During this one-way cruise on the Petite Saône, you can’t help but be charmed by the natural landscapes as well as the numerous charming towns and cities you will explore on the way like Mantoche, Gray, Ray-sur-Saône or Port-sur-Saône.
Dole, renowned as a city of art and history, is the location for Nicols first boat rental base -opened in 1991. It is a remarkable setting from which to embark on your boating holiday, cruising the waterways of the Franche-Comté region and being seduced by its many charms.
Dole: The ‘little Venice’ of the Franche-Comté region, collegiate Notre-Dame (16th century basilica), birthplace of Louis Pasteur, La Fontaine aux Lepreux
Auxonne: 13th century church - Eglise Notre-Dame, Fortifications, Château Louis XI with Bonaparte’s museum
Pantallier-sur-Saône: Château de talmay, 18th century Saint-Maurice church, the statue of Our Lady of Mount Ardoux with panoramic views of the plain of the Saone and the mountains of Jura
Heuilley-sur-Saône: Maison de l'eau, de la pêche et de la nature – learn more about the flora and fauna of the Saône river.
Essertenne et Cecey: 18th century Echalonges forge, chateau, Church of St Julien
Mantoche: Château de Mantoche
Velet: Swimming in the Saône at the unsupervised small beach area
Gray-la-ville: Church (classified historic monument)
Arc-les-Gray: Parc Lamugnière with greenhouses and orangery planted with fruit trees and remarkable species, wine cellar
Gray: The Basilica Notre Dame, the old town, Musée Baron Martin (museum of art and archeology)
Savoyeux: Cruise on the canal through the Savoyeux tunnel (640m)
Ray-sur-Saône: Château de Ray-sur-Saône
Scey-sur-Saône: Cruise on the canal through the tunnel of Saint Albin (680m)
Port-sur-Saône: The church of St Etienne and the Pont de Pierre bridge - both dating back to the 18th century
With your boating holiday on the Petite Saône coming to a close, it’s time to return your canal boat to the Nicols base at Port-sur-Saône before heading home with all the great memories you’ have made on your holiday.
A very relaxing stay
We had a lot of fun on this beautiful houseboat. Nature is quiet and we took advantage of the refreshing waters of the Saone and Doubs, where we bathed from time to time. A very relaxing stay, we forget any notion of time passing!
Vanessa, Nort-sur-Erdre