Discover Loray

Hiking and Local History in Loray

In Loray, hiking and architectural history can be two highlights of your stay. There are specific points of reference to help you plan: a moderately challenging circular trail with an approximate duration, a ten-kilometre hike through the Martinvaux Valley and along the Reverotte, and distinctive buildings in the village. Loray is near the D461, one of the département’s main roads. Whether you would rather focus on a route with a clearly named destination or on individual details of cultural history is a choice you can make based on these different themes.

Architectural History in the Village Landscape

A calvary dating from the 12th century stands beside the church in Loray and is classified as a historic monument. The main façade of the Fromagerie de Loray features a carved limestone lintel. It depicts a deer, birds, fish and goats, as well as the year 1738. A lintel forms the top of a window opening; the carving makes this architectural element a distinctive feature of the façade. The municipality built the Fromagerie in 1876–1877 as a new cheese dairy in the centre of the village. The year 1738 relates to the façade detail, while 1876–1877 dates the construction of the building.

Hikes to a Chapel, a Viewpoint and a River

The Sainte-Radegonde route is a moderately challenging 9.6-kilometre circular trail with an approximate duration of three hours. It leads from Loray to the Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde. Treat the duration as a guide: your pace and the conditions will affect the actual hiking time. The chapel was first built in 1541, destroyed during the Revolution and rebuilt in 1854. Its history gives the hike a specific cultural and historical destination.

The route passes through forests and pastures on its way to the summit of Roche Barchey, at an elevation of 988 m. From there, you can see many of the surrounding villages and the peaks of the Lomont. The chapel and Roche Barchey offer different points of reference along the Sainte-Radegonde route: a historic destination and a high point with views of the surrounding area.

Other sights along a hike include the Belvédère des Genevois and the Puits de la Doye. The Puits de la Doye is one of the most significant karst features in Loray. A ten-kilometre hike goes through the Martinvaux Valley and along the Reverotte. On a walk beside the river, you can discover its source as well as former mill and sawmill sites.

At 9.6 and 10 kilometres, the two routes are similar in length but have different focuses: the Sainte-Radegonde route combines the history of the chapel with a summit viewpoint, while the hike through Martinvaux and along the Reverotte passes through a river landscape with former mill and sawmill sites. This lets you choose based on your destination, the landscape and the time you have available.

Discover more destinations: Les Fourgs, Mouthier-Haute-Pierre, Rougemont, Vuillecin, Grandfontaine, Fournets-Luisans, Fournet-Blancheroche, Saint-Antoine

For the broader travel overview: Doubs.