules about spending the night there. Many make a difference campaign (leaving your tent or caravan in the same place for several days and nights in a row), bivouac (putting up the tent in the evening and taking it down in the morning) and sometimes at night under the stars.
For example, camping is prohibited in Vanoise National Park and camping is only allowed between 7pm and 8am and near some shelters. Camping within the Pyrenees National Park is only possible at certain times and less than an hour from the park boundaries. In the Hauts de Chartreuse reserve, tents are prohibited to limit disturbance, but not at night under the stars, which is still allowed. You should find out about the specific rules for each space by visiting the specific website.
Source: Le Figaro
