Occupied since Roman times, with evidence of a Neolithic settlement before that, the modern-day town of Lons Le Saunier is located in the eastern part of the Franche Comte region of France, close to Baume les Messieurs and Chateau Chalon. Although a fire destroyed most of the town during the 17th century, the rebuilding efforts were very successful, making this a popular tourist destination today.

A large open square in Lons Le Saunier surrounds the centrally located Place de la Liberte and is complete with impressive fountains and statues. The streets radiating out from the square are lined with magnificent 17th century homes. On the Rue des Arcades, visitors will delight in the ancient clock tower and can also tour the historic birthplace of French composer Rouget de Lisle, who wrote the Marseillaise, which is the country’s national anthem. In addition, the crypt located in the Chruch Saint Eglise is definitely worth a stop, as is the archaeology museum, which boasts a dinosaur that is more than 200 million years old.