Going to France ?

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regbill

Going to France ?

Post by regbill »

Hello,
I'm new to metal detecting, and I'm off to France in a couple of months and wanted to look on my friends land, but was wondering if it is allowed in France???
cleetop
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Post by cleetop »

Hi Regbill,

You can detect in France but you should know that the hobby is not as well established as it is in the UK and other countries. Hardly a week goes by without reports in the press about people with metal detectors damaging archaeological sites or plundering the countryside (example https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/pat ... 16461.html.

On the other hand, people that I've met while detecting have always been friendly and curious about what I'm doing and what I've found.

The key is to be absolutely sure that you have permission from your friend to search his land. It's also useful if you have a "legitimate reason" to search, for example to find some keys or something of sentimental value that was lost in that location. Another reason for using your detector could be that your friend wants to 'de-pollute' his land and that you are helping by removing scraps of metal that could harm his cattle or damage his farm machinery, etc. (Btw, having a pleasant afternoon in the fresh air hoping to find the odd button or musket ball is not seen as legitimate reason for using a metal detector [42/] )

Anyway, welcome to France and remember to tell us about your experience [81/]
Frenchdavee
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Post by Frenchdavee »

I have detected in France for 18 years in the Mayenne department. This is a rural area and there are few detectorist, however I have found every farmer I have approached gave me permission to search; one even asked how much I charged! There are two detecting magazines available and of course XP have their company here. The find rate locally is very low, and I have not found a Roman coin or a hammy in my time here. Perhaps in the Normandy region military finds would be very common. I took my best find, a Bronze age axe, to a museum at Jublains (an excellent Roman fortress nearby) to record it with an archaeologist. The reception I received was very cold, first telling me the laws wrt detecting in France were very different from the UK and secondly asking if I had permission to search. They also wanted photos and find information, which I sent, but I received no acknowledgement at all; very reminicent of the uk 20 years ago. I hope that encourages visitors too France, short or long term, to stick to the rules and persevere. Lastly, I was asked by our mayor to display my finds at our fete, which I did and received lots of interest! So get involed with your local French neighbours.
Randelluk

Post by Randelluk »

Hi all, I'm fairly new to metal detecting. I have a viking v5.
I'm looking to going to a friend's house out in France and they have asked if I would have a go at metal detecting out there.

Does anyone have a standardised french permission form to detect? Of course i would only be looking for modern items.

My french isnt great and I just want to be one step ahead of the gendarmes if they come knocking.
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Swiss Rolly
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Post by Swiss Rolly »

I have done many years detecting in France without problem.

Albeit a small chance just be aware of the dangers of old decaying ordnance from both wars.

Tragically a number of people are still killed every year.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-new ... ll-3862370 - Oldish article but still hold true.

SR
Randelluk

Post by Randelluk »

Will certainly bear it in mind. Thankfully it's off the beaten track in a small village and quite away from any notable battles.
A company I used to do some work for still detects and removes large amount of ordnance from building sites in the UK and abroad.
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T-800
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Post by T-800 »

Hi,

What the french law says:

"No one may use equipment allowing the detection of metallic objects, for the purpose of researching monuments and objects which may be of interest to prehistory, history, art or archeology, without having, beforehand, obtained an administrative authorization issued according to the qualification of the applicant as well as the nature and methods of the research
percy vere
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Post by percy vere »

All these posts pretty much sum things up where detecting in France is concerned [81/]

It's a different ball game entirely than detecting in the UK and is not looked on favorably by the authorities [30/] and imo their rules and regs are foolish because they are letting stuff Rot away in the ground that could be in a museum for all to see and appreciate.

I've heard tales of people getting their detectors confiscated and all sorts of horror stories.

This subject has been discussed on here before in the past and the general consensus was that like cleetop says best to get permission but if anyone asks what you are looking for just say lost keys, other lost items or meteorites [88/]

I've had a holiday home over there for quite a few years in a remote rural area. I've detected in my French neighbours gardens, lake shores, an old mill site etc and found loads of coins but none as old as I hoped for (yet!) [88/] but must say that I take my "backup" detector just in case they confiscated it and have rehearsed my lines in readiness in case the gendams show up!! BTW I'm ashamed to say that my French is very limited to say the least [34/] bonne chance
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T-800
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Post by T-800 »

Personally I've never had a problem. in case of control you can say that you are looking for a piece of agricultural machinery lost by the owner.
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