One day in Besançon (France)

In our trip to Besançon we really wanted to see that view from the castle and walk around the city center. Rain did correct our plans - we still saw the castle and the views (and of course visited the birthhouse of Victor Hugo!), but the walk around the city center was slightly shorter than what we planned for. But even with what we saw - we can definitely tell that the city is lovely and absolutely deserves the visit!
Let's go!
And, as Wikipedia describes Besançon:
Besançon (UK: /ˈbɛzənsɒn/,[2] US: /bɪˌzɒ̃ˈsoʊn, bɪˈzænsən/,[3][4] French: [bəzɑ̃sɔ̃] (About this soundlisten), Franco-Provençal: [bəzɑ̃ˈsɔ̃]; archaic German: Bisanz; Latin: Vesontio) is the capital of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerland.
Capital of the historic and cultural region of Franche-Comté, Besançon is home to the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regional council headquarters, and is an important administrative centre in the region. It is also the seat of one of the fifteen French ecclesiastical provinces and one of the two divisions of the French Army.
In 2016 the city had a population of 120,107, in a metropolitan area of 251,293, the second in the region in terms of population.
Established in a meander of the Doubs river, the city was already important during the Gallo-Roman era under the name of Vesontio, capital of the Sequani. Its geography and specific history turned it into a military stronghold, a garrison city, a political center, and a religious capital.
Besançon is the historical capital of watchmaking in France. This has led it to become a center for innovative companies in the fields of microtechnology, micromechanics, and biomedical engineering. The University of Franche-Comté, founded in 1423, every year enrolls more than 20,000 students; its Centre for Applied Linguistics enrolls another estimated 4,000 trainees from all over the world.
The greenest city in France,[5] it enjoys a quality of life recognized in Europe. Thanks to its rich historical and cultural heritage and its unique architecture, Besançon has been labeled a "Town of Art and History" since 1986 and its fortifications due to Vauban has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008.
en.wikipedia.o...
Used images:
fr.m.wikipedia... ; Original map: Sting, modifications by Wikialine ; Ce fichier est disponible selon les termes de la licence Creative Commons Attribution - Partage dans les Mêmes Conditions 3.0 (non transposée)
{{PD-US}} map of burgundy 1477
Barjimoa: Habsburg Empire of Charles V commons.wikime...
Marriage of Mary of Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria en.wikipedia.o...
File:Sebastien le Prestre de Vauban.png en.wikipedia.o...
Music: Chris Haugen - Firefly

[@sparrowhawkerdesigns]

The birth place of my great-great grandparents! Hope to visit it in 2022. (Greetings from the middle of the USA.)

[@NataEugeneTravel]

Hi Lauretta! :) It’s a great place to visit, I hope you will enjoy your trip!

[@jeromelepeule272]

I used to live there, that's one of the most beautiful French countryside city!

[@cynthiacopland8634]

Is this beautiful city really hot 🥵 in the summer?

[@Kolya_1991]

​@@cynthiacopland8634not so much

[@lesparks126]

Just finishing a trip to Besancon. The place is wonderful with a youthful vibe due to the University. It has high end as well as affordable places to visit and shop. The people are wonderful, and the food has variety beyond the regional cuisine. I am surprised that the history is not highlighted more. Victor Hugo, Lumiere Brothers, and Luis Pasteur. Oh and a Vauban Fortress.

[@dwin6005]

Thank you. I want to visit this city in a few weeks and asked youtube about videos! I love your video and want to see more videos from/with you. So: I subscribed your channel. Greets from the southwest of germany, between Sarreguemines and Haguenau.

[@NataEugeneTravel]

Thank you, and happy you liked the videos! Enjoy your trip and have a great time!

[@Innerrelief]

Beautiful experience! Thank you for sharing! We only know a few of Paris! it's is awesome!

[@NataEugeneTravel]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@user-sf3wo8sd4n]

Beautiful place~~♡♡

[@ks-qb8sf]

J'aime cette ville et aussi les femmes de besancon (Med .Tanger.Maroc).

[@y.j.1091]

Talking about the city where I live, and the ticket machine produced by the company where I work. I'm so close to subscribe to your channel :)

[@NataEugeneTravel]

Please do - although for now there will be videos from other parts of France! :) Really want to visit Besançon again though and stop by all places we either missed or which were closed! :)

[@y.j.1091]

@@NataEugeneTravel Let me know, I know a good guide knowing Besançon perfectly (my wife ^^)

[@NataEugeneTravel]

Will do!! :)

[@NataEugeneTravel]

And looking forward to visiting the city again!

[@ishtarbruh9172]

One side of my family is from here, very nice place

[@NataEugeneTravel]

It is a lovely place indeed!

[@joelangford7601]

This looks like a beautiful small city. Planning to spend 3 months either in Besancon or in Dijon. Any advice?

[@NataEugeneTravel]

It is a very beautiful one! Enjoy your stay - there’s definitely a lot to see and to do in the area, starting from the cities and small historical villages and to the hikes and a beautiful nature ! If you are planning to use public transportation, do make sure you check schedule and notices, especially on weekends. With all its beauty, travelling in France needs some planning! :)

[@cynthiacopland8634]

Beautiful 😻 city & a river runs through it. Thanks

[@jeromelepeule272]

Do both! It's about a hour train ride between the two!

[@jonnykaykorn3060]

Was Besancon and belfort once german speaking like the alsace, I know it was a part of the Austrian empire ?

[@NataEugeneTravel]

They definitely spoke some German dialect when the area was controlled by Germanic tribes in ancient times, but it was so long ago. Whether they spoke German more recently - I don't really know. Maybe they actually spoke some Spanish, as they were also under Spanish control between 16-17 centuries.

[@hede1574]

non les habitants n'étaient pas allemands ni espagnol ! C'est par mariage que la ville a appartenu à l'empire germanique. il y avait quelques milliers de soldats espagnols pour protéger Besançon, et c'est tout.

[@antoninkazda9041]

Trying to guess where the female guide is from. Poland? Bulgaria? Russia as the second one? What an interetesting accent.

[@NataEugeneTravel]

We are both originally from Ukraine (but left many years ago).

[@josephbohme7917]

SO many 4+ 5th by cM cousins from France but cannot find out by whom, Went to college In Angers 1977 sadly have not been back supposedly related to Girard the famed Banker of Philaldelphia. My DNA grp G-L42 matches are all centered in Switzerland Now + >1000 yrs. Have Sacshen Dutch Frisian. Anywhere the Rhine and Rivers went.

[@jonnykaykorn3060]

Why did the french empire never claim romandie switzerland like they did with southern belgium?

[@NataEugeneTravel]

I don't really know for sure, but I guess the Swiss cantons have always been quite good at sticking together against any potential aggression. Plus strategically perhaps the area was not of great interest to the French, as it is mostly in the mountains and without significant natural resources.

[@hede1574]

la Belgique était française , la Suisse ne l'a jamais été.