Are you planning to go camping in the Doubs region? Don’t hesitate to choose the city of Besançon, renowned for its charm, its setting and its watchmaking, among other things. During your camping holiday in Besançon, you can take the opportunity to explore the capital of the Franche-Comté region. With its green spaces, museums and citadel, France’s first green city is sure to surprise you.
Activities during your camping holiday in Besançon: what to see and do in Besançon?
What is there to see in Besançon? If you are a true nature lover, history buff, or architecture or art enthusiast, the answer to this question may vary! Here are a few ideas for things to do in Besançon during your camping holiday in the Doubs.
Discover the citadel of Besançon
An imposing structure overlooking the city, the citadel is one of the must-see attractions for any tourist visiting Besançon. Built by Vauban, a military architect who lived between the 17th and early 18th centuries, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most majestic citadels in France. With a total of 10 kilometres of ramparts dotted with half-bastions, towers and other sentry boxes, the citadel of Besançon is Vauban’s masterpiece. The rampart walk, 600 metres long, 5 to 6 metres wide and 15 to 20 metres high, is a beautiful walk with breathtaking views of Besançon and the surrounding countryside. Inside the Citadel, the Saint-Etienne chapel now hosts a sound and light show projected onto giant screens. This immersive experience brings the history of the citadel to life, from battles to major construction works. Within the walls of the Citadel, you will also find three museums: the Museum of Resistance and Deportation, the Comtois Museum (regional ethnography museum) and the Museum, which combines a zoological garden with a museum of life and earth sciences.
Explore Besançon’s green spaces
Besançon is considered France’s greenest city, mainly because it boasts an average of 200 square metres of green space per inhabitant! Greenery covers nearly 30% of the city’s surface area. You can escape to the heart of nature in the Chailluz Forest. Covering 1,780 hectares, this forest on the outskirts of the town offers you the chance to see deer, wild boar and fallow deer up close. There are picnic areas and walking trails.
Another noteworthy attraction is the Micaud Promenade, designed in the style of an English park, with paths lined with paulownia, sophora and tulip trees. Micaud Park offers a splendid view of the Citadel. In addition, at the Gare d’Eau, a former freight port that was once marshland, you will find a large green space with a promenade where you can enjoy yourself alone or in a group.
Finally, during your stay in Besançon, explore the 5 km of riverbanks along the Doubs on foot or by bicycle. A beautiful walk that combines nature and heritage.
Immerse yourself in culture and history through Besançon’s museums
Vous pouvez aussi découvrir Besançon en visitant les divers musées bisontins. Commencez cette plongée au cœur de la culture par un détour au Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain (2, Passage des arts), au niveau duquel se trouve également le musée d’art de Besançon. Vous pourrez notamment y admirer un ancien bâtiment fluvial en briques, de même que diverses expositions tout au long de l’année.
At the Museum of Time, you can immerse yourself in Besançon’s rich watchmaking tradition! Until the 20th century, 90% of watches sold in France came from Besançon. The Museum of Time is therefore a symbol of the expertise unique to the capital of French watchmaking. Located at 96 Grande Rue, near the Palais de Granvelle, this museum houses multiple collections of timekeeping instruments. Among other items, you will find the Leroy 01, one of the most prestigious watches of all time, and Foucault’s pendulum, which demonstrates the Earth’s rotation in real time.
You can also visit Victor Hugo’s birthplace (he lived there for six weeks after his birth), which has been converted into a museum. Modern displays allow visitors to discover the themes and struggles that punctuated the life of the French writer and politician. In this apartment, located at 140 Grande Rue, there is a room dedicated to children’s rights, a room devoted to artistic freedom, and more.
Explore the old town, symbol of Besançon’s history
Between two nights at your campsite in Besançon, consider taking a tour of old Besançon, which boasts a rich architectural heritage. In particular, visit La Boucle, the nickname given to the historic heart of Besançon, nestled in a bend of the Doubs River. With nearly 200 historic monuments spread over 238 hectares, it is the second largest protected area in France. A stroll through its pedestrian streets will allow you to admire sumptuous façades, beautiful fountains and unusual hidden courtyards. Its mansions are also worth a visit. Among these, the Hôtel Jouffroy, the Hôtel de Champagney and the Hôtel de Lavernette are well worth a visit.
If your walk begins near the Battant Bridge, you will be treated to the beautiful sight of the arcaded houses on Quai Vauban. In the highest part of the Battant district, where the bridge is located, head to Fort Griffon to enjoy a panoramic view of Besançon, its bell towers, the surrounding hills, and more. As you explore old Besançon, don’t hesitate to push open the doors to discover the inner courtyards with their remarkable external staircases (historically, staircases were built outside so as not to take up space inside).
Visit the Black Gate and St. John’s Cathedral
Standing approximately 16 metres tall, the Porte Noire is a type of triumphal arch dating back to the 2nd century. Originally designed to celebrate the gods and victories, this Gallo-Roman monument fell into disrepair over time before being renovated to become one of the most beautiful buildings in Besançon today. Its columns, decorated with plant motifs, are particularly charming.
Located not far from the Black Gate, Saint John’s Cathedral has also undergone numerous renovations. Now blending several architectural styles (Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic), it is one of the few French cathedrals to have two opposing choirs. As further evidence of Besançon’s historic expertise in clockmaking, Saint-Jean Cathedral in Besançon houses an astronomical clock. Manufactured in the 19th century under the supervision of Auguste-Lucien Vérité, a famous French clockmaker, it is wound by hand every day. In a precision mechanism, which you can observe from the inside during a guided tour, it activates the cathedral’s five dials.
There is something for everyone in Besançon. So be sure to visit the capital of French watchmaking during your next camping holiday in the Doubs.
Our campsites for caravans, tents or motorhomes in Besançon
A selection of campsites with pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes in Besançon or nearby.
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