The Citadel of Besançon Protecting Your Assets

An iconic landmark of the city of Besançon, the Citadel is a major cultural and tourist destination. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this major work by Vauban is considered a universal treasure to be carefully preserved. Surprising and majestic, this three-hundred-year-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 in a bend of the Doubs River, it also offers stunning views of the surrounding hills. A vast space—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 stroll 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 will transport you 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 Cadet Building, with the Espace Vauban: four exhibition halls reveal everything you need to understand the site.

With these basics in mind, you’ll see the Citadel in a whole new light: climb up to 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 the tour and interactive games accessible to everyone on the MaCitadelle app.
Or perhaps you’d like to join 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 natural landscape

Calendar

ESCAPE GAME – The Besieged Citadel!

April 4–September 25, 2026

"Secret Citadel" Tour

Du samedi 4 au jeudi 30 juillet 2026

Jeux en bois

Du samedi 4 au vendredi 31 juillet 2026

Guided Tour with an Actor: "In the Footsteps of Vauban"

Du lundi 6 au vendredi 31 juillet 2026

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 to the heart of the Citadel’s world!

Game #1: Vauban Memory – 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

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Des femmes à la citadelle

Au-delà de son rôle défensif et répressif, la citadelle de Besançon a pour fonction de loger une importante garnison de soldats, donc des hommes à l’époque. Mais la forteresse abrite aussi des femmes. En effet, certains soldats et officiers obtiennent la permission exceptionnelle de vivre avec leur famille sur place. Les épouses ont alors un rôle à jouer au sein de la forteresse. L’une d’elle, Jeanne Petitjean, tient avec son mari l’auberge de la citadelle. On la qualifie d’« honorable femme ». Leurs dix enfants sont baptisés dans la chapelle. Au XVII^e siècle, le gouverneur, Louis Fabry de Moncault, vit aussi avec son épouse et leurs enfants. Elle se nomme Catherine d’Aubarède et devient la marraine de certains enfants nés dans la forteresse. Toutes ces informations nous sont parvenues grâce au registre de la chapelle aujourd’hui conservé à la Bibliothèque d’Étude et de Conservation de Besançon. Comme la citadelle sert de prison, des femmes sont également enfermées dans la forteresse. Il s’agit notamment d’accusées de la célèbre Affaire des Poisons : la femme Baptiste, Marguerite Faivre, Jeanne Alexandre, Madeleine de Ris ou encore la comtesse Bachimont. Cette dernière est soupçonnée d’avoir empoisonné son premier mari. Pendant son incarcération à la citadelle, le gouverneur continue de l’interroger sur ses complices sur ordre du ministre Louvois.

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 fitting 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 highlight this jewel of military architecture while preserving its original appearance, technical expertise and exemplary standards are essential. For example, the skills of traditional crafts are extensively utilized, thereby promoting their mastery and transmission. Each 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.