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Colors of Besancon - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

BESANCON: La passerelle, le jardindes sens depuis le pont St Pierre Besancon is the capital of the department of Doubs and the Franche-Comte region. Even though it is not in the list of top destinations in France, the city is one of the most beautiful places in the country and is definitely worth a visit. Beautiful woods, a scenic view of the Jura Mountains, picturesque river valleys and hills with charming small villages are perfect for travelers who want to explore unforgettable rural France. The Franche-Comte region has a pleasant climate with warm summer and snowy winter. Numerous rivers often cause fog in the morning, and it is also raining quite often in all months of the year, so tourists are better to take umbrellas with them.
Extraordinary weekend in Besancon - unusual places, services and attractions for travel gourmet
… Open
New Year remains one of the most popular holidays in the region. There are always festive activities on the New Year’s Eve. People gather, sing songs, and party together, celebrating two holidays – the New Year Day and le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre. The latter is dedicated to pope Saint-Sylvestre who lived in the 4th century. Choral des Adieux and Chanson du nouvel An are the traditional songs of the holiday. The usual treats of the festive night will make even foodies delighted – mussels, oysters, champagne, and foie gras.
As France is a Catholic country, Christmas and Easter Day are also important holidays for local people. Most children like Easter because there is an interesting tradition called Easter egg hunt. On Easter Morning, kids start “hunting” eggs that are, by the way, not usual hard-boiled but chocolate ones. Festive decorations appear in Besancon, with bunnies and flying bells being their main elements. Friends and family members visit each other and bring gifts – beautifully decorated chocolate eggs and traditional food, such as lamb rack, cheese, and wine. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Besancon design-hotels for stylish travellers
Campanile Besancon-Ouest Chateaufarine certainly has to be mentioned among the most stylish and attractive hotels of Besancon. Interior of the place actively uses current fashion trends. All … Open
Besancon has a range of festivals and events that tourists will find extremely interesting to attend. For example, Festival of Early Music of Montfaucon – Besançon is a unique event dedicated to medieval music. During five days in June, the city turns into a center of early culture. This music festival traditionally attracts numerous musicians, actors, musicologists, artists, and historians. In addition to concerts of medieval music, visitors are welcome to attend various art exhibitions, lectures, meetings, and feasts for visitors of all ages. It’s truly an event that cannot be missed.
Besançon Festival International du Film d'Archéologie is a very interesting festival that attracts not only cinema fans. This festival has two juries – the official jury that selects the Grand Prix winner and the “public” jury that selects the winner for the Prize of the City of Besancon. Everyone is welcome to attend free screenings and vote for the archaeological film they liked the most. The films that participate in the festival are both made by professionals and students of secondary schools.
Old hotels keeping the history of Besancon
All guests of Besancon would have on opportunity to enjoy refined atmosphere of the past centuries, as the city has lots of attractive historic hotels. A unique old building houses Hotel Le … Open
In September, fans of classical music visit the city to attend another famous event – the Besancon International Music Festival. One of the oldest classical music festivals took place in the city for the first time in 1948. For two weeks, the city turns into a center of music that attracts best directors, orchestras, and music experts. It’s a truly mesmerizing event that will certainly please all fans of this genre. Since 1951, one more classical music related event has appeared in the city – International Besancon Competition for Young Conductors. The biannual competition has helped many now-famous conductors to start their careers and become successful.
Four days closer to the first weekend of October are the time for one more music festival - The Musiques de Rues Festival. The event, which is dedicated to street music in all of its forms, regularly attracts many interesting bands and performers who specialize in different styles – hip-hop block party, fanfares, world music, brass bands, and many more. The first festival took place in 2006 and drew more than 800 musicians and 70,000 visitors to Besancon. During the event, parks, squares, and even streets of the city become a scene to musicians from all over the world.
This guide to traditions and festivals in Besancon is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Besancon and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Besancon
♥   Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Jean l’Evangéliste, Besançon, 1.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Saints-Ferréol-et-Ferjeux, Besançon, 3.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame de Dole, Dole, 44.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Chapelle de Notre-Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, 67.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Saint-Pierre, Luxeuil-les-Bains, 68.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Cathédrale Saint-Mammès, Langres, 86.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Besancon
♥   Castle 'Château de Montfaucon' Doubs, 3.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Besançon' Doubs, 4.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Chandioux' Nièvre, 13.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Cléron' Doubs, 18.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Ray-sur-Saône' Haute-Saône, 40.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Belvoir' Doubs, 43.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Oricourt' Haute-Saône, 47 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Besancon
Detailed Besancon maps
Besancon photo gallery

Travel News
Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022

In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah. Read this

29.03.2023

Colors of Besancon in photos

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Traditions and festivals in cities around Besancon

Neuchatel
Travelers visiting the city at the end of September will have a chance to participate in another interesting holiday - the Fete des Vendanges. For local residents, this wine festival is one of the main historical traditions. It is timed to grape harvesting and is usually held the last weekend of September. The main part of the festival’s entertainment programs takes place ... Open »
Dijon
Just like Lion, the gastronomic capital of France, Dijon is famous for its cuisine. Perhaps, most travelers recall the legendary Dijon mustard when they hear the name of this French city. However, there are other local specialties that are worth trying, such as Escargots de Bourgogne (Burgundy snails with garlic oil), Bœuf Bourguignon (Burgundy beef with red wine), Coq au ... Open »
Bern
National holidays remain one of the main features of Bern. Each of them is distinguished by a large number of various traditions and customs. January 2 is the day when the locals celebrate day of St. Berthold (or the Foundation Day of Bern). Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen is considered the founder of the city. This significant event happened in 1191. In order to protect his ... Open »
Montreux
One of the family holidays is Christmas. Traditionally, it is celebrated over the festive table in the family circle. During the Christmas period, no fiery shows or other entertainments are held outside. The locals celebrate this holiday at home. Tourists should visit the city a few weeks before Christmas when they can visit traditional fairs. At this time, the citizens ... Open »
Geneva
Perhaps, multinationality is one of the most striking features of local residents. During a simple walk in the city travelers can hear French, German and even Italian languages. However, some traits are common to all indigenous people, irrespective of their religion and main language. They are very hardworking and adore order. Many say that the locals are very secretive. They ... Open »
Basel
Basel is a cozy and attractive city that has won the hearts of millions of travelers. Most tourists visit the city during various carnivals and festivals. The majority of these national holidays of Basel can be proud of their long history. One of the most famous festivals is the Carnival of Basel (the Lenten Carnival), which is celebrated by the locals during the first seven ... Open »
Cityguide on traditions, mentality and lifestyle of people in Besancon. Learn the best periods to visit Besancon to discover its soul - authentic festivals, events and celebrations. We will also reveal the interesting habits, attitude towards the world and to tourists in Besancon.
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