Besançon France Travel Guide | Citadel, Victor Hugo Museum, Roman Ruins & More
Welcome back to the road. Today we’re ditching the
car, and taking the train from Dijon to
Besancon. What can I say about the train system in France?
When it wants to, it works.
When the workers don’t like something, it doesn’t. I’m not taking
sides here, its just a fact of life. Luckily the light rail always seems to be operating as intended, so we can at least get to the train station. Today the train is a go, so after a bit
of waiting at the train station, we
get to board without delay for Besancon.
Despite its potential
for strikes, delays, and cancellations due to strike, the train offers a
view of the French
countryside you can’t really get any other way. It’s an experience all its
own. This one is
a short ride, just over an hour and we arrive in Besancon.
Besancon is an old city. It seems
fitting that the place is famous for a military structure
considering Julius Ceasar was the first
one to mention the town of Vesontio. As far as we
can tell, the ves, or wes in the name refers
to mountain in the Celtic language being used at that time. Today that has been replaced with the
letter B, yes, the Bes in Besancon. In
either case, the place became part of Rome, and some of
their ruins still remain. Nobody’s
really sure of what the ruins were, but part of it was fed by an
aqueduct.
I love old things like the ruins, but even more than old buildings, I love old writers.
Victor
Hugo, one of my favorite old writers, was born here. As you may have expected, there is
a
museum in his honor. Victor Hugo was born here, but that’s about all. His father was an
officer in Napolean’s army. Before baby Victor was a few months old, they moved to
Marseilles. They moved a lot, it seems this trend of military families has not changed since
then. The house has exhibits on his writings and themes championed by Victor Hugo and
the French
Republic.
Maybe there’s some Daoist imprint left on me from my Chinese upbringing, but I have
always looked at museums as a sort of temple, especially the ones dedicated to an
important
historical figure. In either case, we’re leaving a temple of the secular variety for a
religious
one.
Saint Johns Cathedral is the main catholic cathedral for the area, and dates back to the
middle ages. The building is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. The building is mostly
Romanesque, with Gothic additions over the centuries. It’s a beautiful place to reflect on
our place in the world and the meaning of it all. It also acts as a touchstone with all the
people
who came before, so many of them would have come into these walls for prayer
and devotion.
Now we
move on to another of the great churches Besancon has to offer. I love visiting
these old churches.
Maybe its just the thought of climbing up to the citadel, but I don’t feel
like rushing to leave
this place. It’s as if sitting here allows you to join in fellowship with the
many people who
have come within the walls over the centuries, and in a way, to pick up
some of the spirit of what
they left behind
Now that we’ve rested our legs a little, its time to climb up to the citadel, and
what a climb.
The citadel sits high above the town, but what a view once you reach the top. The
spot on
which the citadel sits today was once an acropolis in Roman times. I have heard that
there
are still remnants of a temple up here. The current structure was built at the end of
the 17th
century and into the early part of the 18th century. It is considered a masterpiece of
military
architecture. The architect behind it, Sabastein Le Prestre de Vauban, built an entire
series
of these fortresses in the area. It has a number of museums inside, so you won’t likely
run
out of things things to see. I love the views out here, and wonder if the soldiers
stationed up
here had any time to look out, and if they felt the same about it. I just can’t
get over the
views. Just climb up on the wall, and you get the best view of the old city below.
Besancon is old. It has been a town longer than we have records of the place. It has grand
churches, and stunning citadels. The lives of countless people going back thousands of
years have left their mark on this place, just as we have now left ours.
I hope you enjoyed
this visit to Besancon, France. Let us know what you think, and leave
your comments below.
Thank you for watching, see you next time.
Discover Besançon, France, a hidden gem in eastern France known for its stunning citadel, fascinating Roman ruins, beautiful cathedrals, and ties to Victor Hugo. In this video, we take you from Dijon to Besançon by train and explore the city’s top attractions:
✨ Victor Hugo Museum – birthplace of the legendary French writer.
✨ Cathedral Saint-Jean de Besançon – Romanesque & Gothic architecture with its famous astronomical clock.
✨ Saint Peter’s Church – neoclassical design with centuries of history.
✨ Citadel of Besançon – a UNESCO World Heritage fortress designed by Vauban with incredible views.
✨ Ancient Roman ruins that tell the story of Vesontio.
Whether you’re planning a Besançon day trip or a longer stay, this travel guide highlights the best things to do, see, and experience. From its military past to its cultural heritage, Besançon is one of the most underrated cities in France.
📍 Join us on this journey through history, architecture, and breathtaking views!
👉 What was your favorite part of Besançon? Let us know in the comments.
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