The source of the River Saone is high up in the Vosges mountains, the river flows southwards becoming wider and imposing before joining the River Rhone at Lyon.
Saône map
The source is Vioménil and the mouth is the Rhône.
Navigation on the Saône starts at Corre and ends at Lyon.
The Saône is 473.00 kilometres long (293.91 miles) with a total of 368.00 kilometres of navigable waterway.
There is a total of 25 locks, with an average of 1 lock every 14.72 kilometres (9.15 miles).
The highest point on the Saône is 392.00 metres (1286′ 1″ ft) above sea level and the lowest point is at 198.00 metres (649′ 7″ ft) above sea level.
We've divided the Saône into the following sections.
From Corre to Saint-Symphorien-sur-Saône
The water draft is 1.80 metres (5′ 11″ ft) and the air draft is 3.50 metres (11′ 6″ ft).
There is a total of 20 locks in this section.
The section of the river is called the La Petite Saône
General lock size
There are "Freycinet" lock types.
Lock length 39.00 metres (127′ 11″ ft)
Lock width 5.20 metres (17′ 1″ ft)
From Saint-Symphorien-sur-Saône to Lyon
The water draft is 3.50 metres (11′ 6″ ft) and the air draft is 4.90 metres (16′ 1″ ft).
There is a total of 5 locks in this section.
This section of the river is called la Grande Saône
General lock size
There are "Large" lock types.
Lock length 180.00 metres (590′ 7″ ft)
Lock width 11.40 metres (37′ 5″ ft)
Barges cruising on the Saône
| Name | Itinerary | Passengers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Victoria | From Auxonne to Chagny | 6 | View the itinerary |
| La Vie en Rose | Saint Julien-sur-Dheune to Seurre | 6 | View the itinerary |
| Finesse | From St Julien-sur-Dheune to Chalon-sur-Saône | 8 | View the itinerary |
| Maïtena | Besançon to Saint-Jean-de-Losne | 4 | View the itinerary |
| Magnolia | From Chalon-sur-Saône to Saint Léger-sur-Dheune | 6 | View the itinerary |
| Saroche | From Saint Leger-sur-Dheune to Chalon-sur-Saône | 6 | View the itinerary |
Self-drive boats cruising on the Saône
| Fleet | Cruise route | |
|---|---|---|
| Locaboat | Rivers Saône & Doubs | View the Locaboat boats |
| Nicols | Saone | View the Nicols boats |
| France Passion Plaisance | River Saone | View the France Passion Plaisance boats |
| Le Boat | Burgundy, Franche-Comte, Vosges | View the Le Boat boats |