Besançon is the largest town in the Doubs department of France and capital of the old province of Franche-Comté. It is a very old city in a natural defensive position on the bend of the River Doubs.
Besançon was an archbishopric In the 2nd Century and became a free imperial city in 1184 under the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarrossa. By the 14th Century, the Dukes of Burgundy had control which then passed to the Austrian Habsburgs. It became a very prosperous city during the Austro-Spanish period (1477 - 1674) and was eventually ceded back to Louis XIV and France in 1674 to became the capital of the Frache-Comté region.
Roman remains can still be seen at Besançon including the Porte Noir gateway into the city, an amphitheatre and aqueduct. The 'new bridge' over the River Doubs includes parts of an old Roman bridge.
Number 140, Grande Rue, is birthplace of Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885). The Notre Dame is built on the site of a 4th Century church, but although the present structure is claimed to date from the 12th Century, it has been rebuilt several times.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie in the Place de la Revolution is well worth a visit as well as the Citadel which houses many smaller exhibits, the zoological park and Petite Ferme (small farm) and the Franche-Comté Museum (regional traditions). Besançon is the clock and watch making centre of France.
For more tourist information and history, see Premier Pages (Wine Regions, Places of interest)