French Waterways licences 2011

[Grehan]

The VNF (French Waterways Authority) have just published their licence ('vignette') rates for 2011. Full Details Here. A licence is necessary in order to traverse nearly all French rivers and canals; charges vary according to size of boat, period of time required, and season.

 

[Tom Price]

VNF fees

Jim, thanks for that.
Could you specify the waterways which are NOT part of VNF?
Aren't Brittany Canals excluded? Backwaters of Paris too?
How about the Somme?

I see that the list of 2011 chomages (stoppages) was published a month or two ago - far earlier than usual.
TP

 

[Grehan]

Non-VNF administered French rivers and canals

Yes, I think you're correct with all the waterways you list, plus the River Lot. I'm not sure there is an easy-to-find definitive VNF/Non-VNF list but I'll see what I can trawl up and/or maybe other folks could comment. Paris? - I think the Canals St Martin and St Denis are VNF but the River Ourcq isn't, but could well be wrong.
Remember, a licence is only required for when the boat is moving (i.e not for periods of time when moored up).

 

[LadyInBed]

Could you specify the waterways which are NOT part of VNF?
Aren't Brittany Canals excluded?

Correct, Vilaine and Rance are not VNF

 

[Tom Price]

Surely the map of stoppages (Carte des Chomages) on the VNF website is a starter? There's nothing shown in South Brittany until the Canal du Midi - hardly concrete evidence!
Which raises the question: What information is available about stoppages planned in that area?