Eastern France Tour Accommodation: Hôtel Le Sauvage, Besancon

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The Hotel Le Sauvage is a 24-room boutique hotel located in the former religious quarter of Besançon’s historic city center. Nestled at the foot of the hill crowned by the Citadel, the hotel is just a few minutes walk from the fortress's complex of museums, and the shopping district with its many boutiques, restaurants, cafés and pubs. It is also just a short taxi ride away from the train station.

The hotel was created out of a former convent and chapel.  The owners, Philippe and Véronique, infused the spaces with an understated elegance and refinement.  Philippe is a former antiques dealer, and the couple applied their sophisticated taste and his expertise to redecorating the premises by using stylish antiques in an exquisite and unpretentious manner.  The renovation respects the simplicity and minimalism in which the building was conceived while adding elegance and charm.  The reception area, dining-room, lounges and bar are adorned with handsome wood panels, paintings and statues that are reminiscent of the French classical style.  The owners also playfully selected several artworks which give a delightfully mischievous wink at the pious past of the building.

At Le Sauvage, the comfort and indulgence expected of a “hôtel de charme” has been respectfully integrated into the serenity of the former convent, while celebrating the grandeur of its scale, vaulted ceilings, and large sunlit windows.  The French label “hôtel de charme” is awarded to distinctive small, independently owned establishments in historic buildings with traditional decoration, local food and personable service.

In addition to the beauty of the building and its decoration, guests enjoy views over the red-tiled rooftops of the city and the Doubs river valley, from the comfort of the private rooms and from the spacious terrace that overhangs the garden.  The hotel possesses the largest private gardens in the historic district, ensuring that guests enjoy a heaven of peace and quiet right in the heart of the city.

The hotel offers a typical French breakfast including fresh squeezed orange juice, fruit salad and several kinds of breads and croissants that are made fresh every morning by the most popular neighborhood baker and delivered to the hotel to be served to the guests.

NOTE: The Google ground images were probably made in 2009 or 2010 when the hotel was still under renovation.