Besanon is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comt region
in eastern France. Located close to the border with Switzerland, it is
the capital of the Doubs department.
As well as being famed as one of France's finest "villes d'art" (art
cities), Besanon is the seat of one of France's older universities, of
France's National School of Mechanics and Micromechanics, and one of the
best known French language schools in France, the CLA. It is also
reputed to be France's most environmentally-friendly city, with a public
transport network that has often been cited as a model. On account of
the topography, the historic city centre lies at the edge of the modern
city, and hiking tracks lead straight from the centre and up into the
Besanon is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comt region
in eastern France. Located close to the border with Switzerland, it is
the capital of the Doubs department.
As well as being famed as one of France's finest "villes d'art" (art
cities), Besanon is the seat of one of France's older universities, of
France's National School of Mechanics and Micromechanics, and one of the
best known French language schools in France, the CLA. It is also
reputed to be France's most environmentally-friendly city, with a public
transport network that has often been cited as a model. On account of
the topography, the historic city centre lies at the edge of the modern
city, and hiking tracks lead straight from the centre and up into the
