Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Founded in a loop of the Doubs River, the town played an important role during the Roman Empire period under the name of Vesontio. Since 1032 Besançon and the entire County of Burgundy became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Archbishop Hugo von Salins, with imperial support, became ruler of the city, which he led into a period of prosperity. After his death in 1066, however, it falls into a long crisis caused by succession struggles. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the population defied the power of the archbishops and finally gained their municipal independence in 1290. Besançon retained the status of a free city for almost 400 years. The Free Counts of Burgundy, who had gained dominion over Franche-Comté, became the protector of the Free City, which prospered during this period. Louis XI confirmed the town charter in early 1481 and ordered the university to be transferred from Dole to Besançon. With the beginning of the Renaissance, Franche-Comté fell back to the German Empire. Emperor Charles V fortified Besançon and made the city a bulwark for his empire. The Porte Noire is a Roman triumphal arch. It is dated to the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. It is believed that the depictions of war show the victories of his co-emperor Lucius Verus in the Roman–Parthian War of 161–166. Under the Merovingian dynasty, the arch was used as a fortification. Originally brightly colored, the arch was blackened by centuries of fire and has been known by its current name since the 11th century.

Founded in a loop of the Doubs River, the town played an important role during the Roman Empire period under the name of Vesontio. Since 1032 Besançon and the entire County of Burgundy became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Archbishop Hugo von Salins, with imperial support, became ruler of the city, which he led into a period of prosperity. After his death in 1066, however, it falls into a long crisis caused by succession struggles. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the population defied the power of the archbishops and finally gained their municipal independence in 1290. Besançon retained the status of a free city for almost 400 years. The Free Counts of Burgundy, who had gained dominion over Franche-Comté, became the protector of the Free City, which prospered during this period. Louis XI confirmed the town charter in early 1481 and ordered the university to be transferred from Dole to Besançon. With the beginning of the Renaissance, Franche-Comté fell back to the German Empire. Emperor Charles V fortified Besançon and made the city a bulwark for his empire. Behind the Porte Noire in the foreground is the Cathedral of Besancon. It was built between the 11th and 13th centuries, as a basilica with a wide central nave and two narrower aisles. In the 18th century, after a landslide, large parts of the west building, in particular, were renovated.

Founded in a loop of the Doubs River, the town played an important role during the Roman Empire period under the name of Vesontio. Since 1032 Besançon and the entire County of Burgundy became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Archbishop Hugo von Salins, with imperial support, became ruler of the city, which he led into a period of prosperity. After his death in 1066, however, it falls into a long crisis caused by succession struggles. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the population defied the power of the archbishops and finally gained their municipal independence in 1290. Besançon retained the status of a free city for almost 400 years. The Free Counts of Burgundy, who had gained dominion over Franche-Comté, became the protector of the Free City, which prospered during this period. Louis XI confirmed the town charter in early 1481 and ordered the university to be transferred from Dole to Besançon. With the beginning of the Renaissance, Franche-Comté fell back to the German Empire. Emperor Charles V fortified Besançon and made the city a bulwark for his empire. The Cathedral of Besancon was built between the 11th and 13th centuries, as a basilica with a wide central nave and two narrower aisles. In the 18th century, after a landslide, large parts of the west building, in particular, were renovated.

Founded in a loop of the Doubs River, the town played an important role during the Roman Empire period under the name of Vesontio. Since 1032 Besançon and the entire County of Burgundy became part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Archbishop Hugo von Salins, with imperial support, became ruler of the city, which he led into a period of prosperity. After his death in 1066, however, it falls into a long crisis caused by succession struggles. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the population defied the power of the archbishops and finally gained their municipal independence in 1290. Besançon retained the status of a free city for almost 400 years. The Free Counts of Burgundy, who had gained dominion over Franche-Comté, became the protector of the Free City, which prospered during this period. Louis XI confirmed the town charter in early 1481 and ordered the university to be transferred from Dole to Besançon. With the beginning of the Renaissance, Franche-Comté fell back to the German Empire. Emperor Charles V fortified Besançon and made the city a bulwark for his empire. An evening stroll along the Doubs River

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Some of the capitals are Romanesque.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Carved graffiti

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Much of the 15th-century cloister still exists.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. In 1975 Luxeuil had a population of 10.105. In 2019 there were only 6623 inhabitants. Not enough customers for the Papiterie.

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. Originally built on multiple hot springs that fed them, the thermal baths were remodeled mid-18th century when tourism started. Tourism had its peak in the early 20th century.

Auxerre was a Gallo-Roman center, then called Autissiodorum, located on the banks of the Yonne River. It became the seat of a bishop already in the 3rd century. In the 5th century, it received a cathedral. Wine cultivations starting from the twelfth century made Auxerre a flourishing town. Auxerre suffered during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. In 1567 it was captured by the Huguenots, and many of the Catholic edifices were damaged. The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne is actually the 5th on the spot. The erection started in 1215 around the same time when the building of the cathedrals in Reims and Amiens started. The church was erected over a still-existing crypt from the previous building (~ 1030). The choir was completed in 1235. Seen to the right is the Abbaye Saint-Germain. I have been here a couple of times and have uploaded already many photos, so this time I will only add a few.

Auxerre was a Gallo-Roman center, then called Autissiodorum, located on the banks of the Yonne River. It became the seat of a bishop already in the 3rd century. In the 5th century, it received a cathedral. Wine cultivations starting from the twelfth century made Auxerre a flourishing town. Auxerre suffered during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. In 1567 it was captured by the Huguenots, and many of the Catholic edifices were damaged. Tour de l’Horloge The original tower was part of a Gallo-Roman fortification and has been restored, enlarged and raised many times over the centuries. Based on this tower, a city gate was built in 1483, which also housed a prison. In the 17th century rich citizens donated the tower clock, which was installed above the city gate and whose clockwork is located in the former prison

The Romans probably already had simple takeaways here. Di Napoli has it all - in the middle of the night

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. The apartments use the wall of the former nave. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed up to the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here a couple of times and have already uploaded many photos, so by now I will only add a few