Gray

Gray, Cité de Caractère Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, was once one of the most important towns in Haute-Saône. Its rich architectural heritage bears witness to its strategic and commercial importance over the centuries.

©White Vesoul-Val de Saône logo

Must-see monuments

Gray is a town where every street corner tells a story. Start your visit with the Basilique Notre-Dame, a Gothic masterpiece dating from the 15th to 16th centuries. Next, admire the town hall, a Renaissance-inspired building with a glazed tile roof reminiscent of Gray’s proximity to Burgundy. Don’t forget to look up to see the magnificent sundial that adorns its façade.

Exploring the upper town

Aerial view of Gray town hall - Magnificent coloured and glazed tile roof - in the background, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Gray - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Gray|Maxime Naegely

A couple having lunch on the terrace of the Baron Martin Museum. A large chess set can be seen in the foreground - Gray - City of character - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Baron Martin Museum|Maxime Naegely

Woman looking out of a window of the Tour Saint-Pierre Fourier, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Gray - Cité de caractère - Vesoul-Val de Saône — ©Gray|Maxime Naegely

A couple head for Tour-Saint-Pierre-Fourier - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Tour-Saint-Pierre-Fourier - Gray|Maxime Naegely

A historic centre full of treasures

A stroll through the town will take you to the Chapelle des Carmélites, the Tour du Parvis – the last vestige of Gray’s 13th-century fortified castle – and the Hôtel de Conflans, a 16th-century military house with a hexagonal Renaissance turret.

The Baron Martin Museum of Art and Archaeology is another must-see. Housed in a former château, this museum traces six centuries of European art and offers a fascinating insight into the region’s artistic history.

Visit the museum

Book your guided tour

The town of Gray held a strategic position in trade between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The Saône, which runs through the town, played a crucial role in its economic and commercial development. To find out more about the town’s heritage, the Saône and Gray’s commercial importance through the ages, book a guided tour at the Tourist Office.

A couple picnicking on the grass on the banks of the Saône at Gray. In the background is a pleasure boat sailing, a bridge and buildings - Gray - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©Gray|Maxime Naegely

Let yourself go by the Saône

The Saône also offers many opportunities for river tourism. Come aboard the Audacieux, an electro-solar boat, for a guided cruise that will take you through the river’s magnificent landscapes and historical anecdotes. These cruises are an ideal way to see Gray from another angle and enjoy the tranquillity of the Saône.

Sailing on the Saône

Aerial view of the l'Audacieux river boat on the Saône at Gray — ©Bateau l'Audacieux|Vedettes du Val de Saône

Pedal On the Blue Way

For the more adventurous, the Voie Bleue cycle route, a 700km cycle route from Luxembourg to Lyon, passes through Gray along the Saône, offering peaceful, pastoral landscapes.

A touring cyclist travels along the Voie Bleue, while a boat sails on the Saône. In the background, the village of Rupt-sur-Saône and its castle - Vesoul - Val de Saône — ©River tourism and cycling on the Saône|Maxime Naegely

La Voie Bleue

A town with a quality label

Office de Tourisme Val de Gray