Vesoul

Vesoul is a town of 15,000 people (2019) in Franche-Comté, France. Vesoul is main urban centre of the Haute-Saône department.

Understand

City hall

Built on top of the hill of La Motte in the first millennium under the name of Castrum Vesulium, the city gradually evolved into a European commercial and economic center. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city experienced a challenging period beset with plagues, epidemics, and localized conflict.

Get in

The town of Vesoul is located at the intersection of national roads N19 and N57.

By train

• 1 Gare de Vesoul. Vesoul station is on the SNCF Paris–Mulhouse railway line, and has connections with Paris, Belfort, Mulhouse and Chaumont. Vesoul can be reached by a direct train line from Paris-Est railway station (Intercites), a journey which takes between 3.5 and 4 hours. It is also possible to take a TGV train with a changeover in Besançon. (updated Feb 2018)

By bus

Busees arrive from Besançon (48 km), Epinal in the Vosges (82 km), Luxeuil-les-Bains (30 km), Belfort (64 km) and Dijon (105 km).

See

• Old Vesoul — buildings from the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. Guided tours are available from June 15 to September 15 every Tuesday and Thursday at 16:00 for individuals (all year round for groups).
• 1 Saint Georges Church. 18th century.  
• 2 Musée Georges-Garret, 1 rue des Ursulines, ☏ +33 3 84 76 51 54. W F-Su 14:00-18:00. Museum of Fine Arts and Archeology in the Ursulines convent (17th century) with a superb collection of academic art. (updated Feb 2023)
• 3 La Motte hill. A place of pilgrimage with the "stations of the cross" leading up to a chapel (1854) and a magnificent 360° view over the plain at 371 m above sea level.  
• The Cita plateau at Navenne and Echenoz, south of the town on the D78
• Birthplace of the French painter and sculptor Jean-Léon Gérôme, at number 9 rue d'Alsace-Lorraine.

Do

• 1 Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (Festival international des cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul), Cinéma Majestic, 16 Rue du Dr Noël Courvoisier. Late Feb to early March. In 2023, the festival screened 85 films from 31 countries over 8 days. Single ticket €7.50 (under 30 €30), 5-ticket pass €30. (updated Feb 2023)
• La réserve naturelle nationale du Sabot de Frotey
• The lake of Vesoul Vaivre (95 ha) also offers a beautiful walk on its banks.
• Saint Catherine's Day on November 25

Buy

Flea market every 3rd Sunday of the month.