Exploring Old Gray

Park in the Sauzay car park.

(S/E) Head to the Tourist Office and the information point. Take the unnamed street opposite, which runs perpendicular to Rue de Sauzay, then turn left. Cross Avenue Carnot and take the street opposite, Rue Augustin Cournot, until you reach Rue Vanoise.

Turn left, then take the stairs up to the Tertre du Château on the right. Walk along the car park that runs alongside the ramparts, then follow the street on the right to reach Gray Town Hall.

(1) Opposite the town hall, take the path between the two buildings, then turn left into Rue des Casernes. At the end, continue to the right along Ruelle du Commandant Cécile, then take the first alleyway on the left.

(2) Turn right as you pass through the archway into the Parc des Carmes. After strolling through the park, exit onto Rue Victor Hugo and head to the right. Turn left at the first junction onto Rue Louis Jobard. Turn right straight away to enter the car park. Take the staircase at the far right and walk on until you reach the square with a fountain.

Turn right to reach the town hall square, then continue straight ahead to the sub-prefecture square. Go to the far end of the square to find some steps leading down Rue Malcouverte. Turn left onto this street to reach the junction with the Grande Rue.

(3) Turn left onto this street and follow it up to No. 71 on the right. Push open the gate, then go to the far end of the courtyard and follow the path and the stairs. Continue left along Rue du Lycée until you reach the junction with Rue de l’Arsenal.

(4) Turn right onto it; a little further on, near the Jesuit secondary school, take the ramp on the right just before a small bridge. Pass under an archway, then exit the courtyard onto Rue de l’Abreuvoir. Continue to the right and return to the junction you passed earlier.

(3) Turn left down Rue Gambetta, then cross Avenue des Grands Moulins. Walk past the Bistrot des Bateliers. Go down the steps to spend a moment by the banks of the Saône. Head back up towards the bridge and cross the road. Enter Sauzay Park. On leaving, walk round the market halls to easily find the Tourist Office and the Sauzay car park (S/E).

Large car park at the start, right next to the tourist information office on the Île Sauzay site near the Saône
Local food shops on the Grande Rue, with places to eat and drink offering views of the Saône on either side of the bridge.
Wear shoes suitable for walking in town and up and down stairs.
It may be worth taking this walk at dusk to enjoy the city lights, but in that case, there are no places to eat.

Between (S/E) and (1) When you reach the top of the stairs, you can admire the 13th-century Paravis Tower, which now serves as the entrance to the Baron Martin Museum grounds.
(1) You can admire the glazed tiles on the town hall building (1567).
(2) In the Parc des Carmes there is an analemmatic sundial.
After the small fountain, you’ll see a series of historic buildings marked by information signs
(2) and (S/E) The Parc des Carmes, halfway along the route, and the Parc de l’Île Sauzay, at the end, are very child-friendly.
(S/E) Make the most of the Saturday morning market under the Hall Sauzay.