River Saône

The perfect choices for watersports and cruising alike

The river Saône has its source in the Vosges at Vioménil, and joins the wider river Rhône at Lyon, having traveled 473 km.

Map of the canals and rivers

Canal and river map for  River Saône

Hotel barges

2 hotel barge cruises

Last dates!
Save 10%
Finesse barge cruise

Finesse

Canal du Centre
8 guests
★★★★★★
Grand Victoria barge cruise

Grand Victoria

River Saône
6 guests
★★★★★★

Half-board barges

Save 25%!
La Vie en Rose barge cruise

La Vie en Rose

Burgundy
6 guests
★★★★

Self-drive boats in this region

Locaboat

Locaboat have 14 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

Europa 400 self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
Europa 600 self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
Linssen 34.9  GS self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1020 FB self-drive
5 guests
4 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1106 FB self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
P1107W self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
P1120R self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1165 FB self-drive
7 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
P1180 FB self-drive
7 guests
6 adults, 1 child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
P1260R self-drive
10 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
P1400 FB self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
P1500 FB self-drive
12 guests
8 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
P935W self-drive
5 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★
Penichette Evolution self-drive
4 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★

Nicols

Nicols have 15 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

N DUO self-drive
4 guests
2 adults, child
1 cabin
1 bathroom
★★★★
N OCTO self-drive
10 guests
4 adults, 4 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
N OCTO Fly C self-drive
10 guests
4 adults, 4 children
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★★★
N PRIMO self-drive
4 guests
1 cabin
1 bathroom
★★★
N QUATTRO B self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
N QUATTRO FLY C self-drive
6 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★★
N QUATTRO S self-drive
6 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★★
N SIXTO self-drive
8 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★
N SIXTO FLY C self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★★
N1000 self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1010 self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1100 self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
N1310 self-drive
12 guests
5 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
N1350 B self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
★★★★
N900 DP self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★

France Passion Plaisance

France Passion Plaisance have 11 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

Espade Concept Fly self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
Haines Rive 40 self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★
La Peniche F self-drive
12 guests
12 adults, child
6 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★
Linssen Vlet 1030 self-drive
8 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
★★★
Linssen Yacht 36 self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
bathroom
★★★
Tarpon 32 self-drive
8 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 37 self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 37 DP self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★★★
Tarpon 42 self-drive
12 guests
6 cabins
2 bathrooms
★★★
Tarpon 42 TP self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
★★★★★
Tarpon 49 QP self-drive
12 guests
8 adults, 2 children
5 cabins
5 bathrooms
★★★★★

Le Boat

Le Boat have 28 different self-drive boats for you to choose from.

7 nights for 5!
Calypso self-drive
8 guests
4 adults, 4 children
3 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
7 nights for 5!
Caprice self-drive
6 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Cirrus B self-drive
4 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
1 bathroom
Budget rating
Classique self-drive
8 guests
6 adults, 2 children
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
Budget rating
7 nights for 5!
Classique Star self-drive
10 guests
6 adults, 4 children
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
Clipper self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Continentale self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
Corvette A self-drive
4 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Budget rating
Corvette B self-drive
4 guests
2 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Budget rating
Countess self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Budget rating
7 nights for 5!
Crusader self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Budget rating
Elegance self-drive
6 guests
4 adults, 2 children
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Grand Classique self-drive
12 guests
6 adults, 4 children
5 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Horizon 1 self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
Premium rating
Horizon 2S self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Premium rating
Horizon 3 self-drive
7 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Premium rating
Horizon 4 self-drive
9 guests
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating
Horizon 5 self-drive
12 guests
5 cabins
5 bathrooms
Premium rating
Magnifique self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Mystique self-drive
8 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Classique self-drive
6 guests
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Royal Mystique A self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
Royal Mystique B self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort Plus rating
7 nights for 5!
Salsa A self-drive
10 guests
4 cabins
2 bathrooms
Comfort rating
Sheba self-drive
5 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
rating
Tango self-drive
6 guests
2 cabins
1 bathroom
Comfort rating
Vision 3 self-drive
10 guests
6 adults, child
3 cabins
3 bathrooms
Premium rating
Vision 4 self-drive
9 guests
8 adults, child
4 cabins
4 bathrooms
Premium rating

River Saône information

River Saône

We offer a variety of cruises on the river Saône, so, whether you wish to cruise for one week or two, for just a few hours per day or up to 7 hours, we are sure to have a route to suit you.

The river takes you on a beautiful journey past craggy cliffs through a rolling landscape of valleys, forests and vineyards. Quaint medieval villages and Roman towns will delight the historians, and of course, all will appreciate the fine wines and gastronomy of the region.

Fishing is a popular sport here, and the river is well-stocked. Canoeing, jet skiing and snorkelling are all possible too.

Vineyards are close by and heading southwards from Dijon with the Côte de Beaune,  then the Côte de Nuits, the Côte Chalonnaise, the Mâconnaise and then arriving at the Beaujolais vineyards before arriving at Lyon.

Places to visit near the rivers and canals

  • Fontaine de Confracourt near Pont-sur-Saône
  • Château de Talmay near Pontailler-sur-Saône
  • Beaune and the Hospices
  • Abbaye Notre-Dame de Citeaux
  • The market of Louhans
  • Chateau de Corcelles near Belleville

Heading downstream on the River Saône

  • The old streets of Verdun-sur-le-Doubs
  • Chalon-sur-Saône with the Nicéphore Niépce photography museum and old half-timbered houses.
  • Abbaye Saint-Philibert in Tournus
  • Museum Ursulines, Maison du Bois, the arches of the Pont Saint-Laurent, and the old streets in the Saint Vincent quarter.
  • Hotel de Ville in Belleville-en-Beaujolais
  • Château de Fléchères Fareins
  • Automobile Museum of Henri-Malartre in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône
  • Highlights of Lyon
    • Montée des Chazeaux
    • Montée du Garillan
    • Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
    • Musée des Arts de la Marionnette
    • Rue Saint-Jean
    • Place des Jacobins
    • Musée d'Histoire de Lyon
    • Place Bellecour

On the Doubs and the Canal Rhône au Rhin

  • Citadelle de Besançon and its museums, the old streets of the town centre.
  • The town of Dole, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, the Hospice, and the old streets on the river bank.

And restaurants along the waterways

  • Château de Vauchoux at Vauchox near Port-sur-Saône
  • La Chaumière at Dole on the River Doubs
  • L'Amaryllis at Chalon-sur-Saône
  • L'Écrin de Yohann Chapuis and Aux Terrasses in Tournus
  • Le Rasin in Pont-de-Vaux
  • Pierre in Mâcon
  • Gaulin at Mâcon
  • Georges Blanc at Vonnas near Macon (*** Michelin)
  • Restaurant Paul Bocuse, Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or near Lyon (** Michelin)
  • Auberge de l'Ile de Barbe in Lyon
  • There are 8 one star Michelin rated restaurants in the city of Lyon

Technical and construction information for the waterways in this region

The Saône   The Doubs   The Seille