Château de la Presle

For those seeking relaxation or culture rather than sport, the area offers several museums, numerous religious and historical monuments, displays of arts and crafts, theatres, concerts and festivals.

There is also Vesoul with its old town of courtyards and hidden passages, the Chapelle de Notre Dame de Haut designed by Le Corbusier, at Ronchamp, the unique "Plateau des Milles Etangs" (superb in the autumn) or the Saône river. For wine-lovers, there are the local vineyards of Champlitte and Charcenne and those of Alsace, Jura, Burgundy and Champagne are all within easy travelling distance.

Many towns and villages have weekly markets where you can find locally-produced specialities to take home with you. If you are looking for longer-lasting pleasures, every weekend from Easter until late Autumn you can scour "brocantes" held in the streets of villages and throughout the year, explore the premises àf local antiques dealers and "depots-ventes".

Chateaux

Franche Comté in general and Haute Saône in particular, host numerous chateaux and fortified manor houses - Villersexel, Filain, Gy, Oricourt, Pesmes, Boult, Rupt sur Saône, Ray sur Saône ... among many others. Several are open for public visits.

Lavoirs & Monuments

Almost every village of Franche Comté has its "lavoir" or communal washing area where, historically, housewives washed their family's clothes.

In a similar way, every village has a church belfry of which to be proud. In the shape of a bell, covered with coloured tiles and usually topped by a cockerel weather-vane, these belfry mark the landscape. By tradition, at the time of refurbishment, steeplejacks carry the cockerel from house to house so that every inhabitant of the village can kiss it.

Museums

The chateau of Champlitte houses one of several industrial and agricultural museums in the area (as well as the largest museum of Populart Arts & Traditions in France). Others include the museum of lace in Luxeuil, the mining museum in Ronchamp (also well-known for its chapel designed by Le Corbusier), the costume museum in Scey sur Saône and the mountain museum in Chateau-Lambert.

Glass-blowing

Founded in 1475, the glass-works at Passavant-la-Rochère (30 km) is the oldest operational glass-works in France and is one of the oldest in the world. Visitors can learn about the making of glass and crystal, see craftsmen using centuries' old techniques and buy their works of art from the craft-shop.

Distilleries

The town of Fougerolle (30 km) is also home to a museum - that of fruit distilling. For centuries, the town has been famous for its kirsch and other fruit-based alcoholic drinks. There are still more than 40000 cherry trees in the area and several distilleries still operate. You will find kirsch and many other specialities, including the famous griottines de Fougerolles. Franche Comté is also the home of another well-known alcoholic beverage - absinthe. Having been outlawed for many decades because of its disasterous effects on health, the original recipe has now been adapted so that modern generations can savour the drink with much less serious consequences.

Vinyards

Haute Saône has its own, little-known wine industry producing "vins du pay" notably Champlitte and Charcenne. Further to the south of Franche Comté lies the Jura with its Arbois, Macvin and Côtes de Jura wines. One hour's drive to the north-east, the Alsace vineyards produce excellent Riesling, Sylvaner, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Tokay, Gerwurstraminer ... A similar distance to the north-west, one enters the Champagne area and to the south-west, lies Dijon the doorway to Burgundy and Beaujolais.

River Cruises

Should you want a break of a few hours from museums, monuments, crafts or other, why not sit back and enjoy a view of the countryside while cruising along the river Saône? Half-day or full-day tours are available at Port-sur-Saône (12kms) or "self-drive" cruise-boats can be hired for several days or weeks.