Classified as a City of Art and History and listed as a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage Site,

Besançon Besançon (, ; , ; archaic ; ) is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerland. Capi ...

possesses a significant architectural heritage. Originating as a Gallic oppidum, the city evolved into an important cultural, military, and economic center. Alternating between Germanic and French control, the capital of Franche-Comté has preserved numerous historical elements dating from Antiquity to the 19th century.

Mottos and heraldry

The city of Besançon has used several mottos throughout its history. Utinam ("May it please God") is considered the official motto and appears on various public monuments, including the fountain at Place Jean Cornet, the pediments of the Rivotte school and the Palace of Justice, and the war memorial. In 1815, it was briefly replaced by ''Deo et caesari fidelis perpetuo'' ("Eternal loyalty to God and Caesar"), before the original motto was reinstated. The includes an

eagle Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...

granted by

Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

in 1537, accompanied by two triumphal

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member ...

s symbolizing the ancient Gallo-Roman city of Vesontio. The eagle was originally double-headed, reflecting the heraldry of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

Prehistory

An ideal settlement site from the origins

Archaeological evidence confirms the presence of hunter-gatherer groups in the area around Besançon during the

Middle Paleolithic The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. The term Middle Stone Age is used as an equivalent or a synonym for the Middle P ...

period, approximately 50,000 years ago. Excavations have also revealed

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

settlements along the

Doubs Doubs (, ; ; ) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.

The Gallic oppidum of Vesontio

In the 2nd century BCE, the

oppidum An ''oppidum'' (: ''oppida'') is a large fortified Iron Age Europe, Iron Age settlement or town. ''Oppida'' are primarily associated with the Celts, Celtic late La Tène culture, emerging during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, spread acros ...

was occupied by the

Sequani The Sequani were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper river basin of the Arar river (Saône), the valley of the Doubs and the Jura Mountains during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Sequanos'' by Caesar (mid-1 ...

, a

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

people whose territory extended between the

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Ròse''; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Rôno'') is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and Southeastern France before dischargi ...

Saône The Saône ( , ; ; ) is a river in eastern France (modern Regions of France, region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté). It is a right tributary of the Rhône, rising at Vioménil in the Vosges (department), Vosges Departments of France, department an ...

, Jura, and

Vosges The Vosges ( , ; ; Franconian and ) is a range of medium mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single geomorphological unit and ...

. Archaeological excavations have confirmed the existence of public infrastructure from this period, with the oldest remains uncovered during rescue excavations in 2001 near the site of the former ramparts. The settlement was enclosed by a shore wall ( murus gallicus), traces of which were found at the same location. A craftsman district was situated outside the oppidum. Known in

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

as Vesontio, the site served as the economic center of the Sequani territory. It was later contested by Germanic tribes and the

Aedui The Aedui or Haedui (Gaulish language, Gaulish: *''Aiduoi'', 'the Ardent'; ) were a Gauls, Gallic tribe dwelling in what is now the region of Burgundy during the La Tène culture, Iron Age and the Roman Empire, Roman period. The Aedui had an ambi ...

before being conquered by

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

in 58 BCE.

Vesontio, Gallo-Roman city

, noting the strategic location of the site in ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'', designated it as the capital of the

tribe (''Civitas Maxima Sequanorum''), as well as a military citadel and commercial center in Roman Gaul. The city subsequently experienced significant development, becoming one of the largest urban centers in

Belgic Gaul Gallia Belgica ("Belgic Gaul") was a province of the Roman Empire located in the north-eastern part of Roman Gaul, in what is today primarily northern France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, along with parts of the Netherlands and Germany. Before the R ...

and later in the province of Upper Germany. In 68 CE, Vesontio was the site of a confrontation between

Lucius Verginius Rufus Lucius Verginius Rufus (AD 1597; sometimes incorrectly called Lucius Virginus Rufus) was a Roman commander of Germania Superior during the late 1st century. He was three times consul (in 63, 69, and 97). He was born near Comum, the birthplace of ...

, loyal to Emperor

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his ...

