Hôtel de Paris

Top choice in Besançon


Sleep in the same 18th-century coaching inn as renowned novelists George Sand and Colette. Rococo styling and ornate wallpaper add antique glamour to otherwise modern rooms, while the dining hall – a wonder of stained glass and flowing drapes – couldn't be a more chic place to start the day (breakfast €13).

There's an enclosed parking lot (€8 per night).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Besançon attractions

1. Hôtel de Ville

0.1 MILES

Dating in its earliest parts from the late 14th century and later decorated with Italian Renaissance-style flourishes, Besançon's town hall was gutted by…

3. Musée du Temps

0.2 MILES

Literal and figurative interpretations of time are woven together at the Musée du Temps, which places allegorical paintings about the passage of time next…

4. Église de la Madeleine

0.31 MILES

This 18th-century neoclassical church towers over place Jouffroy, at the foot of the Battant district.

5. Maison Natale de Victor Hugo

0.32 MILES

This spiffy museum gives an engaging account of the life and works of Besançon's best-known literary son, Victor Hugo, famous for masterpieces such as Les…

6. Parc Micaud

0.34 MILES

Created in the 19th century, this leafy promenade is the ideal spot to stroll by the Doubs River and it's popular with local cyclists. It's a good place…

7. Porte Noire

0.38 MILES

Erected in AD 175 in honour of Marcus Aurelius, this 16.5m-high Roman triumphal arch stands very near where the columns of a Roman theatre and the…

8. FRAC Franche-Comté

0.39 MILES

Behind the chequerboard timber façade of this riverside gallery are ever-changing contemporary art exhibitions. The distinctive building, FRAC's home…