Bivouac: wild camping

A fan of nighttime under the stars, would you like to bivouac along La Vélodyssée without really knowing if this practice is authorized or not? We tell you everything about the regulations in force right here. ⬇️
 

Bivouac, definition

The bivouac is defined as an overnight camp in the wilderness, consisting of a light and temporary installation. The principle of bivouac is to set up your light tent at nightfall and leave without leaving any trace of your passage at daybreak for new adventures.
 

The bivouac, the regulations

In France, wild camping (staying several nights in the same place) is strictly prohibited throughout almost the entire national territory.

Conversely, tolerances exist for the practice of bivouac. However, it is important to know the following regulations:

• According to article R111-32, camping is freely practiced on public property, in an isolated manner, outside the right-of-way of public roads and thoroughfares, with the agreement of the person who has use of the land, subject to , if applicable, of the owner's opposition.
• Bivouac can be practiced on the private property of a private person subject to having obtained the prior agreement of the owner. The rule will be the same on private property of a public person.

For these two cases, it will also be necessary to ensure that neither the Municipality's PLU regulations nor any administrative police measure prohibits the practice of camping in this sector. Specific decrees prohibiting this practice can in fact be taken by municipalities!

💡 Our advice before any bivouac practice: Find out in advance about the regulations in force in the municipality by contacting the Tourist Offices of the towns crossed by La Vélodyssée and the town halls.

Bivouac areas

Few in number along La Vélodyssée, already equipped with numerous Accueil Vélo campsites offering more and more cycling packages, a few bivouac stops are also at your disposal:

• Lock Keeper House of La Cueilleuse in Nort sur Erdre
• Nature stop from Mazerolles to Sucé sur Erdre
• Tonnay-Charente Bike Park (paid access)

Can I light a fire?

The use of fire is firstly regulated by the Forest Code. Article L 131-1 of this Code provides: “It is forbidden for any person other than the owner of land, whether wooded or not, or other than the occupants of this land under the authority of their owner, to carry or light fire on these lands and up to a distance of 200 meters from woods and forests as well as similar lands subject to the provisions of article L 131-4”. 

The use of fire can then be regulated at the municipal and departmental level by municipal or prefectural decree in application of administrative police powers.

We note the presence of numerous prefectural decrees which supplement the forest code by extending the fire ban and including restrictive provisions regarding the use of hiking equipment such as “gas stoves”. Indeed, it is important to consider here not only open fires, but also thermal fires that can be ignited using specific equipment capable or not of producing a flame from gas fuels most often, gasoline, alcohol, …

Overall, it is not recommended to light fires: they have a lasting impact on natural spaces as well as the fauna and flora they shelter.

Consequences of the heatwave which hit France in the summer of 2022, forest fires damaged Gironde and Landes.