At the Fromagerie de Loray, two historical dates come together: the building was constructed in 1876–1877, while the sculpted limestone window lintel bears the date 1738. Alongside such architectural traces, hiking trails help make the town a destination. When planning your stay, both local history and specific routes and landscape views may therefore play a part.

Hiking between a circular trail, a valley and a viewpoint

The Sainte-Radegonde Route is a moderately difficult 9.6-kilometre circular trail that takes about three hours. This is a useful timeframe for planning your day; actual pace and conditions affect how long it takes. From Loray, the trail leads to the Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde and passes through forests and pastures to the summit of Roche Barchey at 988 metres. From there, you can see numerous nearby villages and the peaks of the Lomont. This route thus combines a clearly identified circular trail with a specific viewpoint.

The Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde was first built in 1541, destroyed during the Revolution and rebuilt in 1854. Its history gives the hiking destination a distinct historical connection: the dates mark both its original construction and its later reconstruction.

Another hike covers ten kilometres through the Martinvaux valley and along the Reverotte. Walking beside the river, you can discover its source, as well as the sites of former mills and sawmills. The valley, watercourse and former workplaces offer a different focus from the forests, pastures and summit views on the Sainte-Radegonde Route.

Points of interest along a hike include the Belvédère des Genevois and the Puits de la Doye. The Puits is one of the most important karst features in Loray. This means that a specific point along the hike also reflects a defining landscape feature of the town.

Architectural history in the townscape

Next to the church in Loray stands a 12th-century Calvaire, classified as a historical monument. Its religious significance sets it apart from the history of the municipally built Fromagerie and gives the townscape a much older historical landmark.

The Fromagerie de Loray was built by the municipality in the town centre in 1876–1877 as a new cheese dairy. Its main façade features a sculpted limestone lintel. It depicts a stag, birds, fish and goats, and also bears the date 1738. The two dates refer to different parts of the building: 1738 to the façade detail, and 1876–1877 to the construction of the cheese dairy. Those interested in architecture can therefore turn their attention from the older stone relief to the later building.

Choose routes by time and theme

You have different planning reference points to choose from: the Sainte-Radegonde Route combines 9.6 kilometres with an approximate duration of three hours, while the hike through the Martinvaux valley and along the Reverotte is ten kilometres long. You can then decide whether a circular trail with a stated timeframe or the longer route through the valley and river landscape is a better fit for your day of hiking.

Loray is near the D461, one of the department’s main roads. For road travel, it provides a geographical reference point; hiking plans depend on the chosen route and its particular profile.

Discover more destinations: Bart, Étalans, Geneuille, Larnod, Buffard, Bonnay, Étupes, Dung

For the wider travel overview: Doubs.