Discover Laperrière-Sur-Saône

Laperrière-Sur-Saône brings together waterways, the landscape of the Saône Valley and a layered local history. These offer different ways to plan a stay: the lock and canal are associated with water engineering, the ponds with seasonally important habitats, and the church and archaeological finds with historical evidence. A walk along the Saône is another way to experience the area. Depending on whether you prefer nature, history or activities by the river, different aspects come to the fore.

Lock 75 and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin

The Lock 75 site lies partly within Laperrière-Sur-Saône, at the confluence of the Canal du Rhône au Rhin and the Saône. The part of the site on the Saône side includes a modern wooden pontoon. Its location connects the lock area with two prominent waterways: the canal and the river. This makes it possible to understand the site both in terms of its position by the water and the history of the canal.

Work on the Canal du Rhône au Rhin began in 1784. The Saint-Symphorien–Dole section was completed in 1802. These dates mark different stages in the construction history: 1784, the start of work on the canal, and 1802, the completion of the section mentioned. This timeline adds context to the lock’s specific location at the confluence and by the river.

Ponds and birdlife in the Saône Valley

The natural area includes the ZNIEFF site Étang du Milieu, also known as Étang de Laperrière, which also extends into Laperrière-Sur-Saône. It consists of two ponds in a varied Saône Valley landscape. Wet meadows, smaller cultivated areas and woodland shape the surroundings. The ponds are particularly important to ducks and wading birds during migration and overwintering. The focus here is on habitats and their seasonal importance for birds, unlike the lock and canal, whose history puts water engineering at the centre.

Local history, the church and an archaeological find

Laperrière-Sur-Saône definitively became French at the beginning of the 16th century. The town’s defensive history also changed: the château lost its former role for local residents, while the fortification walls of Auxonne, considered safer, took over that function.

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was rebuilt in the 18th century. Its furnishings include a main altar with a tabernacle, an altarpiece and a painting of Saint Mary Magdalene after Lebrun; these items are protected as historic monuments. The rebuilding reflects the church’s architectural history, while the altar, altarpiece and painting offer insight into its protected historic furnishings.

Another piece of archaeological evidence comes from the Saône near Laperrière-Sur-Saône: a sword with its scabbard was dredged from the river and is held by the Musée Vivant Denon in Chalon-sur-Saône. The historical picture thus ranges from the town’s political history and its church to a find from the river.

Walking and fishing by the Saône

You can walk along the Voie bleue on the banks of the Saône from Laperrière-Sur-Saône to Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Check local conditions before setting out. Fishing is also one of the activities on the Saône’s banks in Laperrière-Sur-Saône; check local regulations in advance. Both activities are linked to the same river, but offer different experiences: the Voie bleue provides a walk to Saint-Jean-de-Losne, while fishing is a separate activity by the riverbank.

Discover more destinations: Beaune, Gerland, Bessey-Lès-Cîteaux, Chazilly, Champagne-Sur-Vingeanne, Pommard, Baubigny, Essey.

For the broader travel guide: Cote-Dor.