Summary

Information about the 160 km long Petite Saône

SaoneAmont-location

The Petite Saône is fully canalised over a distance of 365km from Corre, where it is joined by the Canal des Vosges (Canal de l’Est, southern branch), to its conflu­ence with the Rhône at Lyon-La Mulatière. It also forms the backbone of the French waterway network, being joined by four major canals linking with the other main river basins: the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne (PK 127), the Canal du Rhône au Rhin (PK 160), the Canal de Bourgogne (PK 165) and the Canal du Centre (PK 221). In terms of navigable characteristics and standards, the river is divided into two sections:
1.    Corre to Auxonne, (150 km).
2.    Auxonne to Lyon (215 km).

Corre to Auxonne

Although forming part of the important link between the Rhine/Moselle basin and the Rhône, this section of the waterway is completely unspoilt and ideal for cruising. The river winds lazily through charming pastoral landscapes, the longer meanders being bypassed by lengths of canal incorporating standard 38.50m locks. These canal sections cut almost 30km from the natural length of the river (407km from Corre to Lyon). Because the kilometre posts are still in place, the original distances are retained in the route description below (with a note each time the route is suddenly shortened). There are two tunnels: Saint-Albin (PK 48) has a length of 681m, a width at water level of 6.55m and a maximum height of 4.10m, while Seveux-Savoyeux (PK 76) has a length of 643m, width 6.50m and headroom 3.60m. In both cases, the restricted wetted cross-section of the tunnel is retained for some distance beyond each entrance and one-way traffic is enforced, controlled by lights. At certain other locations identified in the distance table passing and overtaking are forbidden. The right-angle junction with the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne is controlled by lights from Heuilley lock (17).SaoneAmont-reg

HistoryThe Saône has always been the most navigable of French rivers, with a very gentle gradient and regular flow, albeit subject to floods which can make the broad valley look like an inland sea. The Roman general Vetus envisaged a canal from the Saône to the Moselle. Natural navigability made merchants an easy prey for local lords and tax collectors, and chains were laid across the river in many locations, to collect tolls. Colbert declared them illegal in 1664, but it seemed to Delalande – writing in 1778 – that ‘the easier the navigation, the more its natural advantages have been abused by exactions of all sorts’. Navigability in the industrial era was introduced, as on the other major rivers, after the movable weir was invented by Poirée. By 1847 there were five weirs and locks on the Saône. The canalisation as completed above Auxonne has not changed, while development of the high-capacity waterway downstream meant the replacement of 12 early weirs and locks by only five in the 215 km. The last, at Seurre, was completed in 1980. The entire waterway remains in the national priority network, and may one day be adapted to form the high-capacity Saône-Moselle waterway (Vetus’ dream!)

Essentials


Key Waterway Dimensions

  • Max Beam: 5.20m
  • Max Height: 3.50m
  • Max Draught: 1.80m

Navigation

Locks – In this section there are 19 locks and flood locks at Cubry-les-Soing and Ferrières-les-Ray, which are normally open. There are also flood gates protecting most of the lock-cuts. The first 15 locks (Corre to Gray) have a length of 38.50m with a width of 5.20m. The remaining four are 40 by 8m. Many of the locks are electrified and equipped for automatic operation. Users are handed a leaflet of instructions at the last manually operated lock.

Navigation – The river above Saint-Jean-de-Losne features occasional fallen trees and branches, on the banks and in the river itself. Branches can be seen floating on the surfaces; there are also waterlogged ones just below. Keep a good look-out.

Draught – From Corre to Auxonne lock the maximum authorised draught is 1.80m.

Headroom – The minimum headroom in this section is 3.50m.

Towpath – There is a good towpath throughout.

Regulations – The maximum authorised speed is 15km/h in river sections (although there are some local restrictions), and 6km/h in the lock-cuts. The entrance to the lock-cuts from upstream can bedelicate during floods.

Authority – VNF – Direction interrégionale Saône-Rhône Méditerranée
–    2, quai du canal, BP 2, 70170 Port-sur-Saône (PK  0-62)
–    5, quai Vergy 8, 70101 Gray (PK 62-127)
–    Avenue Pierre Nugues, 71100 Châlon-sur-Saône (PK  127-150)

Details+Map

Click to enlarge

Route description

PK 407.0 Junction with Canal des Vosges , d/s of Corre lock, port de plaisance, basin off river u/s l/b, 25 berths, www.fluvialoisirs.com night €10, water €2, electricity €2, showers, crane 25t, slipway, repairs, wifi, restaurant 400m in village

