Q & A

Subject: Barging on the Saone and Seille.

Question: We are planning another barge trip next year and are thinking of doing the Saone and Seille rivers. Can you tell me whether you know this area or if not where I can put a message on the net to find anyone who has.
Apart from the rivers themselves, we would like to know how we can get there from Paris i.e. which trains go in that direction and where they leave from and anything about the villages, markets etc in the area easily reached from the rivers.
A tall order I guess but would appreciate any assistance you might be able to give.

Answer: Your lucky because I do know the area around the intersection of the Saone and Seille rivers, it is the area where my wife was born. The town of Tournus has a very nice Abbey and town center. Also the town of La Trouchère is a very nice typical French village, and where my sister in law lives. Those are the only places that I know, that are right on the rivers. I am guessing that you won’t have access to a car. My wife tells me that the Seille river is full of fish, so if you like fishing you should be in luck.
As for how it get there, you would leave Paris from Gare de Lyon, go through Dijon and then on to Tournus. The travel time would take about three hours. The total cost is 42 Euros, one way. I got this info off the SNCF, the French train company web site, http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm.