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Belfort

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Territoire de Belfort

Belfort - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Territoire de Belfort
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The capital of the Territory of Belfort, the smallest department of France created in 1922, the city is located in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, in the Belfort Gap. The latter is a plateau connecting the Vosges and the Jura, but is also an easy passage between the Alsace plain and the Rhone Valley. Surrounded by hills, Belfort enjoys a natural environment that is ideal for outdoor activities: hiking, cycle tourism, water sports, golf, etc.

Yet the city has above all been shaped by its history and in particular by its resistance to Prussia and annexation by Germany, starting in 1870. From its past as a strategic and defensive city, Belfort has kept its reputedly impenetrable citadel and its ramparts, designed by Vauban in the 17th century.

From the fortifications, you can enter the citadel or head to the old town via the Brisach Gate, which has symbols of royalty, fleur-de-lys and King Louis XIV's motto on top of it. At the foot of the citadel, the famous Lion of Belfort, carved from pink sandstone by Auguste Bartholdi between 1875 and 1879, is a monument measuring 22 metres in length and 11 metres in height. It has a lookalike statue on Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris and seems to be guarding the city.

Sights to see include the La Miotte Tower in the Belfort Heights, once part of a medieval castle and offering a beautiful view of the city and the Vosges; the Cathedral of St. Christopher, an imposing monument built from pink sandstone in the 18th century; the pretty Place de la Grande Fontaine; and the Museum of Fine Arts, based in an old fortified tower. There are pretty town squares with cafés all around the city.

Belfort also hosts a major festival, Les Eurockéennes, in early July at a site by Lake Malsaucy, 6 kilometres from the city. It puts on an average of 75 concerts each year, in a wide range of musical styles: rock, electro, metal, reggae, pop, folk and more.

Les Entrevues de Belfort, a festival that supports young, independent filmmakers, takes place at the end of the year.

Additional information
Belfort

A turbulent history will rise Territory Belfort the signing of the Frankfurt treaty after the war of 1870. Alsace and Lorraine became French once again in 1918, but the Territory Belfort does not join the Rhine and officially became the 90th french department in 1922, reporting from the Franche-Comte.

Territory Belfort, located between the Vosges and Jura, near the Alsace, Switzerland and Germany, that is:

A rich heritage of the city of Belfort: the Lion, its citadel, its old town, its audio-guided tour in the heart of the fortifications, fortified his belt...

Exceptional natural sites: the massif of the Ballon d'Alsace, the natural site Malsaucy....

Gastronomy mixing culinary traditions Franc Comtois and Alsatian.

Unforgettable events and international reputation: Eurockéennes Belfort of the International University Music Festival (FIMU)...

Things to see and do

Belfort visit and discover:

The citadel guarded by the famous Lion overlooking the old town of Belfort to typical and picturesque streets.

The Grand underground, self-guided trail in the heart of the fortress. Discover the history Belfort!

Museums open all year: Museum of History, Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Modern Art.

The door of Breisach, the only preserved gate of the fortifications.

St. Christopher's Cathedral whose organs are classified historic monument.

The tower of the Miotte, symbolic monument of Belfort whose origin remains uncertain.

Its many parks and gardens (Belfort is ranked 4 flowers to the National Council of Cities and Villages in bloom): the rose garden, the square Lechten, the François Mitterrand park, the square of remembrance...

Its tourist train that takes you into the old town of Belfort and drive you to the citadel of Belfort.

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Eurockéennes of Belfort: the first weekend in July. outdoor rock festival where music is in full swing for three days on the Malsaucy site.

The International University Music Festival: Whit weekend. 3 days of music, 250 free concerts and nearly 2 500 musicians from around the world in the heart of the old town of Belfort.

The Flea Market Belfort: little paradise for bargain hunters: the biggest flea market in eastern France, the first Sunday of each month from March to December in the heart of the old town.

The Film Festival Interviews: late November - early December. Created in 1986 by Janine Bazin, the festival is the rendezvous bold cinematography combines a program of works that have shaped the history of cinema, a competition first, second and third films in writing this.

