Visits, Fishing and Swimming

A former Burgundian stronghold located on the Franche-Comté side of the Saône River, Auxonne boasts a rare military heritage. A museum housed in the Château Louis XI is dedicated to Bonaparte, who trained there as an artillery officer,his room is still preserved. The arsenal built by Vauban now serves as a covered market. Moor your license-free boat and explore the town on foot to discover all its charm: ramparts, the Porte de Comté, the Royal Gate, and the 13th-century Church of Notre-Dame.

A Green Resort at the meeting point of six waterways. Enjoy fishing, swimming, or walking/biking along the “Voie Bleue.” Visit the peninsula village center, the 18th-century Saint-Maurice Church, and panoramic views from the Mont Ardoux Virgin statue.

The Saône River provides a rich natural environment. Visit the Water, Fishing and Nature Center to learn more about the local wildlife and ecosystem discovered during your boat trip.

Once home to the region’s largest blast furnace, the site still features the master’s house, workers' homes, coal shed, canal network, bridges and a historic washing furnace.

A pleasant stop on the Petite Saône with elegant merchant houses, an 18th-century church, and a château.

A small, non‑guarded beach at the river stop in Velet offers shallow swimming,ideal for children.

In Gray-la-Ville, religious heritage lovers can admire one of Haute-Saône’s finest altarpieces in the listed Saint-Maurice Church.

From the riverside mooring point, head to a nearby picnic area. For lunch with a view over the town, visit the Lamugnière Park, landscaped around 1870 with greenhouses and an orangery. It features fruit trees and notable species like ginkgo biloba, weeping beech, Atlas cedar, and Chinese mahogany.

As the Saône suddenly widens, you arrive in Gray,a city shaped by centuries of river trade. Its wide stone quays recall its vibrant port activity. Discover its Renaissance town hall, 15th-century basilica, Italian-style theater, the château (now Baron Martin Museum), and the Museum of Art and Archaeology.