Palente-Orchamps-Saragosse

Palente-Orchamps-Saragosse
District
General view from Fort de Chaudanne.
Location of the district (highlighted) within the commune of Besançon.
Coordinates: 47°15′58″N 6°02′55″E / 47.266155°N 6.048532°E / 47.266155; 6.048532
CountryFrance
RegionBourgogne-Franche-Comté
DepartmentDoubs
CityBesançon
CantonBesançon-3
Established20th century
Area
 • Total
1.6 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Highest elevation
340 m (1,120 ft)
Lowest elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total
10,569
 • Density6,600/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Palente-Orchamps-Saragosse is a district in Besançon, France, located in the eastern part of the city. Constructed primarily during the 1960s, the area had over 5,300 residents in 1990.[1]

History

The site of the present-day Palente district is first mentioned as "Parlante" in a document from 1271, followed by "Palente" in 1345.[2]

According to local historian Eveline Toillon, the name "Palente" derives from the Latin term pa(bu)lantem, meaning land suitable for forage or pasture. This etymology aligns with the area's historical use for cereal cultivation.[2]

In 1452, a tileworks was established in the area.[2]

The historic core of Palente, known as Palente-Village, consists mainly of former farmhouses clustered around the Chemin de Palente, at the intersections with the Chemins des Courtils, du Grand-Buisson, and de l'Ermitage. The junction of the modern Boulevard Blum and Rue de Belfort once housed the Auberge Comtoise and its ballroom (demolished in the 2000s), which previously served as a stagecoach relay and a rest stop for loggers transporting wood from the nearby Forêt de Chailluz to Besançon.[2]

During the winter of 1870, a redoubt was constructed on the hill overlooking the district as part of the city's defenses against the German advance, alongside 13 other positions.[note 1] Following the defeat, General Séré de Rivières oversaw the construction of a network of forts and batteries around the city,[note 2] incorporating some existing sites. The Palente hill thus became the location of Fort Benoit.[3]

Throughout the 19th century, the Palente area served as a military maneuver field, remaining under army ownership until May 1951, when the municipality purchased the 16 hectares for 20 million francs. This acquisition facilitated the rapid development of social housing—834 units were planned in the master plan—to address post-war population growth. Construction began in 1952–1953, concurrently with the Montrapon-Fontaine-Écu development. Most of these buildings, originally designed to last about 30 years, were still standing as of 2011. Similar to Planoise, they are predominantly low-rise structures of up to five stories. The district is now designated as a priority neighborhood.[3]

The foundation stone for the Church of Saint Pius X was laid in spring 1957. The neighborhood's community hall was inaugurated in June 1959, and the Palente–Les Orchamps Popular Cultural Center was established that September.[3]

In 1964, Louis Pergaud High School—currently the largest in the Besançon Academy—held its first classes. The following year, 1965, saw the district bisected by the construction of Boulevard Léon Blum.[3]

The district's most notable historical event occurred between 1973 and 1978, when it became the epicenter of the Lip affair, attracting national and international media attention. The local watchmaking company sparked one of the 20th century's most significant social conflicts.[3]

Since the early 2000s, the district has undergone substantial transformations, mirroring changes across Besançon. These include building renovations, aesthetic improvements (such as the redevelopment of Place des Tilleuls), and complete reconstructions (e.g., the Scaremberg block). It forms part of a priority neighborhood alongside Les Orchamps.[4]

Demographics

Year Population
1999 12,110
2006 11,190
2010 10,738
2015 10,804

Source: CCAS[5]

Sports and cultural facilities

  • M.J.C. Palente (youth and cultural center)
  • Stade des Orchamps (sports stadium)
  • Gymnase Jean Zay (gymnasium)
  • Gymnase des Orchamps (gymnasium), home of Palente Besançon Handball[6]

Sports clubs

  • Olympique de Besançon Rugby
  • ASOB – A.S. les Orchamps-Besançon, Orchamps Football School[7]
  • A.S. Palente-Orchamps Handball[8]
  • F.C. Orchamps O.P., an amateur football club[9]

Infrastructure

  • Crèche des Orchamps (daycare)
  • Centre social des Orchamps (social center)[10]

Administrative buildings

Education

Nursery schools

  • Condorcet Public Nursery School
  • Jean Zay Public Nursery School
  • Edouard Herriot Public Nursery School
  • Pierre et Marie Curie Public Nursery School

Primary schools

  • Condorcet Public Primary School
  • Jean Zay Public Primary School
  • Pierre et Marie Curie Public Primary School
  • Edouard Herriot Public Primary School
  

Secondary education

  • Pierre-Joseph Proudhon Middle School
  • Louis Pergaud High School

Higher education

  • Franche-Comté Formation Argos

Industry

  • DIXI Microtechniques, precision mechanics for defense, aeronautics, and medical sectors
  • Polycaptil, engineering and manufacturing in opto-electronics and mechatronics
  • The former Lip factory site, built around the Château de la Palante,[note 3] has been converted into a business incubator hosting numerous companies.

Transport

Public transport in the city is managed by the Ginko bus company.[12] The district is served by:

Neighborhood associations

  • Association Palente
  • Arc en Ciel
  • La Jeunesse de Palente
  • ARTAIDE
  • Un quartier pour une cause[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ See Franco-Prussian War.
  2. ^ See Séré de Rivières system and Fortified region of Besançon.
  3. ^ This château was owned by General Jacques Terrier, Baron de la Palante.

References

  1. ^ "Chapitre VI : base de données des quartiers" [Chapter VI: Neighborhood Database]. Des quartiers et des hommes : contribution à une analyse des quartiers d'habitat social en Franche-Comté [Neighborhoods and People: Contribution to an Analysis of Social Housing Neighborhoods in Franche-Comté] (in French). Presses Univ. Franche-Comté. 1998. p. 239. ISBN 9782251606699.
  2. ^ a b c d Toillon, Eveline (2003). Besançon insolite et secret [Unusual and Secret Besançon] (in French). Alan Sutton. p. 144. ISBN 978-2842539146.
  3. ^ a b c d e "History of Besançon". L'orée du Parc. April 24, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  4. ^ "Quartier Prioritaire : Orchamps - Palente" [Priority Neighborhood: Orchamps - Palente]. sig.ville.gouv.fr (in French).
  5. ^ "Analyse des besoins sociaux 2019 : les quartiers bisontins" [Analysis of Social Needs 2019: The Districts of Besançon] (in French). City of Besançon. 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "THE BEST Besancon Arenas & Stadiums (2025)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  7. ^ "Association Sportive Orchamps Besançon" [Orchamps Besançon Sports Association]. Les Parcours sportifs - Ville de Besançon (in French). Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  8. ^ "Palente Besançon Handball". Facebook. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  9. ^ "FC Orchamps OP". SportCorico (in French). Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  10. ^ "Centre social des Orchamps, plans généraux du bâtiment" [Orchamps Community Center, general building plans]. memoirevive.besancon.fr (in French). 1971. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  11. ^ "Pôle emploi devient France Travail" [Pôle Emploi becomes France Travail]. francetravail.fr (in French). Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  12. ^ "Ginko: Les mobilités de Grand Besançon Métropole" [Ginko: Transportation in Greater Besançon]. ginko.voyage (in French). Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  13. ^ "Besançon official website" (in French). Retrieved September 29, 2025.
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