Geography

Site of Besançon (Landsat 7) Besançon seen by Spot Satellite Location

Besançon is located in the north-east quarter of France on the Doubs River. It is about 325 km (215 mi) east of the national capital of Paris, 100 km (60 mi) east of Dijon in Burgundy, 125 km (75 mi) northwest of Lausanne in Switzerland, and 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Belfort in Franche-Comté. It is located at the edge of the Jura Mountains.

Topography

The city initially developed in a natural meander (or oxbow loop) of the Doubs River with a diameter of almost 1 km (3,281 ft). The flat inner loop has an elevation of about 250 m (820 ft) and is bounded to the south by a hill called Mont Saint-Étienne, which has a maximum height of 371 m (1,217 ft). The city is surrounded by six other hills which range in elevation from 400 m (1,312 ft) to 500 m (1,640 ft): Brégille, Griffon, Planoise, Chaudanne, Montfaucon, and Montboucon. (There is a barge canal that cuts through rock under Mont Saint-Étienne, short-cutting the meander.)

Climate

Besançon is under the influence of both an oceanic climate (notable precipitations in quantity as much as in frequency) and a continental climate with hard winters (snow, frost) and warm and dry summers. The year-round average is 11.5 °C (53 °F). The warmest month is July 20 °C (68 °F) and the coldest is January 2.1 °C (36 °F). Besançon receives about 1059 mm (41.7 inches) of precipitation per year. The wettest month is May (108.4 mm or 4.3 in); the driest is August (76.9 mm or 3 in). The highest temperature ever, recorded on 28 July 1921, was 40.3 °C (105 °F), and the lowest was a −20.7 °C (−5 °F) reached on 1 January 1985.

Climate data for Besançon Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 5 (41) 6.1 (43) 10.8 (51.4) 14.9 (58.8) 20.7 (69.3) 23.4 (74.1) 25.7 (78.3) 26.1 (79) 22.2 (72) 18.0 (64.4) 13.2 (55.8) 7.1 (44.8) 16.1 (61) Daily mean °C (°F) 2.1 (35.8) 3.1 (37.6) 6.7 (44.1) 9.7 (49.5) 15.2 (59.4) 17.9 (64.2) 20 (68) 20.2 (68.4) 16.9 (62.4) 13.4 (56.1) 8.8 (47.8) 4.1 (39.4) 11.5 (52.7) Average low °C (°F) −0.8 (30.6) 0 (32) 2.5 (36.5) 4.5 (40.1) 9.7 (49.5) 12.4 (54.3) 14.2 (57.6) 14.3 (57.7) 11.6 (52.9) 8.8 (47.8) 4.4 (39.9) 1.0 (33.8) 6.9 (44.4) Rainfall mm (inches) 88.5 (3.484) 81.8 (3.22) 83.5 (3.287) 90.6 (3.567) 108.4 (4.268) 97.1 (3.823) 78.5 (3.091) 76.9 (3.028) 78.2 (3.079) 85.8 (3.378) 96.7 (3.807) 93.0 (3.661) 1,059 (41.69) Source: Météo France Districts Courtyard of the former city hall Main article: Planoise The 14 Besançon boroughs Centre – Chapelle des Buis Velotte Butte – Grette Battant Chaprais – Cras Bregille Saint-Ferjeux – Rosemont Montboucons – Montrapon Saint-Claude – Torcols Palente – Orchamps – Saragosse Vaites – Clairs-Soleils Planoise – Châteaufarine Tilleroyes Chailluz Center (the buckleet and Saint-Jean) – Chapelle des Buis Battant Bregille Vaites – Clairs-Soleils Velotte Butte – Grette Chaprais – Cras Palente – Orchamps – Combe Saragosse Tilleroyes Montrapon – Montboucons – Fontaine-écu Planoise – Châteaufarine Saint-Claude – Torcols Saint-Ferjeux – Rosemont Chailluz Parks and gardens Jardin botanique de Besançon Parc Micaud Parc de la Gare d'Eau Parc de la Citadelle Promenade Granvelle Promenade Chamars