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Besançon (UK: / ˈ b ɛ z ən s ɒ n /, US: / b ə ˈ z æ n s ən /, French: [bəzɑ̃sɔ̃] ⓘ, Franco-Provençal: [bəzɑ̃ˈsɔ̃]; archaic German: Bisanz; Latin: Vesontio) is the prefecture of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the ...
Besançon, capital of the Franche-Comté region, has a wealth of tourist attractions. The most visited of these is the Citadel - a UNESCO World Heritage site - a magnificent example of seventeenth-century military architecture, designed by Vauban.
Besançon, city, capital of Doubs département, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté région, eastern France. It lies astride a horseshoe meander of the Doubs River, 45 miles (75 km) east of Dijon. It early became the chief town (Vesontio) of the Sequani Gauls and in 58 bce was taken by Julius Caesar.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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- Citadel. The UNESCO-listed citadel is arguably Vauban’s crowning glory. The military mastermind conceived this 11-hectare fortified complex in the 1660s, and it adapts to the mammoth promontory at the neck of the loop in the Doube River.
- Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie. In 1694 the abbot and scholar Jean-Baptiste Boisot left his hoard of manuscripts, busts, medals, paintings and books to the Benedictine monks of Saint-Vincent, providing it was made available to the public two days a week.
- Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation. Besançon’s museum about the resistance and the concentration camps packs an emotional punch. The museum’s home is the cadet building in the Citadel, and this setting isn’t coincidental as some 100 resistance members were shot here in the war.
- Musée du Temps. In the late-18th century Swiss craftsmen poured into Besançon, turning it into one of Europe’s capitals for watchmaking. That legacy is evident today in the city’s nanotechnology industries, for which Besançon is a world leader.
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The population is around 120,000; it’s small enough to visit in a day, but large enough to spend more time there.Victor Hugo (French writer best known for Les Misérables) and the Lumière brothers (inventors of film projection) were born in Besançon.The city is part of the Franche-Comté region and is known for its cheese.Besançon is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site—a citadel from the 17th century.You can catch a direct train from many French cities, including Paris (2.5 hours), Lyon (2.5 hours), and Dijon (1 hour). Keep in mind that the station you choose should be Besançon Viotte, NOT Besançon Franche-Comté TGV. The TGV station is still 15km (9 miles) away from the actual city. The Besançon Viotte station is actually in the city. The price...
Besançon is a small city and is pretty walkable. I never had to take the tram or bus, and just walked everywhere. If you need to take public transport though, you can find the routes on Google. Tickets cost 1,40 eurosand are valid for an hour with transfers. They can be purchased at tram stops with cash or card. Bus tickets can also be purchased at...
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Öst Café Since I eat mostly plant-based, I don’t have any recommendations for traditional restaurants. I’d check out the ones along the riverfront though, as they’re likely to have lovely outdoor seating. If you also like vegan/vegetarian cuisine, I enjoyed Öst Café. Located right along the river, this vegetarian cafe has the prettiest setting. I d...
Budget: I stayed in this Airbnbtwice, which was conveniently next to the train station. It was around 25 euros/night (no minimum stay) and the host was the loveliest older woman—she was so hospitable and sweet to talk with. The accommodation is basic, but had everything I needed. Moderate: ibis Besançon Centre Villeis also conveniently located, an...
There are a couple essentials you’ll need for a trip to France, if you’re coming from outside the EU. These links go to Amazon if you’re planning to shop there anyways, but I also want to encourage you to buy from small, local shops, if you can. 1. Universal adapter—I used this one during my one-year stay in France, and when I traveled to the UK. K...
Besançon (/ b ə z ɑ̃ s ɔ̃ / [n 1]) est une commune de l'Est de la France, préfecture du département du Doubs et siège du conseil régional de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Située en bordure du massif du Jura à moins d'une soixantaine de kilomètres de la Suisse, elle est entourée de collines et traversée par le Doubs.
France, Europe. Capped with a citadel and folded into a bend in the Doubs River, Besançon is a pleasant surprise. Unshowy and laid-back, the capital of the Doubs département nonetheless offers a broad spectrum of culture: 18th-century town houses, many now housing hotels and restaurants; active contemporary arts and local music scenes; and ...
