The city

Besancon is a cute city in Easter France, the birth place of Victor Hugo and the masterpiece of French military engineer Marshall  Vauban. Its beauty is undeniable, that is why in 2008 Besancon has officially become part of the Unesco heritage and it’s no wonder, for when you take a walk anywhere in the city you realize that this place is unique.

The heart of the city, the downtown area, is comfortably surrounded and protected by the flow of the Doubs river, that is why people in Besancon talk about the ‘loop’ or ‘la boucle’ when they refer to the city center.  Each bridge, that goes over the Doubs and connects the loop to the rest of the city, is unique in its own way and contains its own history – like the ‘Battant’ bridge (Pont Battant) which was destroyed during the WWII to delay a foreign invasion.

Plenty of special paths have been created for tourists that want to discover a different face of Besancon then what can be seen when driving through Besancon. Starting, for example, with ‘La Gare D’eau’ (The Water Station) these paths follow the river and even go under the citadel! And mainly anywhere you wish within the loop. This network of paths has been built as part of a huge project that intends to connect Nancy to Budapest! Have a blast and try the public bicycle service (Velocite) you just need to pay a small fee and the bike is yours for the day. Don’t worry about parking your bike, you can leave it anywhere at the specially-designed terminals and pick another bike later on.

If you have an afternoon off and wish to see something really exciting, head up to the Besancon citadel, you’ll be amazed how much options you’ll have. Maybe you want to see the chimps at the Zoo, or maybe take a peek at the life of night-time animals, or maybe you’re passionate about history, with the amazing ‘Musee de la Resistance et de la Deportation’ you’ll take a stroll down the history lane you’ll probably never forget.

You can also discover the mysteries of time within the ‘Time Museum’ which can be found next to the Granvelle Square, and also learn about the Hi-Tech specialty of Besancon: micromechanics and nano-technology.

Probably due to its proximity to Switzerland and Germany, one can often find similarities in architecture as well as in the life-style of the Bisontins. And here you can even find Spanish influences, especially when you look at the window-sills in the city center. And you’ll probably be struck by the blueish hue of the buildings in Besancon, this is a unique lime-stone colour.

As you might now, Besancon is also alive with the energy of the students that fill its streets every day. While you’re here you’ll be fully taken care of by students like yourselves. The city counts around 23 000 students (out of 125 000 inhabitants) each year, so it’s no wonder Besancon lives at night as much as during the day. Not to mention the huge number of International Students that spend a year or more in the city and are always eager to meet new people.

So if you’re planning on coming for the National Boards’ Meeting in January 2010, brace yourself for not only a meeting, but also for a fun exciting adventure, where you could discover a lot more than what you expect.