, and the rebel

Gaius Julius Vindex Gaius Julius Vindex ( 68), was a Roman governor in the province of Gallia Lugdunensis. Biography Following normal Roman procedures, his name Gaius Julius indicated that his family had likely been given citizenship under Gaius Julius Caesar, or ...

, who was defeated and later took his own life. Following the suppression of the Batavian revolt led by Civilis, the city was likely granted the status of Roman colony, although the exact date remains uncertain. During this period, the Romans undertook significant urban development, constructing numerous buildings along the

cardo A ''cardo'' (: ''cardines'') was a north–south street in Ancient Rome, ancient Roman cities and military castra, camps as an integral component of Urban planning, city planning. The ''cardo maximus'', or most often the ''cardo'', was the main ...

(present-day Grande Rue) and on the right bank of the Doubs River, including an with a capacity of up to 20,000 spectators. Archaeological investigations have identified over 200 Roman-era sites in the La Boucle area and adjacent neighborhoods. Under the

Tetrarchy The Tetrarchy was the system instituted by Roman emperor Diocletian in 293 AD to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the ''augusti'', and their junior colleagues and designated successors, the ''caesares''. I ...

, Vesontio became the capital of the Provincia Maxima Sequanorum. Notable Roman-era remains include the Porte Noire (Black Gate), erected under the reign of

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors ...

around 175 CE, possibly commemorating the end of the conflicts of 172–175 CE; the colonnades of Square Castan; the conduits of the Roman aqueduct that supplied the city with water; the remains of the

amphitheater An amphitheatre ( U.S. English: amphitheater) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ('), meaning "place for vie ...

; and two Roman domus located beneath the current and the . The latter site yielded the ''

Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...

Mosaic A mosaic () is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/Mortar (masonry), mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and ...

, which has been restored and is now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology of Besançon. In 360 CE,

Emperor Julian Julian (; ; 331 – 26 June 363) was the Caesar (title), Caesar of the West from 355 to 360 and Roman emperor from 361 to 363, as well as a notable philosopher and author in Ancient Greek, Greek. His rejection of Christianity, and his promoti ...

referred to Vesontio as a "village clustered on itself," reflecting its decline during that period.

Middle Ages

Following the fall of the Western

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

Empire,

Clovis Clovis may refer to: People * Clovis (given name), the early medieval (Frankish) form of the name Louis ** Clovis I (c. 466 – 511), the first king of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler ** Clovis II (c. 634 – c. 657), ...

, King of the Franks, incorporated the territory of the

, along with that of the

Burgundians The Burgundians were an early Germanic peoples, Germanic tribe or group of tribes. They appeared east in the middle Rhine region in the third century AD, and were later moved west into the Roman Empire, in Roman Gaul, Gaul. In the first and seco ...

and

Alemanni The Alemanni or Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River during the first millennium. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Roman emperor Caracalla of 213 CE ...

, into his kingdom. The early medieval history of Besançon is not well documented due to the limited availability of sources. The city is first mentioned in writing in 821 under the name ''Chrysopolis''. Between 843 and 869, the Diocese of Besançon was part of

Middle Francia Middle Francia () was a short-lived Frankish kingdom which was created in 843 by the Treaty of Verdun after an intermittent civil war between the grandsons of Charlemagne resulted in division of the united empire. Middle Francia was allocated ...

, then of

Lotharingia Lotharingia was a historical region and an early medieval polity that existed during the late Carolingian and early Ottonian era, from the middle of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century. It was established in 855 by the Treaty of Prüm, a ...

. After the death of Lothair II, the region was assigned to

Charles the Bald Charles the Bald (; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as CharlesII, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), King of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a series of civil wars during t ...

under the

Treaty of Meerssen The Treaty of Mersen or Meerssen, concluded on 8 August 870, was a treaty to partition the realm of Lothair II, known as Lotharingia, by his uncles Louis the German of East Francia and Charles the Bald of West Francia, the two surviving sons of ...

in 870 and became part of the Kingdom of West Francia until 879.

