Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Besançon

BESANÇON (bes-än-sôṅ′), a city in the N. E. of France, the capital of the department of Doubs, on the river Doubs. It commands a strong strategic position at the convergence of the roads from Switzerland and the valley between the Vosges and Jura Mountains. It was the fortified town of Vesontio in 58 b. c., when Cæsar expelled the Sequani. In the 5th century it was part of Burgundy, and in 1032 a free city of Franche-Comté. By the peace of Westphalia, in 1648, it was ceded to Spain, but was retaken by Louis XIV., united to France in 1678, and fortified by Vauban. It withstood the Austrians in 1814, and was the seat of operations of the French army under Bourbaki in 1870-1871. It contains Roman remains, including an amphitheater, aqueduct and triumphal arch of Mars, as well as a cathedral of diversified architectural style, and the Renaissance palace of Cardinal Granvella, who was born in Besançon, Victor Hugo was also a native of Besançon. Watchmaking is the principal industry. Pop. about 60,000.