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By KBWEi wikimedia

Top 10 Things to do in Belfort

Belfort is the smallest department in France that was created in 1922. It is located in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, close to the French-Swiss border. Burgundy is a passage between the Alsace plain and Rhone Valley.

Belfort town is surrounded by beautiful hills making it a perfect spot for hiking, bike riding, golfing, water sports and it also has medieval architecture to admire and visit.

The most notable feature in Belfort is the Citadel; a fortified defensive wall built overlooking the town from a rocky cape. These walls are a must-see while at Belfort, there are historic museums that tell the rich history of the town.

Let’s explore some 10 things that you can do while visiting Belfort.

1. Explore the Belfort Citadel

Par Thomas Bresson — wikimedia

This town has been fortified since the medieval castle was built in 1226. It withstood seven sieges and got revamped between 1637 and 1648 by the Comte de la Suze.

Vauban later added horn works and a barracks to the castle surrounded the city in a new wall that successfully resisted another siege in 1815.

This fort was built and expanded in stages from the medieval times and eventually supported 100 artillery pieces. It was the command post for the Belfort until 1940.

You will definitely enjoy beautiful views from the top, wear comfortable shoes and be ready for a climb.

2. The Lion of Belfort at the Citadel

By Thomas Bresson – wikimedia

This gigantic sculpture was built by the same man who designed the Statue of Liberty, . The lion is at the foot of the citadel and is a symbol of the French resistance against the Prussian forces, it was completed in 1880.

It is interesting to note that the blocks that make up the Lion were sculpted individually and later moved to the castle where they were assembled. It is 22 meters long and is 11 meters in height.

This massive sculpture was initially intended to face the Prussian direction to the East, but it was turned to the west after the German protests.

This sculpture is worth seeing while at The Citadel.

3. Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot

By Arnaud 25 -wikimedia

The Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot is a historical museum solely dedicated to the Peugeot vehicle manufacture. It was founded by two Peugeot brothers. The first Peugeot vehicle was released in 1891.

There are a variety of products manufactured by Peugeot at the museum; bike, motorcycle, coffee machine, grinder, washing machine and a lot of stuff.

There is also a bar at the museum to catch a drink.

4. Pond of The Forges (Etang des Forges)

Nature lover or just looking for some quiet place to spend your day, the pond of the forges is the place to go.

It is on 34 hectares of land that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was first created to cater to water shortages and later operated as a forge. The pond is a few minutes from the heart of Belfort, at the foot of the Miotte tower.

As you cycle or walk along the nature trail, you will spot information on the plants and animals available in the forge. A hidden gem in the forge is a natural reserve for bird watching that has over 150 species.

5; 18th-century Belfort Christophe Cathedral

By Taxiarchos228 wikimedia

The building was constructed as a church between 1727 and 1750 by the businessman Henri Schuller, the architectural plans were done by Jacques Philippe Mareschal, king’s engineer at Strasbourg.

It is built of red sandstone dug up from the quarry at Offemont, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from Belfort.

Inside the cathedral, you will see its extraordinary 18th-century organ built by Joseph Valtrin, it was installed in 1752 and is considered a historic monument in its own right. There is also a sculpture by Antoine Cupillard and paintings by Gustave Dauphin.

6; Tour of Belfort Museum of Fine Arts

This museum showcases the artwork of upcoming artists in Belfort. There are beautiful fine art pieces by different artists in canvas, paper and on other surfaces. Musée des Beaux-arts remains true to its fine art values of contemporary works.

The art pieces tell the history and tradition of Belfort. It has over 130 pieces of sculptures, paintings and engravings that have been arranged in themes such as religion inpos, landscapes, and portraits etcetera.

There is a monographic room dedicated to , an artist who made a generous donation to the City of Belfort.

7. Musée d’Art Moderne

The museum opened its doors to the public in 1999 and has since become a favorite of modern art enthusiasts that make discoveries of the most beautiful works by artists who marked the first half of the 20th century.

This modern art museum in Belfort is dedicated to a collection of artworks from Maurice Jardot.  There are 150 pieces of painting, sculpture and drawing of his personal collection donated by the artist in 1997.

The museum is also host to art pieces by Braque, Laurens, Le Corbusier, Léger, and Picasso.

8. Porte de Brisach

After the conquest of Belfort, Vauban undertook work to reinforce the Belfort city. He built it between 1687 and 1703. Porte de Brisach was designed as a gate leading from the fortifications to enter the Old Town.

Its enclosure was further reinforced with two doors: the door of France, destroyed in 1892, and the gate of Brisach, still in its original state.

The large columned pediment of Porte de Brisach a large pediment wields its fleur-de-lys coat of arms with a sun above it and Louis XIV’s famous motto Nec pluribus impar  (Not unequal to many).

9. Belfort Musée d’Histoire

This museum built by General Haxo in 1826, is located in the old barracks at the Belfort Citadel. Once up there, one can get a clear panorama of the town.

The museum exhibits military wares and architecture that tells of Belfort’s preparedness and armory during the war. It also hosts a military collection by textile industrialist Pierre Boigeol who donated over 800 military objects.

There are pieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century such as weapons, costumes and souvenirs all linked to the defense of Belfort in 1870 when Bartholdi’s Monumental Lion was built.

10. Place de A’rmes

This is a popular spot for a winding session after a day spent touring Belfort. It has nice restaurants and bars where you can enjoy delicious French cuisine and wash it down with a drink.

It is also an excellent spot for grocery shopping. There is a flea market every first Sunday of the month when you can get yourself some antique pieces and gift items.  Stroll around and let your eyes feast on the beautiful items Belfort has to offer.