In Marnay, historic buildings meet hiking and cycling trails, as well as opportunities to enjoy the water. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus on the town and its architecture, a tour, or activities on the Ognon River and at Plan d'eau. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to the interests of your travel group.

Walking and cycling routes

The Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, part of the Way of St. James, passes through Marnay. For a hike with a well-known starting point, there is also La Balade Marnaysienne: it starts in Marnay and is 14 kilometres long. Conditions and trail markings may be updated, so check them before setting out. If you prefer cycling, the signposted Boucle des Vignes is a 40-kilometre loop starting in Marnay. Here too, you should check the route conditions in advance. The two routes differ not only in length but also in the type of activity: one is a hike, the other a cycling loop.

The Ligne des Escargots offers another way to explore the surrounding area on foot or by bicycle. The route is considered easy, is mostly shaded and runs over flat terrain; it is considered accessible to everyone. It is also used for family outings. Fifteen panels introduce the area's natural and cultural heritage, adding an extra point of interest to the route.

Water activities and time outdoors

On the Ognon River, Woka Marnay offers canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. Check availability before your visit. At Plan d'eau de Marnay, there are two boat slipways, jetties accessible to people with reduced mobility, and picnic tables. As these facilities may change, it is advisable to check before travelling.

The 23-hectare Plan d'eau is a fishing lake accessible from the shore and also used by anglers in boats or on float tubes. Find out about the applicable rules and conditions before fishing. Overnight stays for carp fishing are also possible in Marnay; check booking arrangements and regulations in advance. This option differs from ordinary overnight accommodation planning: it is specifically linked to fishing.

Woka Loisirs Marnay offers treetop courses for visitors aged four to twelve; the minimum height is one metre. The activity is seasonal, so check in advance when it is available. The age and height requirements help you decide whether the course is suitable for your group.

Buildings and local history

The Château de Marnay was originally built to guard the crossing over the Ognon and provide refuge for residents in times of danger. Only the exterior of the château can be viewed. The lithography workshop in the former manor house can be visited by appointment; check the access conditions before your visit. The surviving visible remains of the château include the entrance gate, the manor house, the polygonal tower and the archive pavilion.

The Église Saint-Symphorien brings together architectural periods from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries. Features open to visitors include a Stations of the Cross in enamelled terracotta, a Renaissance Pietà, a painting of the Rosary and the painting of the Vierge Miraculeuse. The church is open daily; check access before your visit.

The Hôtel de Santans, now the town hall, can only be viewed from the outside. The building is an example of 16th-century Renaissance urban secular architecture. On the façade, look for the mullioned windows arranged in pairs and the surviving Santans family coat of arms on an upper-storey window frame. This exterior view offers a distinctive architectural feature alongside the religious buildings and the remains of the château.

Accommodation and your stay

In the town centre, there is a 62-square-metre gîte for travellers. It is open all year round and welcomes pilgrims, hikers and mountain bikers. As availability should be confirmed before travelling, it is advisable to enquire in advance. The gîte is a specific option for these groups; overnight stays for carp fishing, by contrast, are tied to the fishing activity and should be planned separately.

For a break with coffee and tea, Maison laGrange in Marnay invites you to discover coffees from around the world, as well as special infusions and teas. Alongside the trails, the town centre and activities on the water, this offers a choice of different ways to spend your time without requiring every activity to be part of the same day's itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Frasne-le-Château, Lure, Esboz-Brest, Villersexel, La Résie-Saint-Martin, Savoyeux, Haut-Du-Them-Château-Lambert, Charcenne

For the wider travel guide: Haute-Saône.