Ever thought of a weekend in the Comtois capital? A visit to Besançon, its heritage and its must-sees will surprise you.
Are you coming to Besançon for the weekend? It only takes a few days to fall in love with the city. To visit Besançon is to enjoy a concentration of surprises. It goes without saying that France’s first green city leaves no one indifferent.
Despite its citadel, old town and countless museums, Besançon is not a tourist destination. But that doesn’t stop walkers along the banks of the Doubs from being charmed by the city’s beauty. Labelled a « Ville d’Art et d’Histoire » (City of Art and History) and listed as aUNESCO World Heritage Site, Besançon’s rich architectural heritage traces over 2,000 years of history and offers many places of interest. That’s why Generation Voyage offers you the chance to visit Besançon without missing out on its must-sees.
1. The Besançon Citadel
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pecold
Visiting Besançon sometimes requires a bit of height. Indeed, it’s impossible not to visit the Citadelle de Besançon, overlooking the city. This site is a masterpiece built over three centuries ago by Vauban. Impressive and majestic, the citadel is a must-see when visiting Besançon.
Considered one of the most beautiful citadels in France, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its ramparts are almost 600 metres long, 5 metres wide and some 20 metres high. As such, they offer unique panoramic views of the city and the exceptional natural setting that surrounds it. La Citadelle is one of the city’s most representative monuments, welcoming over 250,000 visitors every year.
2. Besançon’s old town
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Leonid Andronov
Dominated by the Citadelle, the old town of Besançon is the perfect place for a stroll. Through its narrow pedestrian streets, discover its rich architectural heritage. The tourist office offers three signposted tours of Besançon.
In the heart of the Loop
Welcome to the heart of the Boucle! La Boucle is the name given to the historic center of Besançon. In fact, the old town grew up in a meander of the Doubs, whose very shape is that of a loop. This original site is the city’s most popular tourist area, not least because the Citadelle is located here.
This is where you’ll find most of the city’s shops and services. It also boasts the city’s richest and most complete architectural heritage. In fact, you’ll find over a hundred remarkable buildings, dozens of statues and several exceptional bridges, squares and streets.
On the banks of the Doubs
The Doubs is the river that surrounds the city. Strolling along its banks is a superb way to visit Besançon. With almost 5 km to cover, you can choose to walk, cycle or take a boat trip!
During this urban stroll punctuated by heritage features, nature is omnipresent! In fact, lovely green spots have been laid out along the Doubs. Come along the banks of the Doubs, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy a picnic with your family, your partner or your friends.
The Battant district
The Battant district boasts a rich heritage and numerous relics that are a must-see when visiting Besançon. Full of hidden treasures, this area is both warm and timeless. It’s organized around the Eglise de la Madeleine and its imposing towers.
At the very top of this sloping district, you’ll find Fort Griffon. It offers an extraordinary panorama of Besançon, its bell towers, citadel and surrounding hills. Don’t forget to admire the famous Pont Battant, a key building of the district and the city!
3. Saint John’s Cathedral
Photo credit: Shutterstock – EBASCOL
Built in the 3rd century, St. John’s Cathedral has undergone numerous renovations. As a result, it blends several styles. As well as being one of the few in France to feature two opposing choirs, it mixes Romanesque sections with Gothic and Baroque ones. The whole forms an incredible unity, which you can even visit with the help of a guide.
The astronomical clock at Saint-Jean Cathedral
The astronomical clock at Saint-Jean Cathedral was built in the 19th century. Considered a masterpiece of its kind, it’s a must-see when visiting Besançon. Every day, it is wound by hand. And as it turns, it also drives the five dials of the Cathedral Saint-Jean.
Enter this world of sound and vision. Here, mechanical perfection mingles with poetic decor. To find out all the secrets of this masterpiece, take a guided tour of the clock and observe much of its inner workings.
4. Besançon Museums
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pierre Jean Durieu
Visiting Besançon also means discovering its culture. You’ll be spoilt for choice! Besançon boasts rich and diverse collections. Its culture is spread across a number of museums, of which the following are just a few:
Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology
The Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie is located in the heart of the city and is one of France’s most unusual museums. It was founded in 1694, almost a century before the Louvre, making it one of France’s oldest public museums. Thanks to its unique architecture, the museum has also been awarded the « Musée de France » label.
The museum of time
Besançon’s Musée du Temps is housed in one of the city’s most beautiful palaces, the Palais Granvelle. This is a prestigious Renaissance palace. The site gives the museum an even greater presence.
The museum’s original name is no coincidence. The Musée du Temps de Besançon retraces the history of the city and the great moments in the history of watchmaking in Besançon. You’ll witness a dialogue between the measurement of time and the history of the city. The Musée du Temps offers a wealth of information on the city, making it one of the best ways to visit Besançon.
Victor Hugo’s house
It was in this house, in the heart of Besançon’s historic center, that the famous French writer Victor Hugo was born. Neither a museum nor a place of remembrance, Victor Hugo’s birthplace presents all the struggles of this committed man.
