BESANCON, the Visontio of the ancients, a city of France, and capital of the department of the Doubs, is a beautiful town, embosomcd in mountains, and situated on the river Doubs, which divides it in to two towns ; the upper and the lower, which are connected by a handsome bridge. The citadel, which is very strong by nature, is built on a sharp rock, and commands the city. The town has six gates, and is defended by a wall, flanked with eight towers. The lower town consists of three long and beautiful streets, the houses of which are built with freestone, and roof ed with slates. The metropolitan church, the found ling hospital, the town house, and the governor's pa lace, are the modern buildings most deserving ofnotice. The remains of Roman architecture are still visible near the church of Notre Dame, where there are vestiges of a triumphal arch, erected by the emperor Aurelian in the year 274. The garden of the palace of Granville, is a favourite place of resort for the in
.habitants; and the promenade of Chammars is much - frequented. The school of artillery has been long celebrated, and the town possesses a manufactory for swords and fire-arms, and a large establishment for the manufacture of clocks. The environs of Besan con are highly picturesque. The mountain of Chau dane is richly covered with coppice wood. At a small .distance from the town are warm baths, which are well frequented. At Ornans, about three leagues from Besancon, there is a well which sometimes in undates the fields, and throws up a kind of fish umbras. The famous grotto of Aussel, which con tains the most beautiful crystallizations, is about five leagues from the town. According to the Bureau des Cadastres, the population of Besancon is 21,372. Chantreaux makes it 30,000. East Long. 6° 2' 40", North Lat. 47° 13' 45". See Mem. Acad. Par. 1712, 1726, and DOUBS. (Q)