Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Besançon
Besançon is a city in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France, 300 m above sea level. It has a population of about 118,489 (2023). The climate is classified as oceanic (Köppen Cfb), with rain spread through the year and no real dry season.
Now13°C
Best timeJun–Jul · Sep
Population118,489
Local time16:43
47.25° N, 6.02° EElevation 300 mUTC+2 · Central European Summer Time
Postal code25000October: high / low17° / 7°
Rain this month130mm
Best timeJun–Jul · Sep
Best: Jun–Jul · Sep. Warmth, sunshine and dry days, month by month.
Besançon at a glance
Sunrise · sunset08:04 · 18:3810 h 33 min of daylightThe moon tonightWaxing gibbous85% · Moonrise 16:53Next holiday1 NovemberAll Saints' DayNext eclipse21 Feb 2027Penumbral lunar eclipse
Best time to visitJun–Jul · Sep
The months with the highest weather score
Warmest month27°C
Average high in July
Coolest month0°C
Average low in January
Wettest monthMay
126 mm of rain
Driest monthFebruary
90 mm of rain
Monuments nearby10+
1 of them World Heritage
How Besançon has grown
People living in the built-up area (28 km² today), every five years since 1975; 2030 is the projection.
-3%102k in 1975 → 99k in 2025Weather in Besançon
Now and the next ten days. The 14 and 30-day outlooks are one click away.
13°C
Today hour by hourCloudy · wind 14 km/h · humidity 61%
Today22 Oct14°5°
Fri23 Oct14°7°6.8 mm
Sat24 Oct11°4°4.3 mm
Sun25 Oct13°8°14.8 mm
Mon26 Oct15°6°
Tue27 Oct22°10°
Wed28 Oct16°9°
Thu29 Oct16°7°
Fri30 Oct18°5°
Sat31 Oct17°4°
When to go to Besançon
Each month's weather score (warmth, sun, dry days) with its temperatures and rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 19 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 62 | 66 | 63 | 63 | 73 | 58 | 22 | 18 |
| High | 6° | 8° | 13° | 17° | 21° | 25° | 27° | 26° | 22° | 17° | 10° | 7° |
| Low | 0° | 0° | 2° | 5° | 9° | 12° | 14° | 14° | 10° | 7° | 3° | 1° |
| Rain (mm) | 103 | 90 | 102 | 101 | 126 | 106 | 103 | 102 | 113 | 130 | 117 | 128 |
| Wet days | 14 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
What's on in Besançon
Concerts, football matches, the public holidays ahead and the town's festivals through the year.
Music venues
Palais des sports42 Avenue Léo Lagrange, 25000 Besançon, France · 1.4 km
0 showsMonuments and museums in Besançon
0.9 km
Synagogue of BesançonBuilt 1871UNESCO2.2 km
Citadel of BesançonBuilt 1668
1.9 km
Besançon Cathedral
1 km
Grenier in Besançon
0.8 km
Tour de la Pelotte
1.5 km
Fontaine des Carmes, BesançonBuilt 1564
Museum1 km
Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de BesançonBuilt 1694
Museum2.2 km
Musée de la Résistance et de la déportation de Franche-ComtéMore museums: Espace Vauban · Fabrika Sciences · Fonds régional d'art contemporain (FRAC) · Maison natale de Victor Hugo · Muséum d'histoire naturelle
Outdoors around Besançon
Hiking routes from the town, and what there is to do within 15 km: huts, viewpoints, climbing, camping, ski areas and dive sites.
Les PeupliersCamp sites
0.6 kmCamping de BesançonCamp sites
0.8 kmLama loisir MamirolleZoos
1 kmGolf de BesançonGolf courses
1 kmSalle Marie ParadisClimbing
1.1 kmAux AteliersTheme parks
1.2 kmNature around Besançon
Wildlife in October
The birds and mammals of France seen most this month, compared with the rest of their year.
The sky over Besançon
Earthquakes around Besançon
The last 30 days within 300 km, and the record since 1950.
