Travel Guide to Besancon, France

Ancient city Besancon is considered the historical capital of the Franche-Comté region. This is the motherland of such outstanding scientists and people of art as Lumiere brothers, Victor Hugo, Jean Baptiste Fourier and Proudhon. Here appeared first manufacturers of watches in France and Besancon was also the first Italian city that started making artificial silk.

The city is generously decorated with magnificent buildings. It has managed to retain its historical and architectural sights that amaze visitors by their grace and uniqueness for many centuries.

Pointe-Noire is known as the main sight of Besancon. It was built by the Romans yet in the II century AD. One more magnificent building of XVIII century is Saint-Jean Cathedral. However, if it usually takes a couple of hours to view these sights, in order to study the local citadel you will need to spend several days. The citadel is occupied by several exhibition centers. There you can find first watches made here several centuries ago and modern masterpieces in this area. The Museum of Hugo will provide you with information concerning the biography and works of this famous French writer. You can also visit the Museum of Natural History, Town Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, Pale-Granville castle, and see huge Astronomic clocks that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

One more nice surprise waits for those who have sweet tooth. There is a small town named Pontarlier not far from Besancon. This town is famous for its large chocolate factory, one of best in France. All tourists can attend an excursion to this factory and try the sweets and chocolate made by the local confectioners.