| Cher | |
| Map: | Cher (rivière).png |
| Mouth Location: | Loire |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 47.3425°N 0.4803°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | France |
| Length: | 365.1km (226.9miles) |
| Source1 Elevation: | 762m (2,500feet) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 104m3/s |
| Basin Size: | 13718km2 |
The Cher (pronounced as /fr/; Occitan (post 1500);: Char) is a river in central France, a left tributary of the Loire. It is 365.1km (226.9miles) long, and its basin area is 13718km2. Its source is in the Creuse department, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire at Villandry, west of Tours.
The river suffered a devastating flood in 1940, which damaged the Château de Chenonceau, which spans the river, and other structures along the banks. It owes its name to the pre-Indo-European root kʰar 'stone'.
The Cher flows through the following departments, and along the following towns:
The main tributaries of the Cher are, from spring to mouth (L: left / R: right):
The Cher was part of a network of waterways that linked the city of Tours to Nevers, where connections to other regions of France existed., only the 54km (34miles) section between Larçay (southeast of Tours) and Noyers-sur-Cher is navigable for small boats (maximum draft 80 cm). It has 14 locks.[1] At Noyers-sur-Cher, it is connected with the Canal de Berry, of which only the westernmost 15km (09miles) section until Selles-sur-Cher is navigable.[2]