Corre junction and portPK 404.4 Entrance to Ormoy lock-cut, l/b
PK 403.0 Flood gate, bridge
PK 402.7 Ormoy bridge, village l/b
PK 401.9 Bridge (Devez)
PK 401.5 Ormoy lock (automatic), bridge
PK 401.4 End of lock-cut, river PK 400.7 (difference = 0.7km)
PK 400.2 Entrance to Denon meander cutoff l/b
PK 400.1 Denon bridge
PK 400.0 End of cutoff l/b, river PK 398,7 (difference = 1.3km, 2km total from Corre)
PK 398.4 Rond Pré meander cutoff (l/b)
PK 396.9 Vaivre meander cutoff (l/b)
PK 395.8 Entrance to Cendrecourt lock-cut, l/b, flood gate, bridge
PK 393.8 Cendrecourt lock (automatic), bridge, village 500m l/bPK 393.5 End of lock-cut, 25m long timber quay and slipway 200m up the Saône at campsite, no services, mooring for Jussey station 1 km, small town 2 km, river PK 392 (difference = 1.5km, 3.5km total from Corre)

The long walk from the rural mooring is rewarded by all basic shops and restaurants in this small market town, also with a station on the main line from Paris to Vesoul, which may be very useful in this very remote area.

PK 391.8 Cendrecourt bridge
PK 390.6 Jussey railway viaduct
PK 390.2 Confluence of Amance, r/b
PK 386.1 La Hang meander cutoff, passing forbidden
PK 385.8 La Hang Bridge and end of cutoff l/b, river PK 385.6 (difference = 0.2km, 3.7km total from Corre)
PK 384.5 Montureux-les-Baulay, l/b
PK 383.7 Montureux bridge, entrance to Montureux lock-cut l/b
PK 383.3 Montureux lock (automatic), bridge, quays u/s and d/s l/b
PK 383.2 End of lock-cut, river PK 382.6 (difference = 0.8km, 4.5km total from Corre)
PK 381.1 Fouchécourt port de plaisance r/b (Le Petit Port), www.lepetitport.fr, 15 berths, night €12, water, electricity, shower, restaurant
PK 380.1 Baulay bridge, timber quay, pontoon moorings u/s l/b, water, village 300m l/b
PK 376.6 Port d’Atelier bridge, limited moorings l/b, village r/b
PK 372.6 Conflandey bridge and lock
PK 372.5 Confluence of Lanterne l/b, tip of island, downstream-bound boats follow r/b arm, quay r/b, water, electricity
PK 372.1 Conflandey footbridge, village r/b
PK 371.8 Tip of island, u/s-bound boats follow l/b arm
PK 370.5 Island (Île du Cul du Chaudron), keep to l/b side
PK 368.5 Beleau island
PK 367.0 Entrance to Port-sur-Saône lock-cut, l/b
PK 366.9 Bridge (N19) and flood gate, narrow cut, no mooring (proceed to basin), town l/b
PK 366.4 Port-sur-Saône basin and Franche-Comté Nautic hire base, www.fcnautic.com, visitors’ berths for 25 boats, night €10, diesel, water €2.30, electricity €2, shower €2.30, crane, slipway, pump-out, repairs, wifi, Service Navigation, restaurant l/b

A substantial port in a busy little town, which has a station on the main railway line from Paris to Basle : a rare resource in this otherwise poorly served area.

PK 366.1 Bridge (Maladière)
PK 365.5 Port-sur-Saône lock (automatic)
PK 365.4 End of lock-cut, river PK 364 (difference = 1.4km, 5.9km total from Corre)
PK 364.7 Gilley island (keep to r/b side)
PK 361.0 Entrance to Chemilly lock-cut, r/b, bridge
PK 360.4 Chemilly lock (automatic)
PK 360.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 360.0 (difference = 0.3km, 6.2km total from Corre)
PK 357.4 Entrance to Scey lock-cut, l/b, flood gate, proceed down Saône for access to pontoon moorings along campsite r/b, town r/b
PK 356.8 Quay formerly used by sand-barges, r/b
PK 356.7 Scey-sur-Saône bridge, basin d/s r/b, Locaboat hire base, 4 visitors’ berths, night €10, water €3, electricity €2, shower, crane 8t on request, restaurant opposite basin, town 1 km

One of the author’s favourite mooring places on the Petite-Saône, another small town with some interesting Spanish-looking buildings and most services, as well as a good supermarket and restaurants.

