Whether you’re setting off from the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the south of Lyon or arriving from the Saône, crossing Lyon is a must when navigating the Rhône. Here’s a practical look at river tourism in Lyon’s largest city.
River navigation in Lyon
Coming from the south or from the Saône, crossing Lyon marks the boundary between Burgundy and the Rhône-Alpes region, at the confluence of an Alpine river and a lowland river. Between continuity towards Europe via the Saône and the end of the waterway, from the Parc de la tête d’or viaduct to Montalieu-Vercieu for the Rhône.
On the Saône side, navigation lights mark a variable alternation depending on when the river is flooded. It is essential to consult the notices to skippers when crossing old Lyon by boat.
On the Rhône side, numerous facilities such as the Edouard Herriot river port and riverside stops line the river, also requiring careful navigation: pleasure boats and transport barges pass each other in this dense area.
The Navigône shuttle service on the Sâone River is also being rolled out, providing passengers with easy access between the Confluence district and Lyon’s historic city centre.
Riverbank development
Mapped out during the charter between Voies navigables de France (VNF) and the Lyon metropolitan area (2016-2021), here are the river developments along the Lyon confluence between the Rhône and the Saône with :
- Landing stages
River liners, water sports and public access - Stops and parking areas
Commercial vessels, river stops and private pleasure craft, docked boats - Sports areas
Sailing, rowing, water skiing
➡ 2 maps to identify river uses of the Rhône and Saône rivers in the Lyon metropolitan area:
The Saône upstream of Lyon
- Map of river developments upstream of Lyon on the Saône River:
Rhône and Saône in Lyon
- Map of river facilities for crossing Lyon between the Rhône and Saône rivers :
Inland navigation and cartography
For river navigation on the Rhône and to the north of France via the Saône, here are a few links and practical tools to keep you informed in real time, depending on your route.
Sailing the Saône in Lyon
Published by Voies Navigables de France(VNF), the navigation chart for the Saône in Lyon provides practical information on the river situation:
- Boats sailing and stationary
- Structures (locks, marinas, harbours, port sites, lights, etc.)
- Measurements (scales, hydrometers, clearances, etc.)
To consult the map and the information feed for navigation in Lyon, go to the dedicated page for the Saône in Lyon :
Crossing Lyon on the Rhône
For the Rhône river from its confluence with the Saône, the InfoRhône website takes over the mapping.
Published by the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR*), it provides information on :
- Alerts restricting navigation during periods of high water (RNPC)
- The weather and hydrology of the upper and lower Rhône
- River information with daily bulletins
- Graphs by station (level, head, flow, wetting)
- News and practical links
To consult the site and the latest updates, go to the interactive map with information feed and search:
Sailing in Lyon
And to make it easier to cross Lyon and navigate your river in real time between the Rhône and Saône, the easiest way is to use the NAVI application, which allows you to see the state of the river at the same time.
From an interactive map, you can consult all the practical information you need for navigation, such as :
- Boat traffic
- Notices to skippers
- Flood zones
- Locks, ports, terminals, quays and car parks
- Water bins, rubbish dumps
- Kilometre points (KP)
Example of information available on a mobile phone (screenshot) :
Sailing through Lyon offers the privilege of crossing a thousand-year-old city and admiring all its attractions, especially the historic centre and its many buildings with unique architecture.
Between the Saône and Rhône rivers, the Lyon region offers a wide range of facilities for river tourism and water sports, as well as leisure areas.
Navigation on the Rhône river
And for all the maps of navigation on the Rhône, go to the dedicated page:
Travel+
- The Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR)
- Greater Lyon, a metropolis in the Rhône Valley
- Destination: Rhône Valley
- Rhône and Mediterranean flood warning system
- Map of river tourism on the Rhône
- Territories, towns, and villages crossed by the Rhône
- Map of the Rhône River and its tributaries
- By bike: ViaRhôna and Route du Rhône
- Where to stay along the Rhône River?
- IGN maps: Rhône Valley