The Citadel of Besançon Protecting Your Assets

An iconic landmark of the city of Besançon, the Citadel is a major cultural and tourist attraction. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this major work by Vauban is considered a universal treasure that must be carefully preserved. Both striking and majestic, this three-century-old structure is nonetheless accessible to anyone who wishes to uncover its secrets and discover the treasures it holds!

One of the most beautiful citadels
in France

From the top of its ramparts, three centuries gaze down upon you… Completed in 1684, this masterpiece of bastion architecture designed by Vauban is considered one of the most beautiful citadels in France. Towering more than 100 meters above the old town of Besançon, which lies nestled within a bend of the Doubs River, it also offers stunning views of the surrounding hills. A vast area—no less than 11 hectares!—now dedicated to culture and tourism, the Citadel has served over the centuries as a barracks, a training ground for future officers—“the cadets”—a state prison, and a military penitentiary.

Learn more about the Citadel of Besançon

A Walk Through the Citadel

To learn more about the Citadel and its history, head to the Saint-Étienne Chapel, located at the heart of the site: a multimedia show there takes you on a journey through time and space to discover the key moments that have shaped Besançon and the monument—shown continuously, with three screenings per hour.
The tour continues in the Bâtiment des Cadets, with the Espace Vauban: four exhibition halls provide all the insights needed to understand the site.

With these basics in mind, you’ll see the Citadel in a whole new light: climb the ramparts to enjoy the exceptional panoramic views of the city of Besançon and the natural landscape that surrounds it. To explore further, follow the signage and educational panels along the way, or try out the tour and interactive games—accessible to everyone—on the MaCitadelle app.
Or why not treat yourself to one of our many guided tours!

Take in the breathtaking panoramic views and let yourself be swept away by the magic of the scenery at the Citadel and the surrounding nature

Calendar

Tour – The Citadel in the 17th Century

Sunday, November 15, 2026

Lumières : parcours lumineux et artistique

5 et 6 décembre et du 11 au 13 décembre 2026

Tour – The Citadel in the 17th Century

Sunday, December 20, 2026

The Full Schedule

News

Learn about the construction of the Citadel in a fun way!

19.09.2025

All the Latest News

Play from home with Vauban!

Check out our printable activities for all ages: make Vauban’s wig, build a model barracks, test your memory with the Vauban Memory Game, create napkin folds fit for a royal table (fleur-de-lis, fan, candle, leaf, artichoke), and take on a math challenge to help Vauban plan rations for a siege. Download the PDF worksheets, get comfortable… and let yourself be transported into the heart of the Citadel’s world!

Game #1: Vauban Memory Game – DOWNLOAD

Activity #2: Make Vauban's wig – DOWNLOAD

Game #3: Napkin-Folding Workshop! – DOWNLOAD

Game #4: Math Challenge – DOWNLOAD

Activity #5: Build a model of a barracks – DOWNLOAD

Spotlight on ...

Visit the citadel… from a distance

Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Citadel of Besançon is a shared heritage of humanity. As such, it is important that it have the tools to enable people from afar to discover it. Consequently, the monument has launched an immersive remote tour in partnership with the company My Tour Live. This project was made possible thanks to financial support from the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region in the amount of 6,000 euros, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs in the amount of 3,000 euros, and France Mutualiste in the amount of 1,000 euros.

The purpose of this initiative is to help raise the Citadel’s international profile by making it accessible to visitors from abroad, as well as to so-called “unable-to-attend” audiences, such as residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes, and students from schools too far away to travel to the site… To ensure the experience is as immersive as possible and allows for direct interaction with the site’s docent team, a 360° video tour system with live commentary from the docent was selected. The system allows the docent to add images that visitors can view during the tour. Visitors, for their part, can easily explore the 360° landscape during the tour, independently of what the docent is showing. This system complements in-person tours and thus offers a tailored educational tool for reaching new audiences. Two pilot projects have already been conducted: one with the Alliance Française in Charlottesville, USA—a sister city of Besançon—and another with isolated seniors through the Maison des Séniors. The feedback has been positive and enthusiastic.

Learn more in our group tour offerings

A Remarkable Heritage

In 2003, Besançon launched a project to have Vauban’s work inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Communication. Together with eleven other sites, the city forms the Network of Major Vauban Sites. All were inscribed on the World Heritage List on July 7, 2008: a wonderful recognition of the universal value of Vauban’s work and the need to protect it. The city’s fortifications and the Citadel are, in fact, the subject of an ongoing restoration program. To showcase this jewel of military architecture while preserving its original appearance, technical expertise and exemplary standards are essential. For example, the expertise of traditional craftsmen is extensively utilized, thereby promoting the mastery and transmission of these skills. Every summer, the Citadel offers a group of young volunteers the opportunity to engage with this heritage by participating in its preservation through a work camp.

Eight more UNESCO sites to explore in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.