Besançon

With 200 listed historic monuments, Besançon is the 2nd largest protected area in France.
Besançon, a historic city with over 2,000 years of history, is known for its Vauban fortifications, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for its watchmaking expertise, which is part of its intangible heritage. Besançon was built in an exceptional natural setting, a near-perfect loop of the Doubs into which the hills surrounding the old town plunge.
With 6 museums in France, Besançon offers plenty to nourish the spirit, escape, discover and contemplate the beautiful, the rare and the precious.
Besançon has been a City of Art and History since 1986, inviting you to discover or rediscover its heritage. Throughout the year, there are a number of events on offer. Our guide-lecturers are waiting to help you discover the city and its heritage in a whole new way!
The centre was the birthplace of Victor Hugo, Proudhon, Nodier, Fourier and the Lumière brothers, inventors of cinema. But you'll also find that many of the streets bear the names of illustrious people from the Franche-Comté region, such as Pasteur, Cuvier and Courbet, who have all contributed to France's renown.
A green city, ecology and respect for biodiversity are the focus of all our attention. This living environment is universally recognised and is a source of pride for its residents.
In terms of leisure activities, more than 50 local, national and even international sporting events punctuate life in the city. The performing arts are also well represented, with venues such as La Rodia, theatres and Micropolis offering a wide range of concerts and shows. But entertainment is everywhere, and numerous music festivals and events punctuate the seasons.
An exceptional natural setting!
The surrounding unspoilt countryside is an ideal place to discover and enjoy a wide range of sports and leisure activities.
From the viewpoints of the forts and belvederes along the Eurovélo6 or the Via Francigena, two of Europe's main itineraries, a whole range of places, villages and landscapes are waiting to be explored. Whether you're a fan of microadventures, slow tourism or history, this is the destination to tick off your to-do list!
Vesontio, the ancient Gallo-Roman city, has retained the imprint of every era in its long history. From its archaeological remains to its more contemporary past as a watchmaking capital, the town has always kept up with the times. Today, it is a cutting-edge industrial and technological centre. Numerous companies are relying on Comtois know-how in the innovative fields of biomedical engineering, microtechnology and, of course, watchmaking...

Outside the city itself, Franche-Comté is full of extraordinary places and hundreds of remarkable monuments and sites.
Fans of wide open spaces, lakes and rivers will love the contrasting landscapes that stretch from the Jura massif to the Vosges saônoises.
The Alps are not so far away, as it is possible to catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc close to Switzerland. This incredible spectacle takes place at Mont d'Or, a peak in the Haut-Doubs region that has given its name to a cheese renowned far beyond our borders!
And, yes, our province is also gourmet. Delicious and surprising local specialities are on offer.