Besancon
Besançon is found in the Doubs department, in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.
Wrapped in a loop of the River Doubs, Besançon is set in attractive forested countryside and low lying mountains. For the best views over the town make the (steep) climb up to the Citadelle.
The town is reasonably large compared to many in this guide, and its main appeal lies in lots of little features - a Roman arch here, a fountain there, a handful of churches here and a brace of fortified towers there etc. rather than in any particular monument. This all together makes Besançon quite an interesting and rewarding town to explore.
Don't miss the astronomical clock, a fine structure in the cathedral, with a myriad of dials (57 apparently) and 30000 parts! one of the 'great clocks of the world' it is also a listed National Monument in France - for visitor details see Besancon Astronomical Clock
The town also has an impressive collection of museums - ranging from the Museum of Natural History to the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation, with several others in between to cater for all tastes.
Nearby: the chateau at Moncley, north-west of the town, merits a detour.
Visit Besancon (Franche-Comte, Doubs) travel, gites and hotels
Best Prices on Hotels in Besancon - Guaranteed
(see guarantee details) Reserve online, pay at the hotel
The Besancon hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Besancon is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Franche-Comte gites for Besançon holiday rentals Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Besancon Car HireVisit Besancon Car Hire for cheap car hire optons and available car collection points VisitSee Visit Besancon for places to visit near Besancon including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Besancon in our Franche-Comte forum Besancon property for saleSee Franche-Comte property for sale
|
|
||||||||||||
Tourist Classifications for Besancon
- Listed as "Ville d'Art et Histoire" (ie focus on preserving the town heritage)
Places to visit near Besancon, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Besancon.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
34 km: Lods (Most beautiful village) 21 km: Ornans (Town) 35 km: Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans (World Heritage Site)
See also Besancon (version Francais)
