~The Citadel~ pt. 1
The day we went to the Citadel (http://www.citadelle.com) was slightly chilly and cloudy- we had our winter coats on but were anxious to see the famous fort at the top of the hill that lit up the city at night with its blazing lights. It was a beautiful, breathtaking view from below- the mossy walls constructed under Vauban left us with countless questions about this ancient-feeling fort and its history.
We met up at the Hotel du Nord that morning, waiting on the cobblestone road for everyone to craw out of bed. We started the trek up the hill that first took us to the Cathedrale St. Jean, one of the older cathedrals that overlook the city. Dr. Running-Johnson took us inside the church, which was mostly empty (except for one man who seemed to be “un peu fou/a little crazy”- shouting things about God and muttering under his breath. This echoed throughout the walls of the cathedral and gave us a bit of a chill during out short visit). I made a silent vow to try and visit during one of the Sunday masses so I could experience at least one mass in French during my stay.


From there, it was about a 15-minute hike up some numerous steps, who didn’t care in the least how in shape we were. A few of us took them at a run (just to get it over with). At the top, we ended up just outside the fort but were captivated by its size. Walking around the outer gate, you could look down and see rams nesting or walking around. Once we went through and bought our tickets, we headed first for the zoo, or “Jardin Zoologique”. We took pictures immediately upon seeing the Asian lions, the Siberian tigers, and the numerous kinds of birds and apes. All in all, there were about 300 animals in the zoo. We got very close to come curious llamas who trotted around behind their fence, and had an amazing view behind the glass while watching the lionesses pace their territory.

Walking to almost any edge of the fort gives a breathtaking view of the city below. The citadel provided countless spots where one could simply sit and gaze across the land for hours on end. Some of the famous photos of Besancon were taken from atop this fort, a few of which we found in the calendars in our host families’ homes. The fresh air is priceless up atop the peak of the city, and it makes the cost of the ticket in completely worth every penny.