the trip on the Saône in an electric boat

the trip on the Saône in an electric boat

I’m not a big car driver. Even fewer boats. The last time I rode a machine on water was a pedal boat fifteen years ago. I ended up soaked. So I’m not quite comfortable, Friday, May 6, boarding a boat moored at the Confluence nautical dock attached to the quay Antoine Riboud (Lyon 2). The boat, which can carry ten people, is made available by Cap Confluent company, specialist in tourist navigation on the Saône. They recently added three electric gears to the existing eleven thermal ones. “We are the only ones to offer 100% electric vehicles,” enthuses Chloé, 24, base manager.

Captain of a boat

One of them has been baptized “Monts d’Or”. I will be the captain, the time of the excursion. A big hour to go near the courthouse and come back. They can extend from one hour to a full day (8 hours). Electric cars do not exceed 9 km/h. Before departure, Chloé gives some instructions. We stay to the right, 10-15 meters from the edge. We do not come close to commercial or inhabited barges.

I repeat the recommendations in my head. “It’s extremely simple,” reassures Chloé. “Even for people who have never seen Lyon and who don’t know the city. It’s straight ahead. » To take advantage of the Lyon heritage, a logbook is given to me. It contains details on the emblematic monuments, bridges, footbridges or churches of Lyon. In short, on the history of the capital of Gaul.

From the Mulatière bridge to the Couzon-au-Mont-d’Or lock

I ride. I sit behind the wheel on a blue leatherette seat. “The electric brings a lot of comfort, boasts Chloé. There are no vibrations and the boats make almost no noise. On my right, a joystick allows you to go backwards or forwards. I pull then I push. Let’s go. Master aboard the machine, I advance on this arm of the Rhône several kilometers long. After a few too abrupt bar strokes, I get used to it.

It only takes a few minutes to tame the beast. And this, despite the backwash caused by the few boats full of tourists and the natural current. Going up, we first observe the St. George’s Church Then St. John’s Cathedral THE courthouse … If we continue, we discover the fresco of the Lyonnais, Fort Saint-Jean. And further on: Ile Barbe, the most popular destination for customers.

Almost at the end of the route is Île Roy. To get there, it will take 4 hours. You might as well choose the daily rate (€340 by electric boat). It allows completely free navigation. “Take your time, have a picnic or stop at one of the restaurants accessible by boat,” the company explains on its website. “Cross our entire navigation area. » It must however be done between the Mulatière bridge south of Lyon, and the Couzon-au-Mont-d’Or lock, to the north.

Find all the rates and information on the Cap Confluent website: https://cap-confluent.com/



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