The prefecture of Haute-Saône, Vesoul began to develop in Roman times on La Motte hill. It eventually became a major industrial area, as home to the world parts centre of the car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën.
The town was immortalised in 1968 by Jacques Brel with his song "Vesoul". A French language song festival pays tribute to him every year in October.
Vesoul boasts a beautiful medieval historic centre, built with beige and blue-grey stones from the neighbouring quarries.
Exploring it on foot is the best way to immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of a town built to a human scale. The pretty streets of La Motte hill invite you to discover their elegant façades, peaceful back courts and wine cellars.
Around the Church of St. George, built in the 18th century, there are many old houses from the 16th to 18th centuries. Sight to see: the English garden, a listed Remarkable Garden with its rose garden and themed flower beds, on the banks of the river.
On top of the hill is an oratory, the Chapel of Our Lady of La Motte, built on the former site of a castle and offering a magnificent view of the town. Another nice viewpoint: Le Sabot Nature Reserve, created in 1981, where walkers can see many plant species along a 2-kilometre trail.
3 km from the town centre, Lake Vesoul-Vaivre has a surface area of 90 hectares. This is a nice place for a walk (its circumference of 5 kilometres makes it easily accessible to families for a gentle ramble), water sports in summer, and bird-watching with its ornithological reserve.
