Quai Vauban

If you want to get closer to the banks of the Doubs, there’s no better place than the Quai Vauban. Vauban is also the name of the legendary military architect who transformed France’s defences, but funnily enough, this spot isn’t one of his masterpieces. Well... technically, it could have been. Vauban had grand plans to extend the city walls with a full set of fortifications here, but the project was dropped due to budget constraints. What ended up being built in the 17th century was something very different: a row of elegant stone buildings with arcades, definitely not the fortress he had in mind. Ironically, the final design and construction were carried out by one of Vauban’s own apprentices. Talk about the student becoming the master! These days, the Quai Vauban is part of the city’s protected heritage zone. It’s officially listed as a historic monument and included in the designation “Old Centre of Besançon and its surroundings.” With credentials like that, it definitely deserves a quick photo, don’t you think?