Hôtel de Sorans, Private mansion in Besançon, France
The Hôtel de Sorans is a private mansion in Besançon built with three parallel wings that frame two courtyards. The main building has a vaulted basement and two upper floors that together form the typical layout of a noble residence.
The building was constructed in 1737 by Jean-Pierre Galezot for Antoine-François de Rosières, Marquis of Sorans, replacing an earlier mansion on the same site. It gained protection as a historical monument in 1994.
The entrance gate and street-facing windows display carved stone ornaments and relief work that show what 18th-century nobles valued in their homes. These decorations give the courtyard a refined appearance and demonstrate the craftsmanship of the period.
The mansion is located on Rue Ernest Renan in the La Boucle district and is easy to find within Besançon's city center. You can admire its architecture and decoration from the street, though it remains a private property.
The property was originally connected to a private garden across the street through a specially designed gate. This gate was removed in 1783, but its former presence shows how much larger and more connected the original estate once was.
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