What to do in Besancon, Besancon by train | Rail Europe
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Besançon

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Price guide: from £89 return from London.
Journey time (excluding transfers): 4h 26m
IntroductionGetting thereStations & AirportsWhere to stayWhat to doFurther afield

Top 5 attractions in Besancon

 
A. The Citadel
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this imposing 17th century fortification on the top of Mont Saint Étienne offers more than just great views. It also houses several museums, a zoo, aquarium, insectarium, shops and restaurants.
 
B. Musée du temps
Discover the history and technology of time measurement; experience Earth’s rotation with the Foucault Pendulum. Set in the 16th century Palais Granvelle, the Museum of Time honours Besançon as the heart of French watchmaking.
 
C. Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'archéologie
The Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology is France’s oldest public museum, dating back to 1694. Alongside its ancient artifacts are diverse paintings from the likes of Titian, Rubens, Goya, Constable, Matisse, Picasso and more.
 
D. Cathédrale Saint-Jean
The mostly 12th century Cathedral contains several masterpieces, including Fra Bartolomeo’s huge ‘Virgin and Child with Saints’. In a room all to itself is the astonishing 19th century astronomical clock with its 30,000 moving parts.
 
E. Jardin botanique
The University-run Botanical Garden contains thousands of species in various environments, including those representative of the Franche-Comté region – such as bogs, cliffs, wetlands and the limestone Jura Plateau.
 
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