Boating holidays in Franche-Comté on the Petite-Saône
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Boat Hire on the Saône – Petite Saône Cruising Area
Discover the highlights of a river cruise on the Petite Saône, between Saint-Jean-de-Losne, Auxonne and Corre.
Looking for a relaxing boating holiday surrounded by nature? Set course for the Petite Saône! Between Saint-Jean-de-Losne and Corre, enjoy 159 km of navigable waterways lined with lush green landscapes, picturesque villages and fascinating historical sites. With its calm waters and automated locks, the Petite Saône is an ideal destination for your first licence-free boating holiday.
Along the way, explore Auxonne, with its rich historical heritage, Ray-sur-Saône, overlooked by its beautiful château, and Port-sur-Saône, a charming stopover in Haute-Saône. Take the opportunity to sample local culinary specialities, particularly delicious dishes featuring morel mushrooms.
To extend your adventure, continue north along the Canal des Vosges, towards Fontenoy-le-Château and Épinal, cruising through beautiful wooded landscapes.
With CrisBoat, choose from 4 departure bases to explore the Petite Saône and its surroundings: Saint-Jean-de-Losne, Pontailler-sur-Saône, Scey-sur-Saône and Dole.
And don't forget your bikes! The towpaths and cycling routes offer wonderful opportunities to explore the region and enjoy its natural beauty from a different perspective.
Cities and villages to discover during your cruise
Practical information for boating on the Petite Saône
The Petite Saône is a calm and welcoming river. During your river cruise, you will navigate sometimes on a wild river, sometimes on a canalized part. Its 19 locks, all automated, allow for smooth navigation, even for beginners. The Petite Saône has a large number of stopping places (ports, pontoons). If you wish to navigate on the Doubs, we recommend that you have some experience.
You can start your cruise on the Petite Saône in Dôle, Saint-Jean-De-Losne, Pontailler, Scey-Sur-Saône, Port-Sur-Saône or Fontenoy-Le-Château. Before leaving the departure base, you will receive a short 1-hour training session to introduce you to the river code, the principle of navigation and to familiarise you with the steering of your boat.
- River with few locks, perfect for beginners
- Several water sports facilities
- River cruise in the heart of the best preserved nature in Europe
Navigation on the Saône and Seille is particularly suitable for beginners, with no previous boating experience required.
Navigation on the Doubs, however, is recommended for boaters with previous river cruising experience. Its sometimes stronger currents, winding course and the presence of dams make certain manoeuvres more challenging and require greater care.
How do locks work in Franche-Comté?
Passing through locks is an essential part of the river cruising experience! In Franche-Comté and on the surrounding waterways, lock operations vary depending on your itinerary, but don't worry: they are easy to manage, even for beginners.
On the Petite Saône, between Corre and Saint-Jean-de-Losne, all 22 locks are automated. As you approach each lock, you generally need to turn a pole suspended above the water by a quarter turn to activate the system. Once the traffic light turns green, you can enter the lock chamber, secure your boat and start the locking process by pulling a control cord. The lock gates and water levels are then controlled automatically.
On the Grande Saône, particularly between Saint-Jean-de-Losne and Mâcon, the locks are larger and operated by lock keepers. Simply follow the traffic signals, wait for permission to enter and follow the instructions to moor your boat safely inside the lock.
On the Seille, between Louhans and its confluence with the Saône at La Truchère, you will encounter four traditional locks: Branges, Loisy, Cuisery and La Truchère. These locks are manually operated, and boaters may need to assist with certain manoeuvres, depending on staff availability and local instructions. A wonderful opportunity to experience the charm of traditional river navigation!
Before departure, the base staff will explain the safety rules and show you how to pass through locks safely and confidently. Remember to check the lock opening hours when planning your itinerary.
Good to know: are locks open on public holidays?
Please note that some locks are closed on public holidays! On the Petite Saône, locks are closed on 1 May and 1 November, but remain open on 14 July, during normal operating hours. Make sure to take these closures into account when planning your itinerary and stopovers. Even when locks are closed, you can still enjoy your boat and explore the villages and attractions near your mooring.
Can you swim during a river cruise in Franche-Comté?
During the summer, why not take a refreshing swimming break during your boating holiday?
Several designated beaches along the Saône offer pleasant natural surroundings for swimming. Among the most popular are La Chanoie beach in Pontailler-sur-Saône and Autet beach near Gray, both offering supervised swimming areas during the summer season.
Please note that swimming is not permitted everywhere. It is prohibited in navigable canals, near locks and dams, and in certain sections of rivers. On the Saône, swimming is subject to local regulations; on the Seille, swimming is prohibited within the navigable waterway unless specific local rules allow otherwise.
For your safety, always choose officially designated swimming areas, follow local signs and check swimming conditions before entering the water.
Where can you moor your boat in Franche-Comté?
During your river cruise in Franche-Comté, you will find plenty of marinas, riverside moorings and dedicated pontoons where you can stop to explore nearby villages or spend the night.
