Top Things to do in Besancon
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Besancon, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte
Discover the best top things to do in Besancon, France including La Citadelle de Besancon, Horloge Astronomique De la Cathedrale, Musee du Temps et Palais Granvelle, Parc Micaud, Foret de Chailluz, Parc de la Gare d'Eau, Musee de la Resistance et de la Deportation, Centre historique de Besancon, Musee des Beaux-Arts et d'Archeologie de Besancon, Porte Noire.
Restaurants in Besancon
1. La Citadelle de Besancon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,165 reviews
Reviewed By Hatton20 - London, United Kingdom
This is one of several citadelles designed by the mighty Vauban, military architect extraordinaire to Louis XIV and considered his masterpiece and the most beautiful. It is illuminated at night but check times as the lights are turned off quite early. There are 3 museums in the Citadelle which can be reached by a bus at Chamars or small train from the centre of Besancon. You can easily spend a whole day there. Take a picnic if weather is lovely. The Resistance Museum and Regional Museum (Musée Comtois) are inside the walls. The walk around the ramparts is stunning and gives a wonderful view of this stunning city on the Doubs which is in a loop in the river.
2. Horloge Astronomique De la Cathedrale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 284 reviews
Built between 1858 and 1860 by Auguste Lucien Vérité, the astronomical clock has a precise and complex mechanism consisting of over 30,000 parts and 11 movements. Worked by weights, some operate chimes and automata. The 57 faces provide a lot of information: calendars, the tides in 8 ports, eclipses… Visitors can look all around the clock and see its interior mechanisms. Open: > Tours at 9.50 a.m., 10.50 a.m., 11.50 a.m., 2.50 p.m., 3.50 p.m., 4.50 p.m., 5.50 p.m. Closed: > Tuesdays. > Wednesdays form 1st October to 31st March. > January. > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 3 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 2,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
3. Musee du Temps et Palais Granvelle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 360 reviews
Reviewed By AntoineWaterfall - Volleges, Switzerland
Especially for a Swiss citizen this visit is a must. First by touring this immense palace and Mansion the visitor understands the importance of the Granvelle family for Europe (once as important as the Italian Medici). Then the detailed explanations and visits of the immense watchmaking industry locally produced is so informative and impressive, that the visitor finally understands Besançon 'genius loci' (the genial spirit of the place). Perhaps here is in Europe the best explained 'grande complication' (high complexity) watch. Study and enjoy. Do not miss the excellent museum shop (very advanced literature on the 'haute horlogerie subject - finest watchmaking). Oh, I forgot: here is a hight tower with a fantastic view on the old city roofs, and the famous 'Foucault pendulum' experiment. Enjoy!
4. Parc Micaud
5. Foret de Chailluz
6. Parc de la Gare d'Eau
7. Musee de la Resistance et de la Deportation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Reviewed By HeatherA730 - Watford, United Kingdom
This museum is within the grounds of the citadel and although the entrance is all part of the overall ticket that you purchase, this is worth it's own review. The museum is dedicated to the year of war, occupation and resistance during WW2. It has many original artefacts to view and photos. The upstairs is about the concentration camps and isn't recommended for visitors under 10 years, however we took our 11 and 13 years olds through it. They were both uncomfortable but very engaged. Reading as much information as possible and asking lots of questions. It's not all easy viewing but very worthwhile to remember what happened. I only have one very slight criticism of the place, there isn't a lot written in English. We're all non-french speakers. All of the rooms had laminated A4 sheets that you could take that were translations of the French into either English or German, but in the vast majority of cases there were no English ones. Obviously the photos speak for themselves and with a smattering of French and a knowledge of history we could answer our children's questions. However some further information in English would have been useful. All in all I would say come here. It's worth it.
8. Centre historique de Besancon
9. Musee des Beaux-Arts et d'Archeologie de Besancon
10. Porte Noire
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 194 reviews
Reviewed By thomasozbun - Vicenza, Italy
Right next to the park Square Castan, stands, as a city gate, the Porte Noire, a gallo-roman triumphal arch built during the 2nd century.
TAGS
