A day in Besançon

Franche-Comte

The city of Besançon is the capital of France's Franche-Comte region is a wonderful place to spend a day. Famous for its rich cultural history, the city has plenty of attractions. If you're lucky enough to be staying in one of the rural gites in Franche Comte, make sure you schedule in at least one visit to this beautiful city.

The Citadel


Start your day in Besançon with a visit to the citadel. Built by the renowned architect Vauban, the city's magnificent 17th Century citadel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in this part of France. The citadel affords superb views over the city and surrounding countryside so ensure to take your camera. Children are well-catered for too, with a zoo on site. There are also several museums and plenty of other attractions in and around the citadel. The citadel itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and extremely well-preserved making this a must-see for anyone staying in the Franche Comte region.

The Old Town


When you've finished your citadel visit, head back into the old part of the city. The historic part of Besançon is full of magnificent ruins dating back to Roman times. This part of the city is simply breath-taking, with ruins and buildings of historical importance around every corner. If it seems there's just too much to take in, frequent guided walking tours cover the area and the local guides tend to be very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Look out for the Roman columns which are one of the city's most famous attractions.

Museums


It will take much more than one day to see all of Besançon's fantastic museums, so pick the one you most like the sound of. The Museum of Time, the Museum of Franche-Come and the Museum of Natural History are three of the most popular museums, the latter being located in the citadel.

Lunch


You will find no shortage of tempting bistros and cafes serving delicious meals and snacks to sustain you through your day of sightseeing. Regional dishes are popular in Besançon and cheese features very heavily on menus. Franche Comte is a major cheese producer and the local specialties include Bleu de Gex, Cancoillotte and, of course, the famous Comté cheese. If you're staying in one of the self-catering gites in Franche Comte, stock up on delicious local cheeses in Besançon and take them home to enjoy with one of the fantastic regional wines. Locally-produced wines are very affordable and are the perfect accompaniment to traditional Franche Comte dishes.