L'Agence Régionale de Développement de Franche-Comté, investir en Fran

Learning in Franche-Comté

Its legacy, both historical and modern, architectural as well as cultural, stimulates thought and whets one’s curiosity

Roman, Gaul, Spanish and ultimately French, Franche-Comté was shaped by history… Vauban’s majestic fortifications, Claude-Nicolas Ledoux’s ideal city, Le Corbusier’s chapel, the Lion of Belfort as well as the famous bell towers and farmhouses built with a tuyé, an enormous central fireplace, are all part of the legacy of Franche-Comté.

Festival de musique de Besançon, Seiji OSAWA - © Y. PETIT

Victor Hugo and Louis Pasteur: two natives of Franche-Comté number among the ten greatest Frenchmen
fourth place for French region with the highest attendance at its conservatory and three music schools
at least 150 films made in the region
oldest French museum was created in Besançon in 1694.

Salines royales d’Arc et Senans - © Conseil Régional FC

Major UNESCO World Heritage sites
From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the production of open-pan salt:

Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the work of Claude Nicolas Ledoux is one of 30 world industrial sites registered since 1982
Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since June 2009.

Vauban’s Fortifications
Initiated by the city of Besançon, twelve sites in France, including Besançon citadel, that were part of Vauban’s extensive fortification programme, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008.