Mercure Besancon Parc Micaud

Until I collect my thoughts...

by Pierre_Rouss

Until I collect my thoughts and expand more here, you must visit the following :
-the lion of Belfort
-Cirque de Baume (not a real circus)
-La Source de la Loue
-Les Cascades du Hérisson
-much more...

Square Castan and Porte Noire

by Loeffle

Square Castan (named after the archaeologist responsible for the excavations in the 19th century) is represented by a vast, semicircular unidentified building with the remains of a theatre and a nymphaeum.

An idea of the size of the original edifice may be gained from the eight Corinthian Roman columns which have been re-erected on the edge of rue de la Convention.

Today parts of the area are used by shelterless people as a sleeping place during summer.

If you walk towards Cathedral Saint-Jean or the Citadel, look to your left before passing through Porte Noire, otherwise you might overlook Square Castan.

Porte Noire is a triumphal arch, probably built in the 2 nd century in the reign of Marcus Aurelius is particularly remarkable for the fine proportions of the central bay and for its richly sculpted decoration in which allegorical, mythological and military themes abound. .

Cathedral Saint-Jean

by Loeffle

The cathedral is unusual for its two apses and is probably Carolingian in origin.

The entrance is an 18th century side door on the north side. Inside, the Romanesque (12 th century) style of the great arches of the nave rubs shoulders with the Gothic (13th century)ribbed vaults.

Opposite the east apse (rebuilt by G.G. Boffrand (17th century) when the tower collapsed, the west apse is decorated with remarkable 12th century capitals.

Don't miss: the Renaissance tomb of Ferry Carondelet, abbot of Montbenoît, the “Rose de Saint-Jean (a circular white marble altar) and Fra Bartolomeo’s famous Virgin with Saints, situated near the sacristy door (see tip below).

Besancon, FR

by dromosapien

"dromosapien"

Tour de la Pelote

-defensive tower

constructed: 1475
named: for Pierre Pillot, Lord of Chenecey and Governor of Besançon (c.1515-70)
address: Battant district, across the Doubs River from Besancon centrum
current use: restaurant

.

Tour Montmart –defensive tower up the hill in the backgound

a.k.a. Tour de Battant or Tour Carree

constructed: 1526

.

.

* Besancon population: 115,000
- I wanted to visit Besancon after reading Stendahl’s, (a.k.a. Marie-Henri Beyle 1783-1842) description in his novel, Le Rouge et le Noir / Scarlet and Black. It is an ancient city dating from tribal and Roman settlements that has the finest citadel I have seen. The city’s fortifications were designed or modified by the famous French military engineer, Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707) and constructed 1668-1711.

.

.

"Ancienne Mairie"

a.k.a. Hotel de Ville –city hall

constructed: 1569-73
architect: Richard Maire
address: Place du Huit-Septembre

"Musee des Beaux Arts et d'Archeologie"

-fine arts and archeology museum

established: 1694
constructed: 1835, as a grain hall (market)
current use: arts museum since 1843
reconstructed: 1967-70, the interior
architect: Louis Miquel (1913-86)
address: Place de la Revolution

Besancon

by barryg23

"Besancon"

Unfortunately, we only got to visit Besancon for one day. Having said that, we were lucky to get here at all as we had initially planned to visit Beaune. The Beaune train was delayed by an hour, so, rather than wait around all morning in Dijon, we went to Besancon instead.

Besancon was so much nicer than I had anticipated. It's a beautiful medium-sized town of about 100,000 people in the Franche-Comte region of France. Most of the town lies at the foot of a hill surrounding, on which the stunning Citadelle stands. There was plenty to see and do here and I really wish we had more than a day's visit.