Besançon is a city located in the bend of the Doubs River, which is known primarily for its citadel and numerous forts built in the 17th century under the direction of one of the greatest French military engineers, Sébastien Vauban.
The city has its origins in Roman times and is mentioned among others in the work On Gallic War by Julius Caesar. In the 11th century it became the property of the local archbishopric and remained, until the time of Louis XIV, de facto independent of royal power. The Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral of Saint. John, where you can watch the decorative Astronomical Clock with 62 dials and an extensive mechanism.
After Besançon's dependence on the French monarchy, the fortifications of the city began to be strengthened. The city walls were expanded, and the Citadel of Besançon was built on the hill. Smaller forts also stood on other hills surrounding the city. To this day you can watch, among others Fort Chaudanne, from which you can admire the beautiful panorama of the area, Fort Griffon, Fort Bregille, Fort Beauregard. Besançon fortifications along with other Vauban defense works have been inscribed on the UNESCO list.
Today, a large part of the former defensive structures is used for recreational and cultural purposes. The Citadel Zoo and the Museum of Resistance and Deportation operate within the citadel. Currently, there is a city park in Fort Bregille. Formerly it could be reached by the Beauregard-Bregille Cable Car, but today only the tracks and antique cars presented at the station remained.
Besançon can also boast of interesting classicist and eclectic buildings and some very good museums. The city's main square, Revolution Square, with a fountain designed by Delacorix, is surrounded by beautiful burgher houses. The Granvelle Palace houses the Museum of Time, while the Museum of Fine Arts and Archeology is the oldest French museum. In the city you can also see the Birth House of Victor Hugo.
