My tips for cycling in France

I did a long tour around France on the bike, and wild camped most days, I generally never had a problem finding somewhere to pitch up. I encountered land owners on several occasions and mostly they were pleasant and didn't object.

A number of times we visited vineyards, wineries, and farms selling produce, bought something and asked if is was possible camp somewhere out of the way and every time they said yes. One some occasions they even made us packed lunches, invited us to dinner, etc. Far better experience than staying in an F1 :-)

I must say speaking French felt like a real advantage though.

Sorry Rich, only just seen this. No idea in truth. I'd imagine they do but I've never actually looked to find out.

Something worth bearing in mind though is cemeteries. Pretty much every town has one and they invariably have a tap for water. It's pretty freaky wondering around one by torch light in the small hours though! Been there, done that! Equally, a local sports' ground (or 'stade') usually has an outside tap.

Some of the hard standing areas do have water taps.

I cemeteries are a reliable source of water. I've even come across a couple of cemeteries with a WC in the corner though they are not the norm.

Another source of water is the cast iron standards with a rotating top. They are usually painted green and look a bit like a fire hydrant. Rotating the top using the integrated handle initiates a gurgling sound and eventually a stream of water. Stop turning the handle and the flow of water ceases. Magic!

They don't always work, unfortunately. In my town none of them do. I've never had problems finding water in France, though. When I stop in a bar or even a bakers, I always ask them if they can fill my bottle - some even offer to put ice in it.

Round these parts, south west, most of the camper van stopping sites do have running water, but it's not always drinkable, but will be marked non potable if that is the case. Most village squares have a tap or fountain and only the most niggardly of cafe owners will refuse to fill a bidon or two if asked nicely.Very often if I stop for a coffee, they will ask me if I want mine filled.

When entering a bar or café, say "Bonjour" to the people in there, whether you know them or not.
Similarly, if you see people eating, wish them a "Bon appétit".
You'll notice French people doing it to you, so why not do as they do to and spread the politeness and love.
That's why I love France. It's (generally) just such a polite and civilised society.

Yes, it is the norm. A basic level of politeness perhaps, or just a cultural habit? Who knows. Either way, it happens. They're equally as likely to just say 'madame' or 'monsieur' or 'madame monsieur' etc depending on who is in the bar/cafe.

I agree!

French cemeteries all have a tap which can be handy at times for filling water bottles.
I do agree that France is the most wonderful country for cycling and drivers there really do have a real respect for cyclists. I miss it terribly after cycle/camping there for thirty-five years and living there for three. I had to give this up due to health problems but even now,every summer I think of my wee tent and how good it was to spend a couple of months cycling those little country roads. I really wish I wasn't old and decrepit.

Much the same experience for me. I have been visiting France for 35 years as a cyclist and driver in both very rural and heavily urbanised areas. We frequently stay with and are driven by French nationals. They have never even mentioned or acted upon the rule - even when lending us a car.

While I know the rule exists, and have often seen the warning signs, the only time I had an issue with prioritie a droite was the first time I drove on the Periphique in Paris. I was busy cursing the idiots pulling out in front of me until my French passenger pointed out those entering from the right had priority.

The rule is not an issue, merely requiring a common sense, cautious approach to driving or driving in a foreign country I hope the over-emphasis on this issue does not put anyone off visiting a wonderful country.

re priorite a droite. This is my take..

France is a much bigger country than the UK and has a vast number of tiny roads whose junctions are often well below modern standards. Economically it would be absurd to re engineer them all so road users have to take considerable care in such situations. Fortunately traffic density is far less than in much of the UK.

On major French roads outside towns there is no priorite a droite unless clearly marked by the sign shown by the OP, i.e. triangle and black st Andrews cross. Incredibly rare IME.

On rural roads it is not uncommon and in both instances always refers to a specific junction.

A sign that is a yellow diamond on white means that you are on a road that has over all priorite and vehicles from both left and right must give way. Usually seen on leaving a town.

The same sign with a black slash across means you no longer have complete priorite and must give way to vehicles from the right, usually seen on entering a town.

