Although wild camping has somewhat of a romantic and idyllic aura to it, it isn't necessarily for everyone. As is the case with any outdoor pursuit, there are both pros and cons to this activity.

Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024. A version of this article appears in print on Aug. 24, 2024, Section C, Page 7 of the New York edition with the headline: Roaming in France’s Wild, Wild South.

Sedate Parisians strolling in the Bois one day last fortnight were startled by unfamiliar sounds: the music of ukuleles and harmonicas, wild cries of “Yipee! Yipee!” Drawn by these noises into ...