'Besancon is not much famous among tourists. Many just seem to pass this by. But be sure “ 3 out of four tourists who pass by Besancon are bound for less interesting places!
A review of Besancon as a city, published in the New York Times circa 1885-86 tells much about Besancon than a whole length of a book possibly can. But the only thing that can cast a shadow of doubt over the potential of Besancon as a tourism hub is the fact that not much has changed here, even after a whole turn of the century (and a few decades to boot).
A prominent news publication in the UK recently termed Besancon as the ˜secret city' that tourism industry and flocks of tourists just seem to have presented a cold shoulder to. Well, without being too harsh or judgmental, it must be said that this is what the reality of Besancon is like.
But that apart, there is no reason to ask questions of the kind of beauty that Besancon has in store for tourists and visitors. Featuring probably the most picturesque and smitten-worthy town center in France, Besancon stands tall and proud as the capital of the Franche-Comte Province in East France.
The city shares the French border with Switzerland, and is inhabited by over 100,000 residents, a large portion of which is comprised of students.
A trip to Besancon can help you explore the charms of the old-school lifestyles, and in general, the peace of mind that all of us crave for every now and then. Before you actually go about making plans, however, we would love to suggest our readers to quickly go through this article in which we discuss the state of hotels in Besancon at length.
Budget Hotels in Besancon
Because Besancon doesn't possess a fully-blown tourism industry as of yet, it would be out of order to expect the city to present a whole bunch of cheap hotels that tourists can rely on in order to save huge chunks of money off their hotel expenses.
From whatever is available in the name of cheap hotels, we have shortlisted three fabulous budget lodging options in Besancon, just for our readers!
All three of these are Ibis Properties and hence, much more dependable, safe and value for money than other independent options.
Ibis Budget Besancon Center Gare is our first pick. Located in the downtown area of the city, this hotel provides a great mix of convenience and affordability.
Ibis Budget Besancon Nord and Ibis Budget Besancon Ouest are other two Ibis Properties that offer pretty much the same deal, albeit with lesser convenience.
Luxury Resorts and Hotels in Besancon
Once again, extending the same line of thought that was presented while discussing various budget hotels in Besancon, it should be noted that the pool of luxury resorts to draw picks from is really shallow in Besancon.
About one dozen five star/four star resorts can be found in the city, and most of them have been constructed in last 15 years or so.
Mercure Besancon occupies the top-most rank in this category. It's rather unimaginable to not have a Mercure Hotel in one of France's most beautiful cities, and hence, the presence of Mercure Hotel in Besancon is much anticipated. A usual brand of classical hospitality that we all know Mercure for is on a splendid show here!
For even more French luxury, you can book Hotel Le Sauvage. It is located in the heart of the city and offers all the luxurious amenities that guests can think of. It is, however, quite expensive “ even for a luxury hotel!
Hotel de Paris comes up next in this shortlist of luxury Besancon hotels. Central, accessible and convenient location is the biggest suite of this hotel.
Boutique and Independent Hotels in Besancon
Not much can be had in this category if you are visiting Besancon.
The best way to plan one's stay in Besancon is by making sure that the hoteling part of it all is taken care of, well in advance. The reason for this becomes clear when you randomly show up in the city, expecting to find a suitably cheap studio apartment with the best amenities present.
While there are a handful of independent and boutique lodges in Besancon, they are “ more often than not “ overflowing with guests. Similarly, renting out an apartment is quite a formal deal in France.
So, in essence, it can be said that tourists are better off bearing their stay at a hotel.
Top 5 Sightseeing Ideas for Tourists Visiting Besancon
- The Besancon Citadel is a world-famous UNESCO Global Heritage Site. Built in the 17th century, it is a beautiful manifestation of art and engineering. It also houses two small museums. For quite unfathomable reasons, this citadel also houses a small petting zoo.
- Museum of Time is another famous site in Besancon. It is an intimate museum that celebrates the history of timekeeping and timepieces.
- Porte Noire is a victorious triumph arch believed to have been designed and constructed in the Roman Rule of France. Views of the busy city in the background and the sound of Doubs flowing calmly make a visit to Porte Noire quite enchanting.
- Archaeological sites are scattered around the city, and can be visited to get the thrill of witnessing something truly exciting.
- If you love the idea of bidding adieu to the city life and immerse yourself into the life of adventure, Besancon can offer you many options to pick one from. Kayaking, rafting, hiking and cycling are major outdoor activities taken up by tourists.
Local Transportation in Besancon
While walking on foot around the city is the best way to explore Besancon, it's not possible for everyone to do that.
So, local bus transport (it's cheap, too!) can come to aid in such situations. Buses are frequent and usually on time.
If you are into bicycling, you can also rent bicycles (most Besancon hotels do have this facility) for fares as low as €3 per hour!