PK 356.4 Scey lock (automatic)
PK 356.1 End of lock-cut, river PK 353.1 (difference = 3km, 9.2km total from Corre)
PK 352.9 Entrance to Rupt lock-cut, r/b
PK 352.6 Bridge and flood gate, lights controlling tunnel entrance (canal narrows to one barge’s width)
PK 352.5 Saint-Albin tunnel (northern entrance)
PK 351.9 Saint-Albin tunnel (southern entrance)
PK 351.8 Bridge with lights controlling tunnel entrance, end of narrow section
PK 351.2 Rupt lock, water
PK 350.6 End of lock-cut, river PK 343.5 (difference = 7.1km, 16.3km total from Corre), access to Traves 5km, Saône Valley harbour, 10 visitors’ berths, www.saonevalley.com, night €8, water, electricity, slipway
PK 342.8 Chantes bridge, mooring possible d/s r/b, no services, village 1 km l/b, Rupt-sur-Saône r/b, 500m
PK 342.1 Island, channel follows r/b arm
PK 341.1 Entrance to Chantes lock-cut, r/b, flood gate, bridge
PK 341.0 Chantes lock
PK 340.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 340.0 (difference = 0.2km, 16.5km total from Corre)
PK 338.2 Entrance to Cubry lock-cut
PK 338.1 Cubry-les-Soing flood lock, usually open, bridge village 1.5 km l/b
PK 337.4 End of lock-cut, river PK 336.6 (difference = 0.8km, 17.3km total from Corre)
PK 334.1 Narrow passage, no passing and overtaking
PK 334.0 End of narrow passage
PK 333.8 Entrance to Soing lock-cut, r/b, flood gate
PK 333.5 Soing bridge, village 500m l/b
PK 332.5 Soing lock, bridge
PK 332.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 329.0 (difference = 3.3km, 20.6km total from Corre), possible to proceed u/s staying close to l/b to basin at Soing, moorings for 5 boats, water, electricity, shower at camp site, town l/b 100 m
PK 328.2 Entrance to Charentenay lock-cut, l/b (moorings adjacent to camp-site on l/b of Saône just d/s)
PK 327.7 Charentenay bridge, flood gate, village and restaurant l/b
PK 326.0 Charentenay lock (automatic), bridge, VHF 20
PK 325.8 End of lock-cut (Ray-sur-Saône 1km up the river keep to l/b of island, water),
river PK 324.2 (difference = 1.6km, 22.2km total from Corre)

Château at Ray-sur-SaônePK 323.9 Ray bridge
PK 323.7 Entrance to Ferrières lock-cut, r/b (Saône also navigable)
PK 323.4 Ferrières-lès-Ray, bridge
PK 322.4 Recologne bridge
PK 320.6 End of lock-cut, r/b (upstream-bound boats may also keep to Saône), river PK 318.5
(difference = 0.9km, 23.1km total from Corre)
PK 317.8 Recologne, r/b, quay for sand-barges
PK 315.0 Entrance to Savoyeux lock-cut, r/b, flood gate, bridge
PK 313.8 Savoyeux basin, moorings, Saône-Plaisance hire base, www.saone-plaisance.com, 60 berths, night €9, diesel, water, electricity, showers, crane 100t, slipway, repairs, wifi
PK 313.6 Seveux bridge, village 1 km l/b, canal narrows, sound horn for tunnel (controlled by lights)
PK 314.7 Savoyeux tunnel (northern entrance)
PK 314.0 Savoyeux tunnel (southern entrance)
PK 313.8 Railway bridge
PK 313.7 Bridge (with lights controlling tunnel entrance), end of narrow section
PK 313.3 Savoyeux lock, VHF 22
PK 313.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 306.8 (difference = 6.5km, 29.6km total from Corre)
PK 302.0 Quitteur bridge, quay d/s l/b, restaurant r/b, Autet 1 km r/b (shops)
PK 301.0 Confluence of Salon, r/b
PK 298.4 Entrance to Vereux lock-cut, l/b
PK 297.6 Flood gate, bridge
PK 296.3 Vereux lock, VHF 20
PK 296.2 End of lock-cut, river PK 296.0 (difference = 0.2km, 29.8km total from Corre)
PK 294.0 Prantigny bridge
PK 291.8 Carosse island (keep to l/b arm)
PK 289.3 Entrance to Rigny lock-cut, l/b, flood gate, bridge
PK 288.4 Rigny lock, VHF 22, moorings d/s r/b, village with shops 300m r/b
PK 288.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 287.5 (difference = 0.8km, 30.6km total from Corre)
PK 287.0 Commercial quay r/b
PK 283.8 Camp-site, l/b
PK 283.3 Le Boat boatyard and hire base l/b, night €15, water €3, electricity €3, shower €3, crane 10t
PK 283.2 Gray lock, VHF 20, and bridge (Pont de Pierre), limited moorings u/s
PK 283.0 Gray quays and boat moorings for 30 boats l/b close to town centre, water, electricity, limited draught (1m), Arc-lès-Gray r/b, quay for 4 boats, water, electricity

A bustling market town proud of its Burgundian-style glazed tile town hall roof, and offering all services. Gray is the biggest town on the Petite-Saône. It has a popular campsite and riverside park. The quayside moorings above the lock offer a splendid view of the town which rises steeply on the opposite bank.

