Parc Micaud, Public park in Besançon, France

Parc Micaud is a public garden on the Doubs in Besançon, laid out in 1843 by architect Alphonse Delacroix on former marshland and a branch of the river. Its three hectares hold about 400 trees, among them large-flowered magnolias, cut-leaved beeches, tulip trees, paulownias and sophoras, plus a 19th-century music kiosk, basins, a cascade and a carousel.

Jean-Agathe Micaud, mayor of Besançon, created this garden in 1843 by transforming marshland into usable space. The project brought a green area to the city that had previously been unfit for use.

The 19th-century music kiosk stands at the center of the park and remains a venue for concerts and neighborhood gatherings. People come here regularly throughout the year to experience live performances and community events.

You can reach the park from the city center through several entrances with good walking connections. The different pathways are well suited for walks and outdoor recreation.

Since 2009, a single pedestrian and cycle underpass beneath Avenue Édouard Droz has linked the park to the newer Île aux Moineaux district. Before it opened, crossing that avenue meant navigating traffic; the passage now lets walkers and cyclists move between the riverside park and the neighbourhood without leaving a car-free route.