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UNESCO logo The Besançon Citadel Protecting your assets

Emblematic of the city of Besançon, the Citadelle is a major cultural and tourist attraction. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this major work by Vauban is considered a universal asset to be carefully protected. Surprising and majestic, this tercentenary structure is nonetheless accessible to all those who wish to discover its secrets and the treasures it contains!

Photo of part of the Besançon Citadel

One of France's most beautiful citadels

From the top of its ramparts, three centuries look down on you... completed in 1684, this masterpiece of bastioned architecture created by Vauban is considered one of the most beautiful citadels in France. Overlooking the old town of Besançon from a height of over 100 metres, it is hemmed in by the meandering Doubs River, and also offers fine views of the surrounding hills. A vast area - no less than 11 hectares! - now dedicated to culture and tourism, the Citadelle has served over the centuries as a barracks, a training ground for future officers - "the cadets" - a state prison and a military penitentiary.

Find out more about the Besançon Citadel
Side view of the Besançon Citadel

Stroll through the Citadel

To find out more about the Citadelle and its history, head for the Chapelle Saint-Étienne, at the heart of the site: a multimedia show takes you back in time and space, to discover the key moments that have marked Besançon and the monument - continuous broadcasting, three projections per hour.
The tour continues in the Bâtiment des Cadets, with the Espace Vauban: four exhibition rooms reveal all the keys to understanding the site.

With these fundamentals in mind, you'll appreciate the Citadelle with new eyes: climb the ramparts to enjoy the exceptional panoramic views over the city of Besançon and the surrounding natural environment. If you want to go further, follow the signs and educational panels along the way, or try out the tour and interactive games available to all on the MaCitadelle app.
Unless you're tempted by one of our many guided tours!

Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views and let yourself be overwhelmed by the magic of the Citadel and the surrounding countryside.

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2025, a royal season!
2025, a royal season!
12.02.2025
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Restoring the mill

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Restoring the mill

The 18th-century horse mill has recently been restored. Its restoration and the layout of the room were designed to optimize its accessibility and presentation, as well as to restore missing elements in order to better explain its operation. The mill was researched in the Service de la Défense historical archives, and archaeological and dendrochronological studies were carried out. The front part of the mill was then restored to enable it to be set in motion again during special events. This restoration and restitution project involved numerous local partners, and as such is fully in line with the cultural and scientific approach of sharing, educating and preserving heritage through development, essential values promoted by Unesco.

A citadel must ensure the self-sufficiency of a garrison, hence the presence of buildings and installations necessary for daily life. A mill was used to make flour, and thus bread, the staple diet of soldiers at the time. In Vauban's time, this activity was carried out by hand mills, reinforced in the 18th century by this horse mill. From its construction in the 17th century to the present day, the citadel has undergone many changes, not only in its architecture, but also in its interior layout. The mill is one of the few remaining reminders of daily life in the fortress in modern times. It is also one of the few surviving examples in France.

A remarkable heritage

In 2003, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Besançon initiated the project to have Vauban's work included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Along with eleven other sites, the city forms the Network of Major Vauban Sites. They were all inscribed on the World Heritage List on July 7, 2008: a fine recognition of the universal value of Vauban's work, and of the need to protect it. The city's fortifications and the Citadelle are also the subject of an ongoing restoration program. To enhance the value of this fleuron of military architecture while preserving its original appearance, technicality and exemplarity are the order of the day. For example, craftsmanship skills are used extensively, encouraging their mastery and transmission. Every summer, the Citadelle invites a group of young volunteers to take ownership of this heritage by helping to safeguard it, as part of a work camp.

Eight other UNESCO properties to discover in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

A remarkable heritage

Vauban monument
Protecting your assets
Comtois Museum
Promoting dialogue between cultures and societies
Museum of Resistance and Deportation
History Museum, a civic tool
Museum
Guardian of biodiversity