Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums
Whether you are looking to explore historic towns and cities or dramatic mountain ranges, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central eastern France will not disappoint. The diversity found in the region’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, from Neolithic pile dwelling houses to Le Corbusier’s modern chapel, is just the tip of the region’s heritage iceberg. With its historic vineyards and wineries and iconic dishes, this super region of France is just as well known around the world for its gastronomy as it is for its cultural and historic heritage.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is one of 13 regions of metropolitan France. The region was created in 2016 with the amalgamation of the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions. The new region is made up of eight administrative departments: Côte-d’Or, Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Territoire de Belfort and Yonne. Switzerland is to the east of the region, the French region Grand Est to the north, Île-de-France to the northwest, Centre-Val de la Loire to the east and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to the south. Some of the largest and more popular cities include: Dijon, Besançon, Belfort and Sens.
This page, with details about the heritage sites and museums of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France, is part of our France Travel Guide. The information on this page is curated by various members of the Archaeology Travel team, based on both personal visits and research.
Regional Guides to Sites & Museums in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Burgundy
During the Medieval period the city of Dijon was a European centre of arts and science, and still today has numerous museums. The departments in Burgundy are: Côte-d’Or, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne.
Doubs
Named after the Doubs River, this department is at the heart of the Jura Mountains. A destination well known by nature lovers, throughout the year, Doubs is also rich in history and culture. From the birthplace in Ornans of the realist painter Gustave Courbet, to the birthplace of the Peugeot in Sochaux. Explore UNESCO listed sites such as the Citadel of Besançon or the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans, and picturesque historic towns, including Besançon and Pontarlier.
Jura
Appropriately named after the mountain range, Jura is one of the original departments of France created after the French Revolution. With people having settled here since the Stone Age; there is much to explore. Some of the caves are not just geological wonders, they also preserve artefacts left by Palaeolithic hunters and gatherers. Evidence of later Neolithic settlements have been fund on the shores of the glacial lakes, one of two UNESCO listed heritage sites here. The other being the historical saltworks at Salins-les-Bains.
Thematic Guides to Sites & Museums in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