Last 30 days0magnitude 2.5+ within 300 kmSince 19504magnitude 5+ within 150 kmSignificant earthquakes on record43within 300 km
Strongest nearby since 1950
5.5Gsteig 3 km ↓1954 · 137 km
5.4Lauenen 8 km ↘1954 · 143 km
5.1Lect 2 km ↓1971 · 101 km
5.0Romont 2 km ↙2003 · 128 km
Ancient sites nearby
Sites: 3
Cities and settlements
Archaeological sites
Universities and research institutes
École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des MicrotechniquesUniversity or college · founded 1902
Marie and Louis Pasteur UniversityUniversity or college · founded 2024
Institut Supérieur des Beaux-arts de BesançonUniversity or college
Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers Terre Homme Environnement Temps Astronomie, Universe Sciences Observatory THETAResearch institute · founded 1878
Centre technique de l'Industrie HorlogèreResearch institute · founded 1945
Centre de Recherches Interdisciplinaires et TransculturellesResearch institute · founded 1991
Centre de recherches juridiques de Franche-ComtéResearch institute · founded 1991
Laboratoire de recherches Intégratives en Neurosciences et psychologie CognitiveResearch institute · founded 1991
Centre Lucien FebvreResearch institute · founded 1996
Laboratoire de Mathématiques de BesançonResearch institute · founded 1996
Logiques de l'agirResearch institute · founded 1996
Laboratoire de psychologieResearch institute · founded 2000
Laboratoire de sociologie et d'anthropologieResearch institute · founded 2000
Théoriser et Modéliser pour AménagerResearch institute · founded 2000
Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique Thermique et Optique - Sciences et TechnologiesResearch institute · founded 2004
Centre d'Investigation Clinique de BesançonResearch institute · founded 2005
Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l'AntiquitéResearch institute · founded 2005
CNR de la Résistance aux AntibiotiquesResearch institute · founded 2006
Institut UTINAMResearch institute · founded 2006
Chrono-Environment LaboratoryResearch institute · founded 2008
Maison des sciences humaines et environnementales Claude Nicolas LedouxResearch institute · founded 2008
Methodology and Quality of Life Unit in OncologyResearch institute · founded 2011
Centre de recherche sur les stratégies économiquesResearch institute · founded 2012
Edition, Littératures, Langages, Informatique, Arts, Didactiques, DiscoursResearch institute · founded 2012
Interactions Hôte-Greffon-Tumeur & Ingénierie Cellulaire et GéniqueResearch institute · founded 2012
Laboratoire Culture, Sport, Santé, SociétéResearch institute · founded 2012
Labex ActionResearch institute
Towns and villages around Besançon
Each with its own page: weather, climate and the best time to visit.
La Viotte0.5 kmBattant0.7 kmSaint-Claude1 kmLes Chaprais1.1 kmLes Cras1.4 kmMontrapon1.5 kmLa Bouloie2 kmLes Orchamps2.2 kmBrégille2.5 kmPalente2.5 kmLa Grette2.5 kmLes Clairs Soleils3 kmLes Torcols3 kmSaint-Ferjeux3 kmVelotte3.3 kmValentin3.3 kmÉcole-Valentin3.3 kmLa Malate3.7 kmPirey4.3 kmChalezeule4.5 kmBeure4.8 kmPlanoise5 kmMorre5 kmMontfaucon5 kmMiserey-Salines5.4 kmFontain5.5 kmLa Vèze5.6 kmChalèze5.7 kmArguel5.8 kmChâteaufarine6.2 kmThise6.2 kmChâtillon-le-Duc6.3 kmPouilley-les-Vignes6.3 kmTallenay6.3 kmSerre-les-Sapins6.4 kmAvanne-Aveney6.7 kmFranois7.1 kmAuxon-Dessus7.2 kmAveney7.3 kmPugey7.4 kmGennes7.4 kmChampvans-les-Moulins7.7 kmAuxon-Dessous7.7 kmPelousey7.8 kmLa Belle Étoile7.9 kmSaône8 kmLarnod8.1 kmDevecey8.1 kmArcier8.2 kmRoche-lez-Beaupré8.4 kmChampagney8.5 kmRancenay8.6 kmLes Clairons8.7 kmBraillans8.7 kmGeneuille9.1 kmNovillars9.3 kmChevroz9.5 kmBonnay9.7 kmChemaudin9.8 kmLa Marne9.9 kmMérey-Vieilley9.9 kmChaucenne9.9 kmVaux-les-Prés10 kmBusy10 kmGrandfontaine11 kmVaire-le-Petit11 kmVaire-Arcier11 kmVieilley11 kmNoironte11 kmAudeux11 kmMazerolles-le-Salin11 kmMontferrand-le-Château11 kmMérey-sous-Montrond11 kmLa Chevillotte11 kmLe Gratteris12 kmMoncley12 kmCussey-sur-l'Ognon12 kmMarchaux12 kmAmagney12 kmLes Granges Mathieu12 km
