We arrived yesterday from Clermont Ferrand, but as we were only going to be in Besançon for another night we decided to explore the town today. The tram stop (terminus) was luckily only a couple of hundred metres from our campsite. We should have bought an hour ticket, which would have given us ample time to cross town, but we weren't sure about what we were buying from the automated ticket machine and, in haste, we purchased a Journee ticket, believing it to be for one journey. It seemed really expensive and we later discovered it was actually for unlimited travel for the day (obvious once it was pointed out duh!)
The town of Besançon is, as the literature notes, very charming, situated on the banks of the Doubs River and overlooked by the very imposing Citadel on the hillside. We took a leisurely stroll along the riverside in the sunshine and then through the dark passageway leading under the Citadel.
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| View over the Doubs River |
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| Pedestrian tunnel under the Citadel with canal alongside |
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| 17c Besançon Citadel above the town |
We strolled around the town working our way up to the Citadel admiring the many fascinating buildings. In 2008 it was given World Heritage Site status.
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Outside Victor Hugo's home,
one of the famous sons of Besançon |
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| Roman ruins the Square Castan 2c |
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| Porte Noir 2c |
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| Hotel Boitouset c18 |
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Saint Jean Cathedral of Besançon c12
housing the famous astronomical clock |
The steep climb up to the Citadel was rewarded by wonderful views over Besançon and the surrounding countryside.
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| Approach to Besançon Citadel |
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Moving memorial to WWII French resistance fighters
16 young men (the youngest 16) shot on September 26, 1943 |
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