Acronyms, toponyms, navigation terms and other geographical words – here’s a one-page guide to the many terms used to describe the Rhône and other rivers in France and Europe.
Acronym
To help you understand administrative and territorial abbreviations, here are a few acronyms, their meanings and a few details about their roles or functions in relation to the Rhône river.
VNF
Voies Navigables de France
Voies Navigables de France (VNF) is the public body responsible for the management, maintenance and development of France’s navigable waterways. Created in 1991, VNF oversees a network of 6,700 km of navigable canals, rivers and waterways, the largest inland waterway network in Europe. Its role is crucial for the environment, with around 60 million tonnes transported each year, helping to reduce CO2 emissions. VNF also contributes to the development of freight transport and encourages the development of river tourism. The main infrastructures managed by VNF include 4,000 engineering structures such as locks, dams, canal bridges and river ports. VNF also plays a key role in water management and flood prevention, working with a range of local and national stakeholders. Its head office is in Béthune, with regional offices for local management. Financed by the State, local authorities and its own revenues, VNF is a key player in France’s river and waterway economy.
Find out more?
- Waterways in the Rhône Valley and in France
- VNF, Wikipedia
Along the Rhône
- Map of the Rhône river
- Weather along the Rhône
- Taking the train in Switzerland and France
- Where to sleep in the Rhône valley?
- River tourism map (Rhône)
- Towns along the river
- The Viarhôna, the green bike route along the Rhône river