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Residents can collect winter firewood from local forests under ancient French tradition
Deadlines to sign up are approaching with a cubic metre of wood available for as little as €3
Published
Residents in France who wish to heat their homes using firewood can access supplies through a practice known as affouage.
Affouage is a long-standing French tradition that allows communes to allocate some of the wood from their forests to local residents for domestic heating, usually for a modest fee.
The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and whereas back then access to the wood was at the behest of the lord of the manor, these days it is organised by the local mairie.
Registration periods are limited, however, and residents may have to cut, prepare and transport the wood themselves.
Communes have already started to announce their affouage arrangements for the 2026-2027 season, with prices starting at €3 per stère, a traditional French measure of firewood volume that is roughly equivalent to a cubic metre.
By contrast, a stère of firewood bought commercially might cost anywhere from €55 to €130 depending on the dimensions of the logs, based on current prices. Although it is worth noting that commercially bought wood usually comes pre-cut, dried and prepared.
In Courtelevant, Territoire de Belfort, residents can register for affouage at the mairie until October 23, inclusive. Oak, birch and alder cost €7 per stère, while other types of wood cost €12.
A separate scheme of the commune allows people aged 60 and over who heat their homes with wood to obtain a lot of eight stères for €360, with registrations open until October 26.
In Villequiers, Cher, residents can register with the mairie until October 31 to obtain firewood through an alternative scheme.
New trees will not be cut this year due to the effects of this summer’s drought. Instead, the commune is offering wood to be collected from the ground for a provisional price of €3 per stère, as well as oak tree tops for €5 per stère. Final prices are yet to be confirmed.
In Pagny-sur-Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, the price is €13 per stère. Applications for the current campaign are open until October 30.
Meanwhile, Arcey, Doubs, is offering wood at €8.50 per stère, with registrations open until October 30.
These are just a few examples of the prices and schemes available in France. Residents interested in obtaining cheap firewood should contact their mairie as soon as possible to see whether they organise a similar scheme.
Eligibility conditions and the amount of wood available vary by commune. Residents may need to register before a deadline, provide proof of residence or comply with limits on the amount of wood they can obtain.
Can you collect wood freely in a French forest?
It is important to remember that the existence of affouage schemes does not mean residents can collect wood wherever they wish.
Cutting or removing wood without permission can result in penalties under the French Forest Code. Article R163-1 provides for a fifth-class fine for cutting or removing wood with a circumference of less than 20cm. The court can also order the confiscation of tools used in the offence and the wood obtained.
The rules also protect privately-owned forests, where taking wood without the owner's permission can constitute theft.
Residents who wish to collect firewood should therefore contact their mairie first.
