Places to be in Besançon
The student neighbourhoods, the libraries to study in, where to go out in the evening, and how to live well on a budget.
Updated 2026-06-20
Knowing where to go makes a new city yours. Here are the student neighbourhoods of Besançon, the best places to study for free, where people go out, and how to eat without breaking the budget.
Student neighbourhoods
Where students tend to live and hang out in Besançon:
- La Boucle - Centre historique dans la boucle du Doubs, secteur piétonnier et patrimoine UNESCO.
- Battant - Ancien quartier des vignerons, bars et caves voûtées, vie nocturne.
- Près-de-Vaux - Ancien site industriel au pied de la Citadelle, lieux culturels dont La Rodia.
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Besançon:
- Bibliothèques de l'Université Marie et Louis Pasteur - Dont le Learning Centre Claude Oytana à Besançon.
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- La Rodia - Pôle des musiques actuelles (SMAC), deux salles et terrasse.
Eating well on a budget
CROUS university restaurants serve full meals at a subsidised student price (around 3.30 EUR, about 1 EUR for scholarship holders). Find every site and the menus on the official CROUS map.
Common questions
Where should an international student live in Besançon?
Look first at CROUS residences (cheapest, apply early) and the student neighbourhoods listed above. Use Visale (a free state-backed guarantor) if a landlord asks for a guarantor and your family is abroad. See our guide on living in France for the full housing route.
Where can I study for free in Besançon?
University libraries (BU) and the municipal libraries listed above are free and have long opening hours, especially in exam season. They are also a good place to meet other students.
Sources
- Sortir à Besançon · 2026-06-20
- ESN Besançonofficial · 2026-06-20
- Fête de la Musiqueofficial · 2026-06-20
- Festival Detonation · 2026-06-20
- La Rodia · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèques de l'Université Marie et Louis Pasteur · 2026-06-20
- Ginko - réseau en soirée · 2026-06-20
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