Besançon, ecclesiastical metropolis

In 888, Odo I of France founded the

Duchy of Burgundy The Duchy of Burgundy (; ; ) was a medieval and early modern feudal polity in north-western regions of historical Burgundy. It was a duchy, ruled by dukes of Burgundy. The Duchy belonged to the Kingdom of France, and was initially bordering th ...

and the County of Outre-Saône as part of the feudal reorganization of the kingdom. The County of Outre-Saône, with Dole as its capital, was associated with the , which included Besançon. In the same year,

Rudolph I of Burgundy Rudolph I ( – 25 October 912) was King of Upper Burgundy from his election in 888 until his death. A member of the elder Welf family, Rudolph was the son of Conrad, Count of Auxerre and Waldrada of Worms. From his father he inherited the l ...

was elected King of

Upper Burgundy Upper Burgundy (; ) was a historical region in the early medieval Burgundy, and a distinctive realm known as the ''Kingdom of Upper Burgundy'', that existed from 888 to 933, when it was incorporated into the reunited Kingdom of Burgundy, that ...

, challenging the authority of the West Frankish kingdom over the territory that would become

Franche-Comté Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou dialect, Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; ; also ; ; all ) is a cultural and Provinces of France, historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of France, departments of Doub ...

. The

County of Burgundy The Free County of Burgundy (; ) was a medieval and early modern feudal polity ruled by a count from 982 to 1678. It became known as Franche-Comté (the ''Free County''), and was located in the modern region of Franche-Comté. It belonged to th ...

was formally established in 982, with Otto-William as its first count (bearing the title of Palatine Count of Burgundy). In 1032, following the death of King Rudolph III of Burgundy without a male heir, the region was bequeathed to his nephew, Emperor

Henry II Henry II may refer to: Kings * Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (972–1024), crowned King of Germany in 1002, of Italy in 1004 and Emperor in 1014 *Henry II of England (1133–89), reigned from 1154 *Henry II of Jerusalem and Cyprus (1271–1 ...

of the

. Besançon, like the rest of the

, was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, Archbishop , with the support of the Emperor, assumed lordship over Besançon. The city, elevated to the status of an archbishopric, from the County of Burgundy. After Hugues de Salins died in 1066, a succession crisis triggered a prolonged period of instability. Throughout the Middle Ages, Besançon remained directly under imperial authority and independent from the County of Burgundy, whose capital was Dole. The city played a role in imperial affairs, particularly hosting the Diet of Besançon in 1157.

Besançon, free imperial city

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the inhabitants of Besançon opposed the authority of the archbishops and gradually secured communal liberties. These were formally granted in 1290 following two sieges that ended in an agreement. While remaining under the sovereignty of the Holy Roman Emperor, the city gained self-governance, administered by a council of twenty-eight elected notables and a council of fourteen governors appointed by them. Besançon thus held the status of a free imperial city for nearly four centuries. During this period, the

Dukes of Burgundy Duke of Burgundy () was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by the Crown lands of France, French crown in 1477, and later by members of the House of Habsburg, including Holy Roman E ...

, who also held the title of Count of Burgundy, served as protectors of the city. This era was marked by economic and political stability.

Modern era

During the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

, Franche-Comté strengthened its ties with the Holy Roman Empire following the death of

Charles the Bold Charles Martin (10 November 1433 – 5 January 1477), called the Bold, was the last duke of Burgundy from the House of Valois-Burgundy, ruling from 1467 to 1477. He was the only surviving legitimate son of Philip the Good and his third wife, ...

. Under Emperor

, Besançon was fortified and became a strategic stronghold of the Empire. Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, a native of Franche-Comté, served as

Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

of the Empire from 1519 and Keeper of the Seals from 1532. The city benefited from imperial patronage, resulting in the construction of buildings such as the Granvelle Palace and the Town Hall, the latter featuring a statue of

on its façade. In 1518, Besançon had an estimated population of 8,000 to 9,000, which may have increased to between 11,000 and 12,000 by 1608. The local economy remained predominantly rural, with viticulture serving as the primary activity, particularly in the Battant district, where winegrowers constituted a significant portion of the population. In 1575, the city was the site of a

battle A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

between

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

and

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

forces, which ended in a Catholic victory.

