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Besançon
The old city of Besançon in the oxbow of the Doubs River.
The old city of Besançon
in the oxbow of the Doubs River.
Flag of Besançon
Flag
 Coat of arms of Besançon
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Plût A Dieu ("If God wills") or Utinam
Besançon is located in France
Besançon
Besançon
Location in France
Besançon is located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Besançon
Besançon
Location in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Country France
Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department Doubs
Area
1
 65.05 km2 (25.12 sq mi)
 • Urban
 (1999)
 122 km2 (47 sq mi)
 • Metro
 (1999)
 1,652 km2 (638 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 117,599
 • Rank 29th in France
 • Density 1,807.82/km2 (4,682.2/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (1999)
 134,376
 • Urban density 1,101/km2 (2,853/sq mi)
 • Metro
 (1999)
 222,381
 • Metro density 134.61/km2 (348.65/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
25056 /
Website http://www.besancon.fr/
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Besançon is a city in France. It was the capital of the former Free County (Franche-Comté) region. It is the prefecture of the Doubs department. Its population is around 117,600 (2008).


History

Besançon is an old city. It is discovered in 58 BC and Julius Caesar writes about it in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico where it is called Vesontio. The etymology (origin of the word) is not certain. It could have a Celtic origin. The Celtic word wes means mountain. In the 4th century, the letter B became V. The city name changed to Besontio or Bisontion. It became Besançon in 1243.

The city has a Renaissance citadel. It was later used by the Nazis during World War II.

0 Besançon - Doubs - Quai Vauban (3)
The Doubs (river), the Tour de la Pelote and the Quai Vauban.
0 Besançon - Citadelle (1)
The citadelle in Besançon

Climate

Besançon has an oceanic climate and a continental climate. The average temperature is 10.2 °C (50 °F). The warmest month of the year is July (18.9 °C or 66 °F) and the coldest month is January (1.6 °C or 35 °F). Besançon receives about 1108 mm (44 inches) of precipitation per year. The wettest month is May (111.4 mm or 4.4 in); the driest is July (80.5 mm or 3.2 in). The highest temperature ever, recorded on 31 July 1983, was 38.8 °C (101.8 °F), and the lowest was a −20.7 °C (−5.3 °F) reached on 1 January 1985.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg temperature °C (°F) 1.6 (35) 3.3 (38) 6.1 (43) 9.4 (49) 13.3 (56) 16.5 (62) 18.9 (66) 18.3 (65) 15.7 (60) 11.3 (52) 5.6 (42) 2.1 (36) 10.2 (50)
Avg rainfall mm (in) 91.1 (3.6) 81.8 (3.2) 83.5 (3.3) 91.6 (3.6) 111.4 (4.4) 100.1 (3.9) 80.5 (3.2) 86.9 (3.4) 93.2 (3.7) 85.8 (3.4) 103.7 (4.1) 99.0 (3.9) 1108 (43.6)
Source: Météo France

Monuments

Éducation

Sister cities

Besançon is twinned with:


Images for kids

  • Vesontio oppidum

    Reconstruction of the Gallic (pre-Roman) oppidum of Vesontio

  • Kronung Heinrich II

    Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor inherited the city and made it part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1032.

  • Citadelle Besancon

    The Citadel of Besançon by Vauban

  • Besançon NASA

    Site of Besançon (Landsat 7)

  • Besancon SPOT 1139

    Besançon seen by Spot Satellite

  • 0 Besançon - Hôtel de ville (1)

    Courtyard of the former city hall

  • Besançon, la synagogue (1)

    Synagogue of Besançon

  • Besançon, le musée des Beaux-Arts et d'archéologie

    Museum of Fine Arts and Archeology

  • La Rodia Besançon

    La Rodia concert hall

  • CAF Urbos 3 n°812 GINKO République

    Tram in Besançon, Chamars.

  • Maison natale Victor Hugo 005

    The birthplace of Victor Hugo in Besançon

  • Besançon, la porte Noire (1)

    The Porte Noire, Roman triumphal arch

  • Square Castan

    Square Castan.

  • Vestiges Arènes Besançon

    Promenade Micaud.

  • Citadelle Besançon

    Citadel of Besançon.

  • Besancon Porte Rivotte

    Porte Rivotte.

  • Besançon, la tour de la Pelote (1)

    Tour de la Pelote.

  • Tour bastionnée de Chamars - panoramio

    Tour de Chamars.

  • Cathédrale Saint-Jean Besançon
    St. John's Cathedral.
  • Besançon, la cathédrale Saint-Jean ; portail nord
    St. John's Cathedral.
  • Besancon Ste. Madeleine 1
    Sainte-Madeleine Church.
  • Besançon, la basilique Saint Ferjeux
    Saint-Ferjeux Basilica.
  • Chapelle Notre-Dame Refuge 001
    Notre-Dame-du-Foyer Chapel.
  • Parc Gare d'Eau Besançon

    Jardins de la Gare d'Eau.

  • Promenade Chamars Besançon

    Promenade Chamars.

  • Promenade Micaud Besançon

    Promenade Micaud.

  • Promenade Granvelle Besançon

    Promenade Granvelle.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Besanzón para niños

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