An halte nautique or halte fluviale is a place along the waterway where you can tie up for a few hours or a few days – usually for free. They provide a great way to visit the towns along the waterway.

An halte will have some bollards or rings to tie to and sometimes offers water, electricity, trashcans, or bathrooms.

In contrast, a port de plaisance is a marina with more extensive facilities and a charge for dockage.

An halte is generally a rest stop.

Voies Navigables de France (VNF) translates as Waterways of France.

Waterway in French is either voie d’eau (literally way of water) or voie navigable (navigable way), the two phrases are interchangeable.

You’ll see Voies Navigables de France everywhere on the canals because they are the French governmental agency in charge of the French waterways.

They maintain, administer and promote the 6,700 kilometers of waterways under their jurisdiction. You’ll see the VNF logo on the lockkeepers’ shirts because lockkeepers are employed by the VNF.

VNF maintains the signage along the waterways – the notice board (panneau) posted at each lock alerts you to scheduled closures, lock opening hours, etc.. If you want to take your own boat on the French waterways, you will contact the VNF to obtain your vignette - a permit that allows your boat to travel on inland waterways. The VNF has offices in major ports along the waterways.

Dégustation! – that’s always a welcome sign along the waterway.

When the waterways travel through wine country, signs announcing dégustation dot the canal banks. The word dégustation means tasting and can apply to cheeses and other foods as well as wine.

But when you see the sign along the waterway, it usually means that you’ve found a spot to taste and buy wine. Generally, the tasting is gratuite – free of charge, and a great excuse for a sampling of the local wines.

Batellerie is a term that is used to refer to the professional users of the waterway – the persons who transport goods or passengers on the inland waterways. These professionals are also referred to as mariniers.

Those of us who travel the waterways for fun – either or on our own boat or on a chartered canal boat – are called plaisanciers (pleasure-boaters)

The Avis à la Batellerie will list the dates and locations of these closures. Navigation during a chômage may be interrupted or just restricted.

In other contexts, the word chômage is also used to refer to layoffs and unemployment.