Petit Rhone
Information about the 21km of river from its junction with the Rhone (the 'Grand Rhone') to the ecluse into the Canal Rhone a Sete. The river continues for further 40km to the sea; however the depth gets progressively more shallow (less than 1m) and at PK331 there is a cable ferry, air draft 2.5m.
The contrast between the curvaceous and lovely Petit Rhone, bounded on all sides with high, thick foliage (photo at the top of the screen) and the wide, open Rhone is dramatic. We felt it was like making a short trip down some minor Amazonian tributary. You will probably not meet many, if any, other craft but the Petit Rhone channel can and does accommodate large vessels making their way between the Rhone and the docks at Sete; the ecluse at Saint-Gilles is sized accordingly.
The channel is marked by poles; outside the channel depths are variable, there are sandbanks and more particularly there are sections bounded by submerged iron stake 'fences'. There are plenty of fallen trees and branches at the river edges, too.
See also general notes (foot of page).
Basic Information
- Approximate minimum depth 2.20m, headroom 4.7m, width 12m (at the ecluse). These are the 'book' values and may vary according to conditions. Navigating this section of the river should not present any difficulties to normal pleasure craft.
- Speed limit 15kph. Opening hours of the (manned) ecluse during the season 06:30 to 19:30.
- PK numbering continues as the Rhone.
PK279 Rhone Junction
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From the Rhone the Petit Rhone branch is fairly clearly marked, off to the west. Coming from the Petit Rhone, one will have to cross the Rhone (over to the eastern side). Anticipate the downstream current in the main river and also keep a weather eye open for large vessels coming up from Arles or down (maybe quite quickly) from Lyon. |
PK281 Pont suspendu du Fourques
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Formerly the place where Rhone river pilots were stationed. |
PK296.5
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PK296.5 - A quiet and peaceful potential mooring - pontoon and piles, west bank. PK293.3 Portarnaud (west bank) |
PK300 Ecluse Saint-Gilles
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Passage into/from the Canal Rhone a Sete, 4km south of Saint-Gilles and 29km from the (closed) end of the canal at Beaucaire.
Top photo shows the ecluse entrance, branching off the river to the west. Considering the scale of the ecluse, its rise/fall will surprise you - we've never found it to be more than about 600mm. You will normally be asked for your travel intentions and possibly have your vignette checked. Call up on VHF #18 or telephone 04 66 87 75 30; this must be a pretty quiet eclusier posting.
Notes
Grehan very much welcomes your comments, corrections, suggestions and additions.
PK = Kilometre distance mark, as printed in waterway guides and found as actual signposts (occasionally) on the waterways.
PdP = Port de Plaisance (inland pleasure port/marina/mooring). Halte (nautique) = mooring place/pontoon. Ecluse (Sas in Normandy - 'sas' means 'chamber') = lock. Peniche = barge.
TE (tirant d'eau) = Depth. Check actual depths! The 'book' river depth is in the channel centre, edges will be less and you may have a problem coming alongside so be careful. Tuck your nose in first and if necessary keep the stern (where the vulnerable prop is) poking out. There is often a shallow bar just outside the lower gate of an ecluse.
VNF SINGLE NUMBER - The VNF have introduced a nationwide single telephone point of access for making lock arrangements, etc and notify breakdowns and other emergencies - 0800 863 000 - you will almost certainly need to understand and speak a certain amount of French.
Contact Grehan >top of page<This is an information guide - it is not a substitute for a waterways pilot book, nor is it meant to be. We strongly recommend obtaining a pilot book for each river or canal you travel. The information here results from direct personal experience cruising the waterways from north to south and east to west; and/or has also been gleaned from a number of sources and accounts. Photographs by Grehan; some other photographs by permission, or in the public domain; if we have inadvertently breached any copyrights, please contact us. Grehan's own photographs may be available for re-use, please contact us for permission.
