Anne Vignot

Anne Vignot grew up in the working-class housing estate of Tavaux, then studied geography at the University of Franche-Comté, where she obtained a DEA (Diplôme d’Études Approfondies) in geography. In 1984, she joined the CNRS as a laboratory technician. Together with Monique Clavel Levêque and Pierre Levêque, she studied the organization of territories in Roman times, particularly in the Near East (Syria). She became a research engineer in the Chrono-environment laboratory, which brings together archaeologists, biologists, historians, geologists and doctors to study the interactions between human societies and nature over long periods of time, up to the present day. This relationship between humans and nature has always fascinated her and has been the driving force behind her community involvement. Anne Vignot was a board member and then president of the Regional Conservatory of Natural Areas from 1998 and director of the Botanical Garden from 2006. 
It was these commitments that led her to take part in political life. She became a regional councillor in 2010 and then, in 2014, deputy mayor of Besançon in charge of ecological transition. Since July 3, 2020, Anne Vignot has been the Mayor of Besançon and President of Greater Besançon Métropole. She is thus the first woman to lead the capital of the French region of Franche-Comté.