Discover Marnay: Trails, Water and Renaissance

When looking for a hotel in Marnay, you can first consider whether trails, water activities or historic buildings will shape your stay. The available options also have specific requirements: routes vary in length and permitted uses, while some visits have their own access conditions. There is also a 62 m² stopover gîte in the town centre. It is open year-round and welcomes pilgrims, hikers and mountain bikers. Confirm availability before travelling.

Walking and cycling routes

The Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle passes through Marnay. For a cycling route, the signposted 40 km Boucle des Vignes starts in the town. La Balade Marnaysienne is a 14 km walking route that also starts in Marnay. The two routes starting here therefore differ both in activity and distance: a 14 km walk or a 40 km cycling loop. Trail conditions and markings may be updated; check the latest information before setting out.

The Ligne des Escargots is considered an easy, mostly shaded trail. It can be enjoyed on foot, by bike and on family outings; the route is flat and considered accessible to everyone. Its 15 panels introduce the area’s natural and cultural heritage. As well as offering a chance to get active, the route provides information to help you explore the surrounding area.

Water activities and practical details

The 23-hectare Plan d’eau de Marnay is a fishing lake: fishing is from the shore, and anglers also use boats or float tubes. The lake has two boat slipways, jetties accessible to people with reduced mobility, and picnic tables. Before your visit, check the current status of the facilities and, if fishing, the applicable regulations and conditions.

On the Ognon, Woka Marnay offers canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. If you plan to take part in one of these activities, check availability in advance. Another offering is aimed at children: Woka Loisirs Marnay has treetop adventure courses for visitors aged 4 to 12 who are at least 1 m tall. Seasonal availability may vary, so check whether the course is open on your travel dates.

Architectural history and visits

The original Château de Marnay was built to oversee the crossing of the Ognon and provide refuge for residents in times of danger. The surviving visible features are the entrance gate, manor house, polygonal tower and archive pavilion. The château can only be viewed from the outside. The lithography workshop in the former manor house is accessible by appointment.

The Église Saint-Symphorien brings together architectural periods from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries. Inside, you can see 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 the latest access information before your visit.

The Hôtel de Santans is now the town hall and an example of 16th-century Renaissance-style secular urban architecture. Visible details include paired mullioned windows and the Santans family coat of arms, preserved on the upper-storey window frame. It can only be viewed from the outside. Check the latest access information before your visit.

Another discovery in Marnay

Maison laGrange in Marnay invites you to discover coffees from around the world, as well as distinctive infusions and teas. If you plan to visit, check the current selection in advance. You can then plan your trip around the things that interest you—from a specific route to water activities and surviving historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Fresse, Saint-Sauveur, Gray, Fougerolles, Briaucourt, Fresne-Saint-Mamès, Lure, Leffond.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Saône.