Visit Besançon The Capital of Time
A Getaway in Besançon
Set in an exceptional natural setting, Besançon—a multifaceted destination—offers a unique experience: it provides visitors with the opportunity to immerse themselves in history, enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, and experience all the charms of “French-style” living in a vibrant and innovative city. All around, nature is bountiful, with rivers, trails, forests, and marshes making up the region’s diverse landscapes.
Whether you’re staying for a weekend or a longer visit, depending on your mood, you can
stroll through the charming streets, visit one of the most beautiful fine arts museums in France, or take in a breathtaking panoramic view of the city as you wander along the wooded paths.
Besançon has many facets: a city of water, the capital of time, the birthplace of great men (Victor Hugo foremost among them), a wine-growing city with its historic Battant district, a land of invention and innovation … and the capital of biodiversity.
2,000 Years of History
For more than 2,000 years, the exceptional site of Besançon has been inhabited by humans: first by the Gallic tribe of the Sequani, then by the Romans, following in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, who admired the site’s defensive qualities, “where the river forms a bend that looks as if it were drawn with a compass.” Indeed, Besançon’s geographical location is remarkable, and the site has always been fortified.
Following the medieval period, during which the archbishop established himself as a prince of the Holy Roman Empire, came the flourishing Renaissance, epitomized by the de Granvelle family, and then, at the end ofthe 17th century, the French conquest by the armies of Louis XIV. From that point on, Besançon became the capital of Franche-Comté, a French-speaking province that had long been part of the Habsburg Empire. Vauban, acting on his sovereign’s orders, built city walls and transformed the citadel into a true architectural masterpiece. This earned Besançon a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the major sites in the Vauban network.
Since then, the city has continued to grow, first within the bend of the Doubs River and then beyond, on the slopes of the site’s natural amphitheater.
Beginning with the Revolution, the watchmaking industry helped fuel the city’s growth; watchmakers, initially from Switzerland, settled in the heart of the city until the industry became one of its main economic activities. During the Second Empire, nearly 400 workshops were established in the city, each specializing in different aspects of watch manufacturing. The establishment of a watchmaking school and an observatory in the late 19th century ensured the transmission of knowledge and the development of the industry. Besançon became the capital of French watchmaking.
Besançon’s watchmaking expertise was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in December 2020.
Besançon, City of Art and History
Besançon has been designated a "City of Art and History" since 1986
A stroll through Besançon is like taking a journey through centuries of history, and the old neighborhoods offer visitors their architectural treasures. But it’s also a chance to escape into the surrounding forests or along the Doubs River, which encircles the old town like a natural rampart, complemented by the walls built by Vauban.
As you wander, you can admire the facades of some truly beautiful mansions (nearly 200, mostly built inthe 18th century), stroll through Battant, a former winegrowers’ neighborhood built on slopes that were once covered in vineyards, and explore the Saint Jean neighborhood, nestled on the slopes of the citadel around the cathedral of the same name. This building, dating back to the early Middle Ages, houses numerous treasures, including masterpieces of Italian Renaissance painting and the famous astronomical clock, which is exceptionally complex. Across the bridge, you can visit the casino, located in the heart of the old spa district that once welcomed Colette, among others.
You can also head to the lower town, around the covered market, grab a table at a terrace
, or stroll through the busiest shopping streets—which, as they should be, are pedestrian-only.
A dense, rich, and varied cultural program offers shows, concerts, activities, and events throughout the year
centered around music, contemporary art, the fine arts, and even dance.
There are many outdoor activities to enjoy in Besançon and the surrounding area: canoeing and kayaking, hiking and biking, rock climbing, swimming, gliding, caving, horseback riding, golf …
Must-Sees
The Besançon Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology
It houses one of the richest and oldest public collections in France. Paintings by renowned masters—from Bellini to Bonnard, including Courbet—live up to the collection’s reputation. Its Drawing Room, which contains 5,000 drawings, is considered one of the most important in France.
The Museum of Time
Part history museum, part watchmaking museum, and part science museum, the Musée du Temps—housed in a magnificent Renaissance palace—celebrates Besançon’s history and watchmaking tradition.
Victor Hugo's Birthplace
Designed as a space for educational outreach, this house—where the great writer was born—uses interactive exhibits to explore the key causes championed by Victor Hugo, who always remained deeply attached to his hometown.
The FRAC
(Regional Contemporary Art Fund) in a magnificent architectural masterpiece designed by Kengo Kuma, on the banks of the Doubs—a venue for exhibiting contemporary art in all its forms and manifestations.
The Parc des Maisons Comtoises Museum (Nancray)
On the first plateau of the Jura, 20 minutes from downtown, an open-air museum featuring nearly 30 historic buildings that have been rebuilt here to showcase traditional rural life, and which offers a program focused on the relationship between humans and nature.
Useful
Besançon in My Pocket
Find tourist itineraries, the main attractions, and all the shops in the city center, as well as the events calendar, at visiter.besancon.fr—accessible for free via Wi-Fi (visiter.besancon network), 4G, or by scanning the QR code shown here.
For more information, visit theGreater Besançon Tourist Office website.
A Great Way to Explore Besançon
Tourism Pass available for purchase at the Tourist Office and throughout the Ginko network, particularly at the Ginko Citadel line departure point.