river that rises near Vioménil, southwest of Épinal, in the Vosges département, Lorraine région, eastern France. It flows southward to join the Rhône River at Lyon after a course of about 300 miles (480 km).

From its source the Saône flows southwestward into Haute-Saône département near Corre, where it meets the Canal de l'Est. It continues through Gray to Pontailler-sur-Saône and crosses Côte d'Or département to enter Saône-et-Loire département, where it is joined by the Doubs River, its major tributary. The river then passes Chalon-sur-Saône, Tournus, Mâcon, and Villefranche before joining the Rhône.

The Saône is navigable upstream from Lyon for 233 miles (375 km) to Corre and has 30 locks along its course, which is almost completely canalized. Its basin is about 11,600 square miles (30,000 square km) in area. The Saône is connected by canal to both the Rhine and the Seine rivers.