A boat is about to enter the Saint-Albin tunnel, on the side a touring cyclist watches the boat - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©River tourism and cycling on the Saône|Maxime Naegely

The tunnels De Saint-Albin and de Savoyeux

Whether you’re navigating the Saône on your own (yes, it’s possible with boat hire without a licence!), on a guided cruise, cycling or walking along the Saône, don’t miss the Saint-Albin and Savoyeux tunnels, two impressive engineering structures that were once used to transport goods and are now open to pleasure boating.

©Vesoul-Val de Saône logo

The tunnel De Saint-Albin

Located near Scey-sur-Saône-et-Saint-Albin, this 681-metre-long tunnel, listed as a Historic Monument, was built in the 19th century. It cuts through a meander in the Saône, facilitating the passage of pleasure boats and, in the past, barges loaded with goods.

The Saint-Albin tunnel is an integral part of the diversion of the Saône, an ambitious project to make the river more navigable. It provides a shortcut of around 8km for pleasure boaters.

When it first opened, the tunnel was one-way, and bargemen used an almanac to find out when they could pass through. Today, traffic lights regulate the entry and exit of boats, ensuring smooth and safe navigation in both directions.

The “La Saône et l’Homme” walking trail, which stretches between the upstream entrance to the tunnel and the Rupt-sur-Saône lock, and its reading tables explain the history of inland waterway transport and the details of the tunnel’s construction.

A stopover on the banks of the Saône

Picnic areas and benches are provided on site, inviting visitors to enjoy a relaxing break. The barraganist’s house, located upstream from the underground canal, has been converted into a bar-restaurant, Le Barnayout. With its terrace offering a breathtaking view of the Saône, it’s the ideal place for a nature break.

Le Barnayout

The tunnel De Savoyeux

Built in 1837 under Louis-Philippe and completed in 1843, the Savoyeux tunnel is a feat of engineering that cuts through a meander in the Saône and avoids a dam. 642.5 metres long and 6.55 metres wide, this tunnel-canal is part of the Savoyeux diversion, which is almost 4km long.

This ambitious project mobilised around 400 workers, who used innovative techniques for the time, such as digging vertical shafts linked by horizontal galleries. The shafts were first dug to extract rubble and ventilate the site, and successive galleries were opened to create the vault and the “body” of the tunnel. The rubble was even used to consolidate the structure.

Cyclist observing a boat sailing on the Saône, at the exit of the Seveux tunnel, on the Voie Bleue - Vesoul-Val de Saône — ©Seveux tunnel|Un Monde à Vélo

Crossing the Savoyeux tunnel on board the Audacieux - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Savoyeux Tunnel|Office de tourisme des 4 Rivières

Thanks to this tunnel, navigation on the Saône was greatly improved. Larger boats, pulled by horses, then propelled by steam and finally by engines, were able to transport coal, building materials and other goods from Franche-Comté to Lyon.