Histoires & Déboires d'eau
Nomades
Saltarines
La Pointe du Compas
Pièce de Théâtre : Des Unes et des Autres
LES NUITS Avec Club Platinium
La Promesse Brel
Les 10 km de Belfort
L’Addition
Nostromo + Proudhon

Photos

View from the castle terrace (© Jean Espirat)
View from the castle terrace (© Jean Espirat)
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fountain in a park in the Old Town (© JE)
fountain in a park in the Old Town (© JE)
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Tower of Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
Tower of Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
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Square fountain (© JE)
Square fountain (© JE)
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Lion and The citadel (© JE)
Lion and The citadel (© JE)
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Panorama from the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
Panorama from the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
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Belfort seen Salbert
Belfort seen Salbert
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Place of the big fountain (© JE)
Place of the big fountain (© JE)
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Belfort given the Miotte
Belfort given the Miotte
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Etang des Forges
Etang des Forges
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Belfort seen Perches
Belfort seen Perches
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Fontaine dogs - old town (© JE)
Fontaine dogs - old town (© JE)
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Fontaine dogs (© JE)
Fontaine dogs (© JE)
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The large fountain - old town (© JE)
The large fountain - old town (© JE)
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The large fountain (© JE)
The large fountain (© JE)
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The small fountain - old town (© JE)
The small fountain - old town (© JE)
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station (© JE)
station (© JE)
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the city view from the terrace of the castle (© Jean Espirat)
the city view from the terrace of the castle (© Jean Espirat)
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the door of Breisach - One of the ancient entrances to the city (© JE)
the door of Breisach - One of the ancient entrances to the city (© JE)
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the front door of Breisach (© JE)
the front door of Breisach (© JE)
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Porte de Brisach (© JE)
Porte de Brisach (© JE)
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Tower Miotte (© JE)
Tower Miotte (© JE)
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Etang des Forges, given the Miotte (© JE)
Etang des Forges, given the Miotte (© JE)
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St. Christopher Cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
St. Christopher Cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
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the bandstand in front of city Hall (© JE)
the bandstand in front of city Hall (© JE)
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the bandstand, city Hall and the citadel (© JE)
the bandstand, city Hall and the citadel (© JE)
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a really good regional brand (© Jean Espirat)
a really good regional brand (© Jean Espirat)
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Statue of a bishop's Wall (© Jean Espirat)
Statue of a bishop's Wall (© Jean Espirat)
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Statue on the wall of bishopric (© Jean Espirat)
Statue on the wall of bishopric (© Jean Espirat)
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A Belfort, lions fly (© Jean Espirat)
A Belfort, lions fly (© Jean Espirat)
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Front-door Brisach, view North wall (© JE)
Front-door Brisach, view North wall (© JE)
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Front-door Brisach, from the rampart (© Jean Espirat)
Front-door Brisach, from the rampart (© Jean Espirat)
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another view of the door of Brisach (© Jean Espirat)
another view of the door of Brisach (© Jean Espirat)
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South facade of the citadel of Belfort (© JE)
South facade of the citadel of Belfort (© JE)
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the old town, view of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
the old town, view of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
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South gate of the citadel of Belfort (© Jean Espirat)
South gate of the citadel of Belfort (© Jean Espirat)
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Tunnel access to the courtyard, and gazebo (© JE)
Tunnel access to the courtyard, and gazebo (© JE)
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barracks West Corridor and stairs (© JE)
barracks West Corridor and stairs (© JE)
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Char who participated in the liberation Belfort (© JE)
Char who participated in the liberation Belfort (© JE)
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Borne emblazoned in a park of old town (© JE)
Borne emblazoned in a park of old town (© JE)
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the Tasty along the square Remembrance (© Jean Espirat)
the Tasty along the square Remembrance (© Jean Espirat)
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the Tasty through the city of Belfort (© JE)
the Tasty through the city of Belfort (© JE)
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courtyard of the castle Belfort (© Jean Espirat)
courtyard of the castle Belfort (© Jean Espirat)
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Portal entry into the peak of the Miotte (© JE)
Portal entry into the peak of the Miotte (© JE)
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Wall and defensive ditch south of fort Miotte (© JE)
Wall and defensive ditch south of fort Miotte (© JE)
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Belfort and Castle viewed from the Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
Belfort and Castle viewed from the Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
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Belfort the Salbert and pond seen from the Miotte Forges (© Jean Espirat)
Belfort the Salbert and pond seen from the Miotte Forges (© Jean Espirat)
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Tower Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
Tower Miotte (© Jean Espirat)
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Monument of the Three Seats (© Jean Espirat)
Monument of the Three Seats (© Jean Espirat)
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Territory Belfort is:

Hiking with 660 km of marked trails, two hiking trails large: the GR5 and GR7.

The hike forts to discover the fortified belt Belfort.

Many cycling routes.

Bike routes whose Eurovélo6 which crosses the department and Francovélo Belfort which connects to Switzerland.

Two nautical bases: leisure boating and Malsaucy, home to the House Environment and Water base of the pond Forges.

Two acrobranches, paragliding, golf, hot air balloon rides.

Many museums: Gantner museum Lachapelle-sous-Chaux, agricultural Botans museum, museum of crafts and traditions Brebotte, hydraulic mill Courtelevant Museum Frédéric Japy to Beaucourt Étueffont the forge museum.

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

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