Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Ray-sur-Saône has its origins in the 10th century as a strategic medieval fortress, monitoring the paths of the Saône valley. Destroyed in part during the Ten Years' War (1636-1646), it was rebuilt in the early eighteenth century in a classical style by the family of Mérod, then transformed in the nineteenth century. The site retains defensive elements such as two semicircular towers and remains of filled ditches.

In the 11th century, the village belonged to the abbey of Saint-Vincent of Chalon-sur-Saône, and Ray's sires defended it. Othon de La Roche, became Baron of Ray by marriage, took part in the fourth crusade and won the title of Duke of Athens. In the 17th century, the seigneury passed to the Marmier, then to the Salverte, which owned the castle until 2015, the date of its donation to the department of Haute-Saône. The park, built in the 18th century and redesigned by Eugène Bühler in 1870, is classified as a historical monument.

The present U-shaped castle incorporates medieval elements such as the Tranché tower and the Guet tower. The asymmetrical façade and the gunboats recall its defensive past. The six-hectare park, open to the public, houses rare species and a seigneurial vault. Ranked a historic monument in 2009, the castle is now a departmental property and is subject to restorations, such as that of its Mansart roof.

The history of the castle is marked by figures such as Diane de Salverte, the last private owner, who donated it in 2015. The interiors are home to historic furniture, some of which have been acquired by the department during auctions. The castral village, destroyed during the Ten Years' War, once witnessed an artisanal and agricultural life organized around the castle.

The architectural transformations reflect the strategic and aesthetic changes: from the medieval castle to the classical pleasure castle, to the landscaped layouts inspired by the gardens to the English. The remains, such as the Porterie or the ramparts, recall its defensive role past, while the salons and park illustrate its adaptation to the lifestyles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

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