On the Petite Saône and Seille, mooring in the countryside is also possible, provided you choose a safe, accessible riverbank where mooring is permitted. Enjoy a peaceful stop surrounded by greenery, using the mooring stakes and mallet provided on board your boat.
On the Grande Saône, particularly between Seurre and Mâcon, you should use designated marinas and mooring pontoons. Mooring directly along the riverbanks is not suitable in this section, especially due to the risk of running aground.
Wherever you stop, always follow local signs and avoid mooring on bends, near locks or in areas where your boat could obstruct navigation. Marinas and designated mooring areas may also offer useful facilities, such as water and electricity connections, sometimes for an additional fee.
The Petite-Saône - our suggested cruises
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Dôle
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Port/Saône
round trip
Monument
Nature
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Branges
St Jean de Losne
Port/Saône
round trip
Dôle
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Branges
St Jean de Losne
Dôle
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Gastronomy
Nature
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Monument
River constructions
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Pontailler
Louhans
Port/Saône
round trip
Louhans
round trip
Port/Saône
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Sports and leisure activities
Nature
Branges
St Jean de Losne
St Jean de Losne
Branges
Dôle
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Pontailler
Louhans
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Monument
Vineyard
Pontailler
round trip
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Vineyard
Monument
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Dôle
Port/Saône
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Port/Saône
Dôle
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
Louhans
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
St Jean de Losne
Branges
Dôle
round trip
Monument
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
St Jean de Losne
Branges
Pontailler
round trip
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Monument
Vinkeveen
round trip
St Jean de Losne
round trip
Pontailler
round trip
Pontailler
Louhans
Port/Saône
round trip
Dôle
round trip
Monument
River constructions
Swimming
Nature
Sports and leisure activities
Branges
St Jean de Losne
St Jean de Losne
Branges
Pontailler
round trip
Gastronomy
Swimming
Sports and leisure activities
River constructions
Nature
Monument
Vineyard
Scey/Sâone
round trip
Dôle
Port/Saône
Port/Saône
Dôle
Current offers for cruising on the Petite Saône
From €199 / pers
Week of the 4/23/27 to 4/30/27
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bimini Top
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €202 / pers
Week of the 4/26/27 to 5/3/27
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
220V socket
From €194 / pers
Week of the 4/19/27 to 4/26/27
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
220V socket
From €378 / pers
Week of the 4/12/27 to 4/19/27
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bow and Stern Thruster
Plancha
Continuous 220V electricity
Air-Conditioning
Bimini Top
Flat-screen TV
Microwave
Dishwasher
Electric toilets
From €270 / pers
Week of the 4/12/27 to 4/19/27
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
Air-Conditioning
Bimini Top
Flat-screen TV
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €321 / pers
Week of the 4/10/27 to 4/17/27
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Two steering positions
Bow and Stern Thruster
Continuous 220V electricity
Bimini Top
Microwave
Electric toilets
From €228 / pers
Week of the 4/16/27 to 4/23/27
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Bow thruster
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €186 / pers
Week of the 4/9/27 to 4/16/27
- Max. people : 10
- Cabins : 4
- Bathroom & Toilet : 4
Two steering positions
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €127 / pers
Week of the 4/9/27 to 4/16/27
- Max. people : 7
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €280 / pers
Week of the 4/16/27 to 4/23/27
- Max. people : 4
- Cabins : 1
- Bathroom & Toilet : 1
Two steering positions
Flat-screen TV
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €175 / pers
Week of the 5/4/27 to 5/11/27
- Max. people : 9
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €392 / pers
Week of the 4/30/27 to 5/7/27
- Max. people : 5
- Cabins : 2
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
Bimini Top
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €393 / pers
Week of the 4/24/27 to 5/1/27
- Max. people : 6
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 3
Two steering positions
Bow thruster
220 V converter
Bimini Top
220V socket
Electric toilets
From €251 / pers
Week of the 5/4/27 to 5/11/27
- Max. people : 8
- Cabins : 3
- Bathroom & Toilet : 2
Bow thruster
220V socket
Electric toilets
Customer testimonials
4.7/5
(based on 93 ratings)
"A lovely and very enjoyable cruise along the rivers, with a warm welcome at the different ports."
"Varied scenery, with just the right number of locks for a three-day cruise."
"For me, a wonderful discovery: the Saône, a romantic river."
"Very enjoyable, especially thanks to the excellent weather."
"Peace and quiet."
"Bien que cette région n’ait pas été notre premier choix, nous avons beaucoup apprécié la croisière."
"Although the region was not our first choice, we really enjoyed the cruise."
"We really enjoyed discovering life along the canals in the Netherlands."
"Very enjoyable, with beautiful, picturesque scenery."
"Perfect for a first time."
"Wonderful."
"The Saône is a very interesting river."
"Very pleasant and peaceful."
"A little disappointed by the lack of vibrancy in the towns we visited."
