Wild camping in Europe becoming a rare event

By Nadia-Maria Chaar May 18, 2010, 15:26 GMT

Hamburg - For many campers, complete freedom is an intrinsic attraction of the past-time.

Camping areas abound in Europe but places where a person can camp in the wild are becoming rarer by the year.

'Europe isn't as wildly romantic as it once was,' says Stefan Thun, managing editor of the camping and caravanning magazine published by the German automobile association ADAC.

Wild camping is illegal in most countries. Only in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Ireland is it still permitted to erect tents in the countryside for several nights.

Even in these countries, however, remote locations are becoming the exception, especially in coastal areas where the land is blocked off or camping sites are in plentiful supply, explains Thun.

As a result, wild camping directly on a beach or lake is virtually impossible although Nordic countries still offer camping outside of the comfort of maintained sites with Sweden the leader in this area.

In Sweden, it is still permitted to camp for one night, including making a fire, without requiring the land owner's permission. This right of public access has its roots in the 'Allemansrecht,' an old common code of conduct in Sweden.

'This is an ancient law, a law for everybody,' says Viveca Burkhardt, a spokesperson for Visit Sweden.

However, there are a couple of rules to be followed. A tent can't be pitched in sight of a house and there can by no trace of an open fire left behind.

The Allemannsrecht is only for backpackers and cycling tourists. Those travelling by caravan have to use recognised camping sites or public car parks and lay-bys, explains Burkhardt.

The situation is slightly different in Denmark.

'Caravans and mobile homes have to use the camping sites,' says Stefanie Czechowsky of Visit Denmark.

In France, wild camping is allowed as long as it is with the permission of the landowner. In reality, this means there is no wild camping along the coast as legally the land belongs to all citizens, explains Nadja Hohmann of Atout France.

The Poles are more generous. While wild camping is banned, there hasn't been a single successful prosecution in the last 20 years, reveals Magdalena Korzeniowska of the Polish tourist office in Berlin.

Anyone wanting to stay overnight in lay-bys in Germany, Austria or Switzerland can only do so for one night in order to rest, explains Manuela Moedlhammer from Vienna's Austriainfo.

Spain has specially signposted areas where caravans can halt overnight, everywhere else is forbidden, says Maria Hernandez Medina of the Spanish tourist office in Berlin.

According to the ADAC, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are strictest when it comes to wild camping.

Caravans are not allowed stay overnight in car parks and motorway rest areas although tents can be pitched on private property.