cradled in a loop of the river doubs

Cradled in a loop of the river Doubs, the ancient city of Besanon is one of the best preserved historic cities in France. In pre-Roman times, it was the capital of an area nown as !e"uania. #hen the area was con"uered by the Romans, $ulius Caesar described this naturally defensive site as %the &ewel in my crown%. 'oday Besanon is the capital of the re(ion of Franche Comt), a thrivin( university town, and one of the more popular places to visit in eastern France.Location and AccessIts location at the crosssroads of two ma&or trans-*uropean routes has always made Besanon a strate(ic city. It stands at the intersection of the Rhine-Rhone corridor and the historic main route between Rheims and +ilan - or the ,- and !wit.erland.'oday it is located at the intersection of the /01 +ulhouse-Beaune 23ermany-!pain4 motorway and the 567 - 580 route from 5ancy to 9yon, as well as on the shortest routefrom the ,- to the !wiss cities of 9ausanne and 5euch:tel. 'he city is also served by the brand new Rhine-Rhone '3; route, and has direct '3; services from , as well as from 9ille, 9yon, !trasbour(, +arseille, Basel and ?urich.'he nearest airport to Besanon is the Basel-+ulhouse *uroairport. Tourist attractions @uai ;auban Besanon, 'ourist boat passin( in front of A7th century @uai ;auban, Roman (ate, 'he Roman %