"It was an unforgettable adventure!"
"Relaxing and refreshing."
"Pleasant, with a wide variety of places to visit."
"Good."
"The peaceful cruise and the beautiful natural surroundings."
"Pleasant."
"Very nice."
"The stretch along the Seille was very enjoyable. The Saône, however, was very wide, and the large locks were difficult to navigate."
"Peaceful, with beautiful scenery"
"Wild, calm and peaceful, with many wonderful discoveries."
"We loved it!"
"A wonderful holiday, with fantastic weather."
"A relaxing way to get around while discovering nature."
"A beautiful, relaxing experience surrounded by nature."
"Lovely region, but there are few places to moor outside the ports."
"Happy with the region, the size of the boat and the efficient heating – we had a very enjoyable time."
"Relaxing and refreshing."
"Very relaxing, time just flies by."
"A relaxing break with friends in stunning surroundings!"
"Very tranquil, peaceful, relaxing, with interesting tasks at the locks and when mooring in natural surroundings."
"An incredible week in the tranquillity of the Petite Saône."
"Itinerary recommended by LeBoat, very suitable."
"Really great.'"
"C’était un moment formidable passé en famille – vraiment une expérience qui change la vie."
"A very pleasant and relaxing stay."
"A change of scenery."
"The route poses no problems, as there are only a few locks. The river does not have much current."
"A complete success, also thanks to the weather."
"It's a must-do experience, and everyone was delighted."
"It was varied, interesting, sometimes with little adventures."
"Formidable, moments full of serenity."
"Pleasant and relaxing."
"Time passes too quickly."
"Very beautiful and relaxing, nature is beautiful."
"A very nice experience."
"It was a wonderful experience."
"Beautiful scenery but not easy to shop for supplies."
"Very relaxing, beautiful surroundings, and what was wonderful about our itinerary was that we could moor our boat in the wilderness."
"Everything was just perfect!"
"Pleasant, relaxing and friendly."
"A successful change of scenery."
"Very pleasant, not very crowded at this time of year, easy lock passage with the remote control."
"A great experience, halfway between a cruise and an adventure."
"Relaxing, a refreshing change of scenery; very nice contact with the flora and fauna and the birds."
"We discovered a magnificent river landscape. The locks were very well maintained and entertaining, and the two tunnels a real experience."
"The Saône is a wonderful river, and we were even able to swim in it on several occasions."
"A beautiful itinerary for a 4-5-day cruise."
"It was a great experience, we'll do it again."
"We loved it. However, navigation requires focus and watchfulness."
"auto-translation :''It is an experience to be had, it is very quiet and relaxing''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxed''"
"auto-translation :''Very pleasant but not much to do to the north''"
"auto-translation :''Exotic, relaxing, fun''"
"auto-translation :''It was a very nice experience and beautiful scenery.''"
"auto-translation :''Great, all the more so as the weather was favourable to us.''"
"auto-translation :''Great, we didn't see any other boats.''"
"auto-translation :''Everything went well and we had a lot of fun in this short river trip.''"
"auto-translation :''From Pontailler to Port sur Saône, superb river, possibility of stops in full nature, wild.''"
"auto-translation :''Friendly''"
"auto-translation :''Friendly''"
"auto-translation :''We have adored''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing''"
"The route was very beautiful, calm. The locks were easy to operate"
"auto-translation :''Super very nice''"
"auto-translation :''A relaxing holiday, a slow pace of life and a stay in osmosis with nature and calm''"
"auto-translation :''Good to change between the river and the canals => possibility to bathe''"
"auto-translation :''Rather nice weather view''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing cruise. Villages a bit far if not bicycles''"
"auto-translation :''Exotic, relaxing and decompressing''"
"auto-translation :''Nice landscapes, calm. But problems with the locks, do not open, VNF not very fast !!!!!!!''"
"auto-translation :''The small Saône and the Seille offered us unforgettable nights docked in the wilderness. Mooring in the center of Mâcon with a magnificent view of the city and the bridge lit by night.''"
"auto-translation :''Relaxing''"
"auto-translation :''Soothing, rejuvenating, we saw nature from another angle''"
"auto-translation :''Well but for the first time, we should have chosen a course with fewer locks''"
"auto-translation :''Nice, we preferred navigation on the Saone that on the Doubs''"
"auto-translation :"Very pleasant to virtually all points of view""
"auto-translation :"A little disappointed this cruise .""
"auto-translation :"Very nice""
Travelling with CrisBoat
Crisboat has more than 90% of the French fleet of self drive river boats. Entrust us with your desires and your availabilities and we will shape your holidays on the water. Located in the heart of the Vienne, Crisboat is the leader in self driver river boat rental in France. Discover our team, made up of 6 experts ready to take up the challenge to design the cruise that will meet your expectations.
Satisfaction: 4,5 / 5
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"A wonderful experience, calm and peaceful, allowing you to switch off from everyday life."