Le Petit Chalet d'Amber

On the edge of the Jura massif, Besançon occupies a meander of the Doubs of nearly a kilometer in diameter, "the loop" Surrounded by its seven hills, historical cradle of watchmaking and city of Art and History, it houses a thousand historical treasures.

The small cottage of Amber, located in town less than half an hour’s walk from the centre, in its small pedestrian street of residential neighborhood, is perfect to set out to discover the county capital. You will be welcomed “like at home” by Amber, in her “little cottage”.

A short walk from the EuroVéloroute No. 6, you can stop there for a night, but it is difficult not to devote at least one day to visiting the city and the outskirts of the Doubs, on foot or by bike.

Breakfast is prepared by Amber.

For meals restaurants, near the house or in the city center ....

A secure premises is provided for bikes and equipment with a small need for repair

Washing machine on request, 5 euros

Documentation and hiking circuit available.

With 200 protected historic monuments, Besançon is the second largest protected area in France.

A historic city with more than 2,000 years of history, Besançon is known for its Vauban fortifications, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for its watchmaking know-how, which is also listed as an intangible heritage. Besançon is built in an exceptional natural environment, an almost perfect loop of the Doubs River into which the hills around the old town plunge.

With 6 museums in France, Besançon offers plenty to feed the mind, escape, discover and contemplate the beautiful, the rare and the precious.

Besançon has been a City of Art and History since 1986 and invites you to discover or rediscover its heritage. Various events are organized throughout the year. Our guides are ready to make you discover the city and its heritage in a new way!

The center was the birthplace of Victor Hugo, Proudhon, Nodier, Fourier and the Lumière brothers, the inventors of cinema. But you will also see that many streets bear the names of illustrious people from Franche-Comté, such as Pasteur, Cuvier and Courbet, all of whom contributed. 

In terms of leisure activities, there are more than 50 local, national and even international sporting events that liven up life in the city. The performing arts are also well represented, with venues such as La Rodia, theaters and Micropolis offering a wide range of concerts and shows. But entertainment is everywhere, and numerous music festivals and events complete the seasons.

An exceptional natural environment!

The surrounding unspoilt countryside is an ideal place to explore and enjoy a wide range of sports and leisure activities.

From the viewpoints of the fortresses and belvederes, including the Citadelle, along the Eurovélo6 or the Via Francigena, two of the most important European routes, a whole range of places, villages and landscapes are waiting to be explored. Whether you're into micro-adventures, slow tourism or history, this is the destination to tick off your to-do list!

Vesontio, the ancient Gallo-Roman city, has preserved the traces of every era in its long history. From its archaeological remains to its more contemporary past as a watchmaking capital, the city has always moved with the times. Today it is an advanced industrial and technological center. Numerous companies rely on Comté's know-how in the fields of innovative biomedical engineering, microtechnology and, of course, watchmaking...

Outside the city, Franche-Comté is rich in extraordinary places and hundreds of remarkable monuments and sights such as le musée comtoises in Nancray, La saline royale in Arc et Senans, Louis Pasteur museum in Arbois with the Arbois wine cellars in the village, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur in Dole.

Lovers of vastness, lakes and rivers can indulge in the contrasting landscapes that stretch from the Jura Mountains to the Vosges. The Alps are not that far away, as it is possible to catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc near Switzerland. This incredible spectacle takes place on Mont d'Or, a mountain peak in the Haut-Doubs that gave its name to a cheese known far beyond our borders! And yes, our province is also gastronomic. Delicious and surprising local specialties are offered.

The Jura Mountains are 2h30 from Paris and 1 hour from Lyon. Calculate your travel time to the Jura to fully enjoy the enchanting landscape and the tranquility of unspoilt nature, ideal for relaxing or exercising.