The "suffering century" and the French conquest

In contrast to the prosperity of the 16th century, Besançon faced significant challenges in the 17th century due to wars and economic hardship. The period also faced criminal activity, exemplified by the execution of on May 12, 1618, whose name became associated with Revolution Square as part of local lore. In 1631, Besançon hosted the

Duke of Orléans Duke of Orléans () was a French royal title usually granted by the King of France to one of his close relatives (usually a younger brother or son), or otherwise inherited through the male line. First created in 1344 by King Philip VI for his yo ...

, brother of the French king and opponent of Cardinal Richelieu, twice. During the Ten Years’ War (1635–1644), a regional phase of the

Thirty Years’ War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine, or disease, while ...

, the area endured plague,

famine A famine is a widespread scarcity of food caused by several possible factors, including, but not limited to war, natural disasters, crop failure, widespread poverty, an Financial crisis, economic catastrophe or government policies. This phenom ...

, and hardship. Although Besançon avoided direct sieges, it was affected by a plague outbreak in 1636 and famine from 1638 to 1644, mirroring the suffering of the surrounding region. A proposed territorial exchange between the city of

Frankenthal Frankenthal (Pfalz) (; ) is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. History Frankenthal was first mentioned in 772. In 1119 an Augustinians, Augustinian monastery was built here, the ruins of which — known, aft ...

, under Spanish control, and Besançon, then part of the

, was introduced in 1651 and accepted by the citizens of Besançon in 1664. As a result, Besançon temporarily lost its status as a free imperial city and became a possession of the Spanish Crown from 1664 to 1674. Despite this change, Spanish influence remained limited due to geographic distance, and the city continued to regard itself, with some difficulty, as a free city. Tensions with France resumed shortly thereafter. On 8 February 1668, French forces led by the Prince of Condé entered the city after a brief siege and the capitulation of local authorities. The occupation was not well-received by the population, and French troops withdrew on 9 June 1668. In response to the inadequacy of the city's defenses, construction efforts were undertaken to strengthen its fortifications. The foundation stone of a citadel on Mont Saint-Étienne was laid on 29 September 1668, and additional fortification works were initiated on the heights of Battant, particularly around Charmont. On 26 April 1674, the

Duke of Enghien Duke of Enghien (, pronounced with a silent ''i'') was a noble title pertaining to the House of Condé. It was only associated with the town of Enghien for a short time. Dukes of Enghien – first creation (1566–1569) The title was first conf ...

led a French army of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 troops in a siege of Besançon. After 27 days, the city's citadel capitulated on 22 May 1674. The

siege A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...

was notable for the presence of King

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

, military engineer Vauban, and Minister Louvois. Besançon was designated the capital of

by letters patent on 1 October 1677, replacing Dole. Various administrative institutions—including the military command, the intendancy, the , and the

university A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

—were progressively transferred to the new capital. The

Treaties of Nijmegen The Treaties or Peace of Nijmegen (; ; ) were a series of treaties signed in the Dutch city of Nijmegen between August 1678 and October 1679. The treaties ended various interconnected wars among France, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Brandenburg, Sw ...

, signed between 17 September 1678 and 5 February 1679, formalized the annexation of Besançon and the surrounding region into the Kingdom of France. Louis XIV designated Besançon as a key part of France's eastern defense system and assigned Vauban to oversee its fortification. Between 1674 and 1688, the citadel was completely redesigned, with additional fortifications constructed from 1689 to 1695. Numerous barracks were also built beginning in 1680. The construction of the citadel was costly.

Era of prosperity

In the 18th century, under the administration of effective intendants, Franche-Comté experienced a period of prosperity. During this time, Besançon's population grew from approximately 14,000 to 32,000 inhabitants, and the city was developed with new monuments and private mansions.

