Live life at Besançon’s pace for a weekend – you won’t be sorry you did! The capital of the Comte region offers visitors a friendly welcome. The ibis Styles Besançon hotel is perfect for cheap getaways as it’s ideally situated between the old town and surrounding countryside.
Strolling around the gateway to Besançon
From its citadel to Saint-Jean cathedral, Besançon is packed with edifices which impress not just for their architecture but for their history too. Many of them are home to museums, so we recommend leaving plenty of time when you visit them. You can always check out any you missed when you’re back for your next cheap weekend in Besançon. Stroll around the historic centre and you’ll be spellbound by the beautiful façades of its ancient residences. At the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie, you can admire works by Fragonard and Géricault In the same area you’ll find the ancient hospital known as the Galerie du Saint-Esprit and its impressive upper gallery with its sculpted wood. On Quai Vauban, you can follow the majestic 17th century arcades down to the banks of the Doubs. These banks are lit up as night falls.
There are plenty of chateaux outside Besançon’s city walls and every one of them offers a unique experience. Built on a hill overlooking the Doubs, the medieval Château de Montfaucon is a ruin which offers spectacular views of the whole Besançon area. Not far from Montfaucon is the Château de Vaire-le-Grand, which also overlooks the river. This has more of the feel of a country manor thanks to its classical architecture and French-style garden. At the fringes of the charming village of Rigney is the Château de la Roche. Its allure is altogether more majestic. Its construction dates back to the 13th century. It has been perfectly restored to welcome visitors into its pleasant surroundings.
