Ray-Sur-Saône combines architectural history with routes and activities along the Saône. The village’s highlights include the Château de Ray-sur-Saône and the Église Saint-Pancrace, as well as a park, riverbanks and cycling connections. If you are looking for a place to stay where culture and landscape can shape your visit, Ray-Sur-Saône offers specific points of interest.

Château and Park

The Château de Ray-sur-Saône was classified as a Monument historique in 2009. It stands on a rocky promontory that rises about 80 metres above the village and the Saône. Its elevated position is a defining feature of the château and its surroundings.

The park is free to enter. Its sequence of terraces, exotic trees and panoramic views over the Saône Valley make it a destination in its own right for a walk. Remains of a medieval enclosure wall, two towers and filled-in ditches have also been preserved there. The landscaped park and visible traces of its older built heritage thus sit side by side.

The Château is open to the public, but visits are possible only as part of a guided tour. The château and the park therefore have different access conditions: a guided tour is required to visit the château, while the park is free to enter. As tour arrangements may change, check the current visiting options in advance.

Churches and Other Architectural History

The present-day Église Saint-Pancrace building dates from the 13th century and reflects the influence of Cistercian architecture. The church was protected as a Monument historique on 17 March 2014. Its construction date and protection date mark different stages in its history.

The bell tower is topped with an Imperial-style roof made of coloured flat tiles. The church’s furnishings include notable works, among them a Mise au tombeau, a depiction of the Entombment. Its architecture and furnishings offer different points of interest, from the influence of an architectural tradition to an individual work.

The Maison des Moines dates from the 16th century and is considered an example of traditional regional architecture. The Lavoir de Ray-sur-Saône, in turn, displays a different kind of architectural detail: it has two basins made of ashlar limestone, one rectangular and one oval. Work on the lavoir was signed off on 6 October 1846. Ray-Sur-Saône thus brings together church architecture, a regionally characteristic building and a lavoir with clearly distinct features.

Saône Riverbanks and Cycling Routes

For cyclists, the Véloroute V50 “Charles le Téméraire” passes through Ray-Sur-Saône and follows former towpaths along the Saône. Near Ray-Sur-Saône, the Voie Bleue also runs along departmental road 27 to the riverbanks and then onto the towpath. Some short sections are open to traffic. As route conditions may change, check the current route before setting out and take these sections into account when planning your ride.

The Saône riverbanks offer another way to spend time by the river: they are suitable for walks, picnics and fishing. When planning a trip, you can therefore choose between cycling on a named route and activities right by the water. If you are considering Ray-Sur-Saône as a place to stay, you can make your choice based on whether architectural history, walks or time by the water will be the main focus of your visit.

Discover more destinations: Faymont, Huanne, Villers-Bouton, Lavoncourt, Marnay, Breurey-Lès-Faverney, Nantilly, La Neuvelle-Lès-Scey.

View the broader travel overview: Haute-Saône.