I can think of only a single occasion when I have had a problem with priorite a droite when cycling, a scare really, as a car passed at speed on a right hand merging road. A lesson learned!

Otherwise TBH, I find the best plan is to drive a large, battered old white van as this will gain you the respect you need on the roads unless you meet a tractor. Fortunately most tractor drivers have been very good so far.

I started driving in France in 1992 and since 2005 I spend half my time in the Haute Vienne, where the huge majority of drivers are courteous and unaggressive (apart from the odd timber lorry driver though most of them are fine).

Just picked up this link from a motorhome forum that I frequent http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/priority-a-droite.htm and I have to admit that although I was aware of 'proirity a droite', I've never noticed the red & white posts positioned at junctions as depicted in the link ??

Excellent read thank you

They are a common occurrence in the Limousin area (very rural roads).

Your link is very interesting!

Is priorite a droite really not a symptom of the general mood in French politics rather than an arcane ambiguous custom of little relevance to modern day road manners or common sense?

I have driven a few hundred thousand kilometers in France and NEVER EVER had a problem with PaD. I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. The only place I ever found it was ever observed was on l' Arc de Triomphe being the national symbol of French identity and example to all French that their way of driving is correct and right, the Parisians cocking a Gallic snoot to those drivers from foreign jurisdictions with common sense and a more developed road sense who are reduced to pulp negotiating the l' AdT. I was more often driving a big white van when I went around it, several times.

How about concentrating on the numbers killed in RTAs in France which is far higher than the UK as also is drink driving? That the police have powers to levy substantial on the spot fines or get you in front of a local magistrate within hours should you commit a misdemeanour. France is a very beaurocratic country. If you break rules and you are caught .......... you are for the chop.

But if you like adhering to rules and the minutae of protocol then France is for you except when the French decide to spectacularly suspend the rules and it becomes a free for all - melee. Pffuffff! Euhhhh! Speaking good French helps such a lot.

I can whole heartedly recommend Stephen Clarke's comic books on France and the French. He is a bit like what Bill Bryson and Clive James are to the UK.

Cycling on the minor roads in France, through rural France, is a delight although busier and more major roads can be hazardous. The French are courteous to cyclists, that is cyclists who look like they are racing or club cyclists, but other types of cyclists, ie commuters or those who cycle because they eschew a car are despised and are fair game with any thing else that strays across the path of their vehicle.

The road from my hameau emerges onto the main road and I have priorite a droite over main road traffic. The reason is that visibility at this junction is so poor that it's important for me to have the priority, otherwise main road traffic could simply plough into me and say I didn't look! As it is the onus is on them to look and be careful. A not unusual situation hereabouts.

IME different parts of France are.. er.. different. I don't ride a road bike, I have an audax bike and a tourer and yet even when I go out and do my shopping with panniers I still find that French drivers are courteous both in this area and also when I have toured in different parts. My French is very poor yet I do try to speak it and get along pretty well since most French people I meet are friendly and helpful (I tend to avoid Paris).

Having run a red in my van I was followed by a Gendarme who then stopped me and explained my misdemeanour (it was a kind of red you don't get in the UK and they have now changed the junction), I apologised and he told me not to do it again. I guess being courteous got me off! Nevertheless, the Gendarmes do give short shrift to speeders and such like (I have seen them hiding behind buildings and walls with their radars) and speed cameras are becoming less and less easy to spot.

Whilst I wouldn't argue with that, it's worth bearing in mind that French roads in holiday season are stuffed with foreign drivers, Dutch, Belgian, German, Brits and the rest. Many of these drive like lunatics.. ..because they are on holiday? I avoid the main roads in August. It's also true that France is a much bigger country than the UK with a great number of rural roads, narrow and tortuous which lend themselves to accidents if you are careless or simply unaccustomed to such roads. In winter it is impossible to treat these roads (there are so many) and driving can be very treacherous. In February the temperature here was between 10 and 14 below for a fortnight and other parts of France several degrees colder. Unlike the UK it is a continental climate rather than that of an island washed by the Gulf Stream.