Saone to Lyons

We only spent a few days on the lower Saone but what we saw was lovely. AT least the part we went on is a big slow friendly river with only three locks and all of those were a doddle as they are big ship locks automatic and with their own lock keeper – very similar to those on the seine – but these were going down for us which is so much easier!

We spent a short time going from the end of the Canal du Centre down to Challon-sur-Saone where we moored in the excellent Marina. For a very reasonable price, we had all services except Internet. That was available at (my mouth is puckering at the thought) at MacDonalds 3 minutes walk away. I even ate a big mac for the first time in many years and hope the last in many years too. There is even a chandler a stone’s throw from the port – useful although mostly power boat stuff.
We had an excellent meal out to celebrate the end of the canals and really struck it lucky on our second night which was Music Night when the whole of France erupts in street music late into the night. We drank beer and listened well into the small hours. Some really good acts were playing at various places in the town. We went into the cathedral and sat listening to some baroque choral music – until a nice lady sat next to us and tried to convert me to Catholicism in French. Bit of a lost cause!
Challon itself is lovely. Winding mediaeval streets interspersed with shady squares.



Next day we stopped for a sight seeing trip at Tournus. This has a really beautiful abbey – very old and essentially unspoilt. But it was hot and it was Monday (everything shut in France) so we went on in the afternoon down to Villefranche.

The Navicarte claims that moorings here are only for Campers at the site but this is well out of date. There is a very nice free town pontoon. The town (with pone of the best Boulangeries we have come across – Croissants to die for) is a short walk up to the bridge.


Next day we really flew and really didn’t do justice to the towns and scenery around us. We had intended to stop in Lyon but in the event there wasn’t anywhere sensible to stop and neither of us felt up to the big city. We just passed on down onto the Rhone and kept going until we had had enough and found a place to stop at Givors.