Palais des sports Ghani-Yalouz

Inside, the character shifts entirely. The natural wood parquet floor gleams under the lights, a surface replaced recently to ensure stability for the athletes. The space is defined by the game in progress. In one view, players move across the court in a tight formation, the polished wood reflecting their speed.

This ground has lived through a name change. It was once simply the Palais des Sports de Besançon, but in 2017 it was renamed in honour of Ghani Yalouz, a local wrestling legend and Olympic medalist. The transition was marked by a women’s handball match, where the home team, ES Besançon Féminin, secured a victory against their rivals Dijon. The arena now serves as a home for both handball clubs in the city, hosting matches that regularly bring the capacity of 3,380 to its limits. It is a place where the old reputation of the city meets a new, glass-fronted reality.