Conquest: When Besançon Became French, 1670–1740

Join historian Benjamin Bernard and producer Sage Tanguay as they learn about the French conquest of Besançon in the late seventeenth century through visits to Besançon's Saint-Jean Cathedral and its citadel. They explore the significance of this period for the “sister city" relationship between Charlottesville and Besançon.

Sister Revolutions is a limited-run documentary series made possible by the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission, Brown Residential College at the University of Virginia, and America 2026. You can learn more about each of these organizations on their websites: www.cvillesistercities.org, https://browncollege.virginia.edu/ and www.america2026.eu

Sister Revolutions is produced and hosted by Benjamin Bernard and Sage Tanguay With production assistance from Sophia Moore French Transcription and Translation by Oriane Guiziou-Lamour And English voiceover by Tracey Gerlach The music in this episode was provided by Blue Dot Sessions

This episode featured the voices of:

• Dr. Katlyn Carter from the University of Notre Dame
• Mathieu Fantoni from the Cathédrale Saint-Jean de Besançon
• Gaelle Cavalli from La Citadelle Besancon
• Noelle Antolin and Styvie Bearns

Special thanks to

• Elizabeth Smiley of the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
• Bertrand Van Ruymbeke of America 2026
• Prof. Ari Blatt, Chair of the University of Virginia French Department
• Florent Werguet, Head of international relations for the City of Besancon
• Hugo Toudic Associate director of the University of Chicago center in Paris

Sister Revolutions is hosted by Symposia: a production of Brown Residential College at the University of Virginia and the Virginia Audio Collective at WTJU 91.1 FM.