Contemporary era

After the Revolution

In 1790, Besançon lost its status as an

archbishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

and its role as a regional capital, becoming the chief town of a department that excluded the most productive agricultural areas of the low country. The population declined from an estimated 32,000 before the French Revolution to 25,328 in 1793, rising slowly to 28,463 by 1800. During this period, the watchmaking industry was established in the city following the founding of a watch factory in 1793 by

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

refugees led by

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

watchmaker . Despite initial difficulties and local resistance, the industry grew, with approximately 1,000 watchmakers by 1795 and production increasing from 14,700 pieces in 1794–1795 to 21,400 in 1802–1803. In 1801, Besançon regained its status as an archbishopric with revised boundaries. The city was besieged during the French Campaign of 1814.

From one war to the next (1870–1945)

In 1871, a plan to establish a

Besançon Commune The Besançon Commune (in French ''Commune de Besançon'') was a short-lived revolutionary movement conceived and developed in 1871, aiming at the proclamation of a local autonomous power based on the experiences of the Paris Paris () i ...

was proposed in connection with the

Jura Federation The Jura Federation () represented the anarchist, Bakuninist faction of the First International during the anti-statist split from the organization. The Canton of Jura, a Swiss area, was known for its watchmaker artisans in La Chaux-de-Fonds, w ...

, but was not realized. During the Third Republic, the city's population remained around 55,000 for several decades. The watchmaking industry continued to grow, producing 395,000 watches in 1872 and 501,602 in 1883. By 1880, Besançon accounted for 90% of French watch production, employing approximately 5,000 specialized workers and 10,000 part-time female workers. Although the industry faced competition from Switzerland and experienced a crisis in the late 19th century, it recovered by 1900, with production reaching 635,980 watches, employing around 3,000 workers by 1910. Other industries during this period included brewing, paper manufacturing, and metallurgy. The textile industry also developed after Count

Hilaire de Chardonnet Louis-Marie Hilaire Bernigaud de Grange, Count (''Comte'') de Chardonnet (1 May 1839 – 11 March 1924) was a French engineer and industrialist from Besançon, and inventor of artificial silk. In the late 1870s, Chardonnet was working with Lou ...

introduced an industrial process for producing artificial silk, leading to the establishment of a silk factory at in 1891. At the end of the 19th century, Besançon developed a thermal tourism industry with the creation of the Compagnie des Bains salins de la Mouillère in 1890. This led to the construction of a thermal establishment, the Hôtel des Bains, a

casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...

, the Kursaal performance hall, and the opening of a tourist office in 1896. In 1910, the city experienced a

flood A flood is an overflow of water (list of non-water floods, or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant con ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, German forces occupied Besançon on June 16, 1940, despite French efforts to destroy the city's bridges to hinder their advance. Located in the

occupied zone Military occupation, also called belligerent occupation or simply occupation, is temporary hostile control exerted by a ruling power's military apparatus over a sovereign territory that is outside of the legal boundaries of that ruling powe ...

, near the

demarcation line {{Refimprove, date=January 2008 A political demarcation line is a geopolitical border, often agreed upon as part of an armistice or ceasefire. Africa * Moroccan Wall, delimiting the Moroccan-controlled part of Western Sahara from the Sahraw ...

and within the prohibited zone, Besançon faced potential annexation to the

Reich ( ; ) is a German word whose meaning is analogous to the English word " realm". The terms and are respectively used in German in reference to empires and kingdoms. In English usage, the term " Reich" often refers to Nazi Germany, also ca ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

had won the war. The city experienced limited destruction, with damage from a British air raid on July 15–16, 1943, targeting the Viotte district, resulting in 50 deaths, 40 serious injuries, and approximately 100 minor injuries. Resistance activities began in 1942, prompting German reprisals, including the execution of 16 resistance fighters at the

Citadel of Besançon The Citadel of Besançon (, ) is a 17th-century fortress in Franche-Comté, France. It is one of the finest masterpieces of military architecture designed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. The Citadel occupies on Mount Saint-Etienne, one of the ...

on September 26, 1943, followed by 83 more executions. Allied forces, including the U.S. Army's 6th Corps, liberated Besançon on September 8, 1944, after four days of combat.

