France » La Haute Saone, Corre - Auxonne

Additional informations: Piers, ports & harbours with informations on waters. House boat & yacht charter.

French water ways:
La Petite Saône, from Corre to Auxonne

Suitability for a house boat holiday:
Length: 147 km, Locks: 19























The Petite Saône, Corre to Auxonne, Burgundy – Franche Comté
The River has its source in the Vosges. At Corre it meets with Conev and this makes it navigable from there. Navigation to the north, to Moselle and the canals of Alsace-Lorraine is ensured by the Canal des Vosges (before called Canal de l’est, branche sud) its connection to the Saône is also at Corre.
From Corre to Gray, the Saône is a very idyllic, small river winding in broad curves through the green pasture lands. After Gray it becomes more impressive and after St. Symphorien it is called the Grande Saône. The Saône is one of the most important inland waterways of France. It allows, over the Canal de Vosges, the connection to Mosel and Meuse in the north. In the south, it has, with the Rhône, a connection to the canals of the Midi and finally come, with the canals Rhône au Rhin, Marne à la Saône, Bourgogne and Centre, the most important east west connections to it as well.


















A houseboat holiday between Burgundy and Vosges
Advantages: Charming surroundings, good infrastructures and navigability.
Disadvantage: An unfortunate cloudburst in the Vosges might stop your trip for two days.
Length: 192 km, locks: 18, boat hirers: see under “infrastructures”.
A river to please everyone!

Tourism
Corre has a modern marina and lies between two small rivers and a canal – but it doesn’t really invite for a rest. Let’s therefore go on, past the village of Ormoy towards the lock of Cendrecourt. Right after the lock, we tie up at the new stud of Jussey. Even though the nice village is about 2 km away, it’s worth visiting it.
Next day we pass Conflandey very carefully, the crossing is a bit complicated, and end up in Port sur Saône. This old port town has a lot of traffic on the road but gives us the rare opportunity to choose between a fine, normally priced, meal at the “Marine” or a very fine, but more expensive dinner at the Château de Vauchoux. Give a call and your picked up!
The next place, downstream, Scey sur Saône, has its landing stage on a Saône arm right behind the weir in front of the town. It’s normally worth a visit, but since we are too early this time, we continue.
The first tunnel at the derivation of Saint Albin is awaiting us, an interesting experience, asking full concentration. After the next lock, we are back on the Saône.
The next stop is again on a side branch, at Soing or Charentenay. You may expect in both of them a traditional cuisine. But, the little town Ray sur Saône, just below the lock of Charentenay, would be nicer. Attention: As soon as you’re back on the river, turn right (northwest) into the Saône.
The next stretch brings another tunnel and at the end the town of Gray, offering whatever you want.
Further downstream we pass the most charming landing stage of the Saôan, Mantoche, but continue this time to Pontailler sur Saône, where we stay at the quay, time for an apéro!
On our last stretch to the south, we take a brake at the old garrison town of Auxonne. The evening finds us at the very small natural port of Mailly le Port, PK 222. Only a short walk away, we find the little village, Mailly la Ville with the Restaurant Virion and one of the best cuisines of the area. What a gorgeous end to this day!
At PK 219 then, the Canal du Rhône au Rhin branches off on our left. Here starts the fairway for big vessels on the Saône, the Grande Saône. 

 
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