Besançon
Besançon, in eastern France, is worth a stop for Vauban's citadel above a loop of the Doubs river, a 2nd-century Roman arch and a long history in watchmaking.
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Besançon is a city in eastern France and the capital of the Doubs department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. It sits in a loop of the Doubs river, near the Jura Mountains and the Swiss border, about 325 km east of Paris. It is the historic capital of French watchmaking and still has watch and microtechnology industries.
The main sight is the Citadelle, built by Vauban on Mont Saint-Étienne, which rises to 371 metres above the river. It is lit up in the evenings and is the city's most visited site in Franche-Comté. Vauban's fortifications have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. Older sights include the Porte Noire, a 2nd-century Gallo-Roman arch, and the astronomical clock in Saint John's Cathedral, commissioned in 1858. Victor Hugo's birthplace is also in the city. Expect frequent rain all year, so bring a rain layer; July averages 20 °C and January 2 °C.
Besançon in five
- Climb to the Citadelle earlyThe Vauban citadel on the hill has walls, museums and a zoo. Check the official site for hours and ticket options, and allow a half day.
- Ride the TGV to the outer stationBesançon Franche-Comté TGV sits outside the city, and a regional train or bus runs to the center. Check onward links before you book the TGV from Paris, about 2.5 hours.Getting around France
- Walk the Doubs loopThe river wraps the old town, and a footpath follows the water. In summer, boats and kayaks run from the quay. Check seasonal timetables with the tourist office.
- Add the Jura wine villagesArbois and the Jura vineyards are about 45 minutes by car, with unusual yellow wine and Comté cheese. Book tastings ahead and keep a driver.
- Stop between Burgundy and SwitzerlandDijon is about an hour by train and Basel or Lausanne are within a few hours. Count your Schengen days across all stops.Beaune
Things to do in Besançon
See all attractions in Besançon
Need to know
- Airport
- Basel-Mulhouse (BSL), about 1.5 hr by road
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris to Besançon Franche-Comté in about 2.5 hr
- Getting around
- Walking in the center; trams and buses; car for the Jura
- Best base
- Old town in the river loop
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with the Jura
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Grey, mildMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Grey, mild
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring lightAprilRain
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring light
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Green, mildMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 120 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low15°Hot, riversideJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, riverside
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Hot, quietAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low4°Grey, rainNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Grey, rain
- DecemberRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Besançon, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Besançon
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Besançon
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue8°2°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°0°5%Thursday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Fri9°5°17%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 17%.
- Sat11°3°23%Saturday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun14°3°28%Sunday: Rain. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 28%.
Updated 05:26 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Dijonabout 1 hour by trainMustard, museums and a lively old center.Read the guide
- Beauneabout 1.5 hours by carBurgundy's wine capital and the Hospices roof.Read the guide
- Ornans and the Loue valleyabout 30 min by carPainter Gustave Courbet's town with river views and cliffs.
Before you go to Besançon
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Rules for Besançon, checked
- Check entry rules for your passport on france-visas.gouv.fr before you fly. France applies the Schengen entry rules.
- If you arrive from outside the EU, check limits on food, plants and medicines on douane.gouv.fr before you pack.
- Dial 112 for any emergency in France, or 17 for the police.
- Service is included in restaurant bills, and a small extra amount for good service is optional.
Plan around Besançon
The country overview and basics
Read the guideFrench Alps & JuraMountain towns and lakes on the eastern edge
Read the guideDijonBurgundy's capital, about an hour west
Read the guideBeauneWine capital of Burgundy
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 daysHow days count on a Switzerland loop
Read the guideBesançon FAQ
Is Besançon worth visiting?
Yes for the citadel, the river and a quiet old town. It is less visited than Dijon or Annecy, so it suits travelers who want space.
How many days do you need in Besançon?
One day covers the citadel and the old town. Two days lets you add a Jura wine village or the Loue valley.
How do you get from Paris to Besançon?
Take a TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Besançon Franche-Comté in about 2.5 hours. Book early, and check the shuttle train or bus to the center.
Is Besançon close to Switzerland?
Yes. Basel and Neuchâtel are within a couple of hours by road or rail. Count Swiss days against your Schengen limit.
What is Besançon known for?
A Vauban citadel on UNESCO's list, Victor Hugo's birthplace and a watch-making history.