General de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

visited the city on September 23, 1944, followed by a joint visit with

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

on November 13, 1944. Among the most famous members of the Resistance were Gabriel Plançon, , Henri Fertet, the , , , , and .

Unprecedented expansion (1945–1973)

Following World War II, Besançon experienced significant growth, mirroring national trends. The city's population doubled from 63,508 in 1946 to 113,220 by 1968, with a growth rate of 38.5% between 1954 and 1962, surpassed by

Grenoble Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...

and

Caen Caen (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Calvados (department), Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inha ...

. Infrastructure development lagged behind this expansion: the railway line to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

was electrified in 1970,

canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface ...

upgrades for larger traffic were proposed in 1975, and the

highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It includes not just major roads, but also other public roads and rights of way. In the United States, it is also used as an equivalent term to controlled-access highway, or ...

reached Besançon in 1978. Plans for an airport in La Vèze were considered but abandoned. After World War II, Besançon's

watchmaking A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since a majority of watches are now factory-made, most modern watchmakers only repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their par ...

industry, while still prominent, declined from 50% of industrial jobs in 1954 to 35% by 1962, as textiles, construction, and the food industry grew. In 1962, three companies employed over 1,000 workers: watchmaking firms

Lip The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...

and Kelton-Timex, and the textile manufacturer Rhodia. Besançon maintained its status as France's watchmaking capital, supported by its administrative and research roles. The textile sector also thrived, with Rhodia employing 3,300 workers by 1966 and Weil, a leading men’s clothing manufacturer, reaching 1,500 employees in 1965. To address the housing crisis driven by rapid population growth, Besançon’s municipality initiated construction of the Montrapon and - Orchamps housing estates in 1952, followed by the ''les 408'' buildings in 1960, which housed primarily working-class residents. Urban development proceeded unevenly, prompting a modernization plan between 1961 and 1963. This plan established the

Planoise Planoise () is an urban area in the western part of Besançon, France, built in the 1960s between the hill of Planoise and the district of Hauts-de-Chazal. It is the most populous district of Besançon, with 15,378 inhabitants (2018, 13% of the ...

priority urban development zone (), the Palente and Trépillot industrial zones, and the La Bouloie university campus, alongside three boulevards to improve traffic flow. Besançon was designated a regional capital following the establishment of regional action districts by a decree on June 2, 1960. In 1969, a proposed , designed by , involved demolishing the train station but was abandoned in the mid-1970s.

Crises and transformations (1973 to the present)

The 1973 oil crisis triggered a severe economic downturn in Besançon, halting its industrial growth. The crisis was epitomized by the Lip affair, where the watchmaking company faced layoffs in 1973, leading to a self-management-based labor movement and a significant protest, the ''Lip march'', on September 29, 1973, drawing 100,000 people. Despite a temporary resumption of operations, Lip went bankrupt in 1977. In 1982, the closure of the Rhodia textile factory resulted in nearly 2,000 job losses, followed by the shutdown of the Kelton-Timex watchmaking company. During the 1990s, the garment company relocated, reducing its workforce from over 1,000 to under 100. Over two decades, Besançon lost approximately 10,000 industrial jobs, facing significant challenges in recovery. Following the 1982 decentralization laws, Besançon transitioned from an industrial hub to a tertiary center. Its two-century watchmaking tradition was redirected toward

microtechnology Microtechnology is technology whose features have dimensions of the order of one micrometre (one millionth of a metre, or 10−6 metre, or 1μm). It focuses on physical and chemical processes as well as the production or manipulation of structures ...

, precision mechanics,

nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing propertie ...

, and time-frequency technology, gaining recognition at

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an and global levels. The city's quality of life, cultural heritage, and strategic location on the Rhine-Rhône corridor, a major European route, supported its economic revival in the early 21st century.

References

Bibliography

* * {{Cite book , last=Thiou , first=Éric , title=Annuaire des Bisontins à la veille de la Révolution , date=2012 , publisher=Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté , location= , language=fr , trans-title=Directory of Besançon residents on the eve of the Revolution Histories of cities in France