Besançon Courthouse

On your right is the seat of municipal authority in Besançon. Now, look to your left, and you’ll spot the city’s stunning courthouse, the Palais de Justice. Built in 1585 by a local architect, the building stands out with its elegant Renaissance style. Its main façade, decorated with statues of Justice and Strength, has been listed as a historic monument since 1911. One of the rooms inside is believed to have hosted the fictional trial of Julien Sorel. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, know that he’s the protagonist of The Red and the Black, a classic of French literature written by Henri Beyle, better known by his pen name, Stendhal.