Poet, playwright, novelist and politician, Victor Hugo retained strong ties with his home town. With its contemporary scenography, this is probably the place where you’ll learn the most about the man’s life.
5. Besançon’s parks and gardens
Photo credit: Flickr – Anaelle Martignoni
With almost 200 square meters of green space per inhabitant, Besançon is the greenest city in France! In fact, almost a third of the city is green. Green is everywhere, in every hue, right down to the heart of the city. Visiting Besançon means discovering its parks and gardens.
The Chailluz forest
On the outskirts of town, the Chailluz forest is the perfect place to get away from it all. This playground covers more than 1,780 hectares. Here you can admire wild boar, fallow deer and roe deer. There are also numerous walking trails and picnic areas.
Parc Micaud
Located along the banks of the Doubs River, the Parc Micaud (or Promenade) offers the charms of an English-style park. Stroll along the various paths of this public garden, admiring the tulip trees, paulownias, magnolias and sophoras that punctuate the promenade. Look up for a splendid panoramic view of the Citadel. This park is a great place to recharge your batteries, or to spend some time with the kids!
Parc de la Gare-d’Eau
Gare-d’Eau is in fact a former cargo port.
Whereas it was once marshland, today a French-style promenade has been laid out. Just a stone’s throw from the town center and on the banks of the Doubs, the Gare-d’Eau forms a vast green space where young and old alike can have fun or relax.
6. The black door
Photo credit: Flickr – Jean-Michel PERRUCHE
Visiting Besançon and its Porte Noire can give some people the feeling of strolling along the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Indeed, this 16-meter-high Gallo-Roman monument is in a way the Arc de Triomphe of Besançon.
Built in the 2nd century, this edifice was badly damaged. But thanks to long and painstaking restoration work, it is now one of Besançon’s most beautiful monuments. Known for its rich sculptural decoration and its columns adorned with plant motifs, be sure to take a look!
7. Quai Vauban
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Leonid Andronov
Along the left bank of the Doubs, you’ll find Quai Vauban. This pedestrian thoroughfare, laid out at the end of the 17th century, stretches for 600 meters and is decorated with arcaded houses. While Quai Vauban originally had a strategic position, today it has become a classic, homogeneous architectural ensemble.
Stop for a moment to observe these distinctive houses glimmering in the water of the Doubs. You can best admire the harmonious stone ramparts from the Pont Battant opposite.
8. Besançon’s culinary specialities
Photo credit: Flickr – Gonzalo Hernández Araujo
The Comtois capital is a land of gourmets. That’s why sampling local specialties is also a great way to visit Besançon. Full of savoir-vivre, the city abounds in local specialities, and its gastronomy has a reputation that extends beyond the borders of the Comtois.
Between Comté, Mont d’Or, Morbier and Cancoillotte, the city is famous for its prestigious AOC cheeses. But there’s much more to Besançon’s gastronomy than dairy products! Quince paste, Morteau sausage, trout in yellow wine and Comtoise veal escalope also contribute to the city’s reputation.
9. Arc-et-Senans royal saltworks
Photo credit: Shutterstock – LI SEN
If you’ve come to visit Besançon and the surrounding area, don’t miss a visit to the Arc-et-Senans royal saltworks! Dating back to the 18th century, this former salt factory is now a Unesco World Heritage site, and bears witness to the industrial architecture dedicated to salt mining.
10. Château de Joux
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pierre Jean Durieu
Finally, round off your stay in the region with a visit to Château de Joux. This fortress is located in the heart of a magnificent natural setting. Covering an area of 2 hectares, Château de Joux showcases the evolution of military architecture. Also a former state prison, it has housed such illustrious figures as Mirabeau and Toussaint Louverture.
How do I get to Besançon?
There’s no shortage of ways to visit Besançon!
- By train, two stations are available: Gare Franche-Comté TGV is 15 minutes from Besançon by shuttle, and Gare Viotte is in the city center. If you choose the TGV, you’ll need just 2 hours from Paris and Lyon, and 3h30 from Marseille.
- If you’re coming by car, take the A36 freeway and take the Besançon Ouest, Centre or Nord exits, depending on where you want to go.
- Finally, it’s also possible to get to Besançon by plane. Although Besançon doesn’t have its own airport, the Dole-Jura airport has excellent connections and is 50km from the city. To find the flight that’s right for you, use a flight comparator!
Where to stay in Besançon?
There’s no doubt that when visiting Besançon, it’s easy to find accommodation that combines friendliness and comfort. For a pleasant stay, many hotels will be delighted to welcome you. To find the one that best suits your needs, a hotel comparator will be of great help.
On the other hand, if sleeping in a hotel isn’t in your budget or your habits, opt for an Airbnb! Choose the city center or the outskirts. Staying in the area around Besançon is also a good option: the small towns of Ornans, Arc-et-Senans, or Mouthier-Haute-Pierre will welcome you.
Map of hotels and accommodations – Besançon, France