Besançon from above
Around Besançon31 places to see, do and reach nearby
Cascade du Bout du MondeNature4.9 kmButhiersNature11 kmGrotte de la ChèreNature6.0 kmMortheNature21 kmGrotte d'OsselleNature18 kmLinotteNature25 kmCrêt MonniotMountain38 kmMont PoupetMountain32 kmPlateau de CitaMountain39 kmSynagogue of BesançonMonument0.9 kmCitadel of BesançonMonument2.2 kmBesançon CathedralMonument1.9 kmGrenier in BesançonMonument1.0 kmTour de la PelotteMonument0.8 kmFontaine des Carmes, BesançonMonument1.5 kmGrand séminaire de BesançonMonument1.6 kmPorte NoireMonument1.9 kmMusée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de BesançonMuseum1.0 kmMusée de la Résistance et de la déportation de Franche-ComtéMuseum2.2 kmMuséum de BesançonMuseum2.2 kmTime museumMuseum1.6 kmMusée comtoisMuseum2.2 kmBesançon-ViotteStation0.3 kmBesançon-MouillèreStation1.5 kmÉcole-ValentinStation3.4 kmSaint-VitPlace17 kmSaônePlace8.0 kmMiserey-SalinesPlace5.3 kmAvanne-AveneyPlace6.7 kmRiozPlace20 kmFranoisPlace7.0 km
Postal codes
25000
Codes for businesses and P.O. boxes · 83
25001 CEDEX25002 CEDEX25003 CEDEX25004 CEDEX25005 CEDEX25006 CEDEX25007 CEDEX25008 CEDEX25009 CEDEX25010 CEDEX25011 CEDEX25012 CEDEX25013 CEDEX25014 CEDEX25015 CEDEX25016 CEDEX25017 CEDEX25018 CEDEX25019 CEDEX25020 CEDEX25021 CEDEX25022 CEDEX25023 CEDEX 925024 CEDEX25025 CEDEX25026 CEDEX25027 CEDEX25029 CEDEX25030 CEDEX25031 CEDEX25032 CEDEX 925033 CEDEX25034 CEDEX25035 CEDEX25036 CEDEX25037 CEDEX25038 CEDEX25039 CEDEX25040 CEDEX 925041 CEDEX25042 CEDEX25043 CEDEX25044 CEDEX25045 CEDEX25046 CEDEX25047 CEDEX25048 CEDEX25049 CEDEX25050 CEDEX25051 CEDEX25052 CEDEX25054 CEDEX25056 CEDEX25057 CEDEX25058 CEDEX25059 CEDEX25060 CEDEX 925061 CEDEX 925062 CEDEX 925063 CEDEX 925068 CEDEX 925069 CEDEX 925070 CEDEX 925071 CEDEX 925072 CEDEX 925073 CEDEX 925075 CEDEX 925079 CEDEX25080 CEDEX 925082 CEDEX 925083 CEDEX 925084 CEDEX 925085 CEDEX 925086 CEDEX 925087 CEDEX 925089 CEDEX25090 CEDEX 925098 CEDEX25099 CEDEX25909 CEDEX 925931 CEDEX 925932 CEDEX 925933 CEDEX 9
Getting to Besançon
Dole Tavaux AirportDLE
50 kmGeneva International AirportGVA
113 kmBern AirportBRN
118 kmBesançon-ViotteRailway station
0.3 kmBesançon-MouillèreRailway station
1.5 kmÉcole-ValentinRailway station
3.4 kmPlaces near Besançon
Places with a climate like Besançon
Matched month by month on temperature, rain and sunshine.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Besançon?
Based on 30-year climate normals, June, July and September offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and sunshine in Besançon.
What is the hottest month in Besançon?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27°C and lows of 14°C.
What is the coldest month in Besançon?
January is the coldest month, with average highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C.
What is the rainiest month in Besançon?
May is the wettest month with about 126 mm of precipitation on 15 wet days.
What is the postal code of Besançon?
Besançon has 84 postal codes: 25000, 25001 CEDEX, 25002 CEDEX, 25003 CEDEX, 25004 CEDEX, 25005 CEDEX, 25006 CEDEX, 25007 CEDEX, 25008 CEDEX, 25009 CEDEX, 25010 CEDEX, 25011 CEDEX ….