The good government exercised by Margaret of Austria, regent of the Netherlands, and by Emperor Charles V brought a period of peace and prosperity to Franche Comté in the 16th century. Besançon, a free and imperial city, considered to be the fifth city of the Empire, benefited from significant privileges granted by the Emperor.
The presence in Besançon of illustrious men who were friends of the Emperor and art lovers, such as Nicolas and Antoine de Granvelle, encouraged the city to embrace the artistic revival characteristic of the 16th century. But while the Palais Granvelle and the houses built by this powerful family brought the Renaissance to Besançon, many of the buildings begun in this period retain the architectural codes of the late Gothic period.
Take a number of different routes to discover Besançon's Renaissance heritage.
Route 3: from the Palais Granvelle to the Rivotte district
10am: Tuesday 25 June, Wednesday 31 July, Thursday 29 August
Meeting point in front of the Palais Granvelle- Musée du Temps, 96 Grande Rue
Full price: €8
Bookings can be made at the Greater Besançon Tourist and Convention Bureau.