PK 282.3 Bridge (Pont Neuf)
PK 282.1 Grain loading basin, r/b
PK 281.0 Restaurant, pontoon moorings r/b
PK 276.0 Mantoche quay and village r/b, water €1.50, electricity, shower
PK 275.0 Entrance to Apremont lock-cut, r/b
PK 275.1 Flood gate, bridge
PK 274.1 Apremont bridge (basin silted up)
PK 271.9 Apremont lock, bridge, VHF 22
PK 271.9 End of lock-cut, river PK 270 (difference = 1.9km, 32.5km total from Corre)
PK 268.5 Island (keep to r/b arm), Cecey quay, r/b
PK 263.5 Confluence of Vingeanne, r/b
PK 262.6 Montseugny island (keep to r/b arm)
PK 260.2 Quays for sand-barges, l/b
PK 259.0 River divides, take r/b arm (Île de Fley)
PK 258.0 Entrance to Heuilley lock-cut r/b, flood gate, bridge, mooring to bollards u/s r/b,
Heuilley- sur-Saône 800m (no shops)
PK 257.6 Heuilley basin, silted up, village r/b
PK 257.2 Bridge
Heuilley junctionPK 255.5 Junction with Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne  (controlled by lights)
PK 255.4 Heuilley lock, bridge, VHF 20, restaurant

This is the first lock heading south after the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne. Lock sequence activated by turning the suspended pole.

PK 255.3 End of lock-cut, river PK 254.3 (difference = 1km, 33.5km total from Corre)
PK 251.5 Entrance to Vieille Saône  r/b, access to Pontailler port de plaisance, Canalous-Plaisance hire base, 32 berths, night €6, water, electricity, showers, crane 15t, slipway

The port de plaisance is through a bridge (adequate headroom, but check) and into a side channel where there is a waiting pontoon, then a marina basin. Capitainerie with showers, etc..

PK 251.3 Pontailler-sur-Saône bridge, mooring d/s r/b, suitable for small vessels only, water,
town r/b

Alternative mooring is the long stretch of quayside on the river itself. Charming village, with Atac supermarket through the village centre, then turn right (1.3 km).

PK 249.7 Confluence of Vieille Saône , r/b
PK 249.5 Vonges explosives factory, r/b
PK 247.6 Basin, r/b, completely silted up
PK 246.0 Pontoon moorings r/b

Logis-Hôtel le Saint-Antoine set back from the river and restaurant Le Nymphéa beside the mooring. Hotel 03 80 47 11 33, riverside restaurant 03 80 32 02 50

PK 245.5 Lamarche-sur-Saône bridge, mooring l/b, village r/b
PK 242.0 Entrance to Poncey lock-cut, l/b, flood gate, bridge
PK 241.1 Poncey lock, bridge, VHF 22
PK 241.0 End of lock-cut, river PK 239.5 (difference = 1.5km, 35km total from Corre)
PK 238.9 Railway viaduct (Saône, TGV Rhin-Rhône)
PK 235.0 Island (Île de la Bouillie)
PK 233.1 Auxonne bridge, port de plaisance with pontoons u/s l/b, water €1, electricity €1, unserviced moorings along stepped quay d/s l/b, town centre, tourist office and all services l/b, water skiing and bathing areas u/s

This port de plaisance (opened in 2011) is operated by H2O (of St Jean de Losne). The port offers 150 places on finger pontoons. Also, a range of newish pontoons with water and electricity, just above the bridge. Or moor up in the ‘traditional’ place, the tree-shaded quayside between the bridge and the entrance to the lock-cut, opposite the weir.

PK 233.0 Entrance to Auxonne lock-cut, l/b, and railway bridge
PK 232.8 Bridge and flood gate, office of sub-divisional engineer
PK 230.4 Auxonne lock, bridge, VHF 20

Ecluse at the end of the canal – perches.

PK 230.5 End of lock-cut, river PK 229.5 (difference = 1km, 26km total from Corre)
PK 229.1 Motorway bridge (A39)
PK 223.7 Bridge (Maillys)
PK 222.0 Confluence of Tille, r/b, shoals
PK 221.6 Quay for sand-barges, r/b
PK 220.9 Island, channel in l/b arm
PK 219.0 Junction with Canal du Rhône au Rhin , l/b, mooring to stone quay d/s l/b

A stylish lock-keeper’s house makes the otherwise undistinctive entrance lock to the Canal du Rhône au Rhin a landmark on the Saône.

PK 218.2 Saint-Symphorien village 400m l/b (no shops)
PK 216.7 Effective u/s limit of high-capacity waterway
PK 214.8 Saint-Jean-de-Losne bridge, moorings on both banks, small town r/b, Losne l/b
PK 214.6 Junction with Canal de Bourgogne , see Grande Saône

Saint-Jean-de-Losne

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