mahemick

Hi all. Planning another driving trip to Europe. Heading through France to the Black Forest, Luxemburg and Belgium.
I am torn between 2 nights in nancy or besancon, neither of which we have visited before. Anyone who has been to both have any preference if you could only do one ? If so why ?
tia
mick

bilboburgler

If you like a good fortress the Besançon is the place to go. Otherwise Nancy or Metz

mahemick

Thank you bilboburgler. We went to Metz last year. So 1 vote for besancon then 😀

swandav2000

Hi mahemick,

A Fodorite was in Besançon in June, and her trip report was fantastic. Lovely town, with plenty of nearby excursions by easy train trips. See the photos here --

A taste of France (and a return to Switzerland)

I maybe might base in Dijon, but either one would be great.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Michael

If you like art nouveau, Nancy

mahemick

Thanks folks. Leaning towards besancon I think. Lovely pics on that link swandav !
art nouveau not really my thing …

WeisserTee

I took my husband to Besancon for a surprise birthday trip and we both really enjoyed it, definitely more to it than just the citadel. We've been to Nancy as well -- it has one of the loveliest squares in Europe (esp just before nightfall) and is perfect for Art Nouveau fans. Besancon is less well known and has fewer tourists, notably fewer tourists from North America. We stayed here and give it two thumbs up: https://www.lesauvage-besancon.fr/

kimharp

I've been to both towns. I would say Nancy is definitely a bit more high end and Parisian in terms of shops, cafes etc., whereas Bensancon is more local feeling with some great French-country style restaurants. Both charming in their own ways. All that being said have you considered Dole? It's much smaller than either, but a beautiful little village. We loved the restaurant Le Gustalin in Dole. In Bancancon we loved the restaurant Le Poker d'As.

mahemick

Thank you all. Besancon this year and nancy probably next year on our next driveathon !
kimharp thank you for the restaurant recommendations - always welcome !

kerouac

I like both cities but all I can offer are old reports of my visits there.

Place Stanislas in Nancy - by kerouac2 | Any Port in a Storm (proboards.com)
Art nouveau homes of Nancy - by Kerouac2 | Any Port in a Storm (proboards.com)

Besançon (by kerouac2) | Any Port in a Storm (proboards.com)

refuge

Hi, we are Americans, living in France and have visited both cities, we found Nancy interesting, beautiful inner city place, , great museum with quite unknown naturalist painters, interesting history ( king Stanislaus, “ adopted from Poland” with a fantastique restaurant “ table de roi Stanislaus” (or so), but you need to reserve.
the atmosphere is just so relaxing. Besancon is interesting, but not so easy to conquer like Nancy, but close by Dole is small, historic, nicely situated at a river.
what a pity that you do not have the time to discover France profund, le puy en Velay etc. have fun G.H.