Besançon Citadel History and Tour

In 1674, Louis XIV, with the help of Vauban, conquered Franche-Comté. Now part of France, the Sun King assigned the city of Besançon an important strategic role: it was to protect the new eastern border of the Kingdom of France. It also became the new regional capital. Besançon is a naturally fortified site, protected by a bend in the Doubs River that encircles the city. A hill closes this loop to the south: it was on this geostrategic site that Vauban decided to build one of the finest fortresses in Europe.

The defensive fortifications designed by Vauban always follow the contours of the terrain, blend into the landscape, and often deter the enemy from attacking…
The Citadel of Besançon is one of the most representative examples of these golden rules that can still be seen today.

During the construction of the fortress, Mont Saint-Étienne, on which the Citadel stands, was transformed into a veritable stone quarry. The entire complex became operational in 1684, nine years after construction began. Its fortifications are terraced to follow the contours of the terrain, creating several levels of fire. The main complex houses the buildings intended for the soldiers’ daily life.

Over the centuries, the citadel has served as a barracks, a training facility for cadets(future officers), a prison, and a military penitentiary. The darkest chapter in its history unfolded during the 1940s, when the site was the location of the execution of 98 members of the Resistance who had been arrested in the surrounding area and sentenced to death following their trials.

Acquired by the City of Besançon in 1959, it is now a major tourist and cultural destination in the Franche-Comté region, home to three museums recognized by the French government as “Musées de France” and offering a wide range of activities across nearly 12 hectares to approximately 270,000 visitors each year.

In 2008, Besançon and eleven other French sites, united under the Vauban Network, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These twelve fortifications are considered the most representative of Vauban’s work, the most authentic, and the best preserved. Thus, recognized for their “outstanding universal value,” they illustrate Vauban’s creative genius, symbolize the heyday of bastioned fortification, and have long served as a model for military architecture worldwide. This prestigious recognition was granted to sites located throughout France: Briançon, Mont-Dauphin, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Mont-Louis, Blaye/Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Camaret-sur-Mer, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Arras, Longwy, and Neuf-Brisach. This series of sites thus becomes the^32nd French property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, under the name “
: Vauban’s Fortifications.”

Learn more about the history of the Citadel

Saint-Étienne Chapel and its historical multimedia show

A true journey into the past, this multimedia show transports you through time and space to discover the defining moments that have shaped the history of Besançon and the Citadel. As the story unfolds, the various episodes of a fascinating history are revealed, beginning in the time of Julius Caesar, continuing through the Middle Ages, then under Charles V, and finally in^{the 17th century} during the tumultuous reign of Louis XIV. The glory days of Vauban and the construction of the Citadel are recounted before giving way to contemporary history and its darkest periods.

A 15-minute presentation that serves as an excellent introduction to the tour, providing you with the key insights needed to understand the fortress and making it easier to explore.
Streamed continuously in the Saint-Étienne Chapel (the heart of the site);
3 screenings per hour.

Free for holders of a Citadelle ticket or pass.
Check out some excerpts by following this link.

The Vauban Space

In the Cadets’ building, four exhibition rooms introduce you to Vauban and his era—the age of Louis XIV, Versailles, and Molière. They trace the two French conquests of Franche-Comté, the construction of the citadel, and the lives led there by the King’s Cadets from 1682 to 1694.

Your journey through time continues in the video area. “Au cœur d’une citadelle” (At the Heart of a Citadel), a ten-minute CGI film shown on a continuous loop, traces the history and significance of the construction of the buildings at this major site in Franche-Comté. Subtitled in French, English, German, and Dutch.

A^60-cm³ tactile model recreates architectural elements of the Citadel (guardhouse, bastion, facing, etc.) on a 1:⁵⁰ scale, which you are free to touch. Thanks to this tactile approach, everyone can explore the world of architecture and discover the various building materials used. Offering a different way to understand the space through both two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations, this model is also of particular interest to visually impaired visitors and children. The tactile model covers several topics: 17th-century craftsmanship and techniques, construction trades, the nature and origin of materials, and Vauban’s adaptation to the terrain.

The creation of this tactile model was made possible thanks to the assistance provided by the City of Besançon’s Expert Committee on Accessibility and the sponsorship of the Caisse d’Epargne de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

The ramparts

Continue your stroll along the ramparts, which stretch nearly 600 meters, are 5 to 6 meters wide, and rise 15 to 20 meters high, and enjoy the unique panoramic views of the city of Besançon and the exceptional natural setting that surrounds it.

In addition to the rolling green hills and the meandering Doubs River, be sure to visit the
to take in the remarkably restored architectural heritage of the building and its various structures. On either side of the main square, the King’s and Queen’s guardhouses dominate the site and serve as the starting point for your exploration of the ramparts.

The Underground Galleries

In the^17th century, most of Vauban’s citadels and fortified towns were equipped with underground passages. These served as strategic defensive positions. Soldiers could move about under cover from enemy fire, allowing them to hear the approach of an enemy or to monitor the city’s entry points.

At the Citadel of Besançon, an underground tunnel known as “Communication 110” connects the Saint-Etienne Front and the Royal Front. Measuring 127 meters in length, it allowed, in Vauban’s time, for optimal movement and retreat of soldiers in the event of an attack. In the Royal Front, another passage connects the Mill Room to the Tenaille, a fortification element located above the great moat.

These galleries are open during guided tours scheduled according to the season or upon request for groups.

The Soldiers' Barracks

The barracks served as a living space for the twelve soldiers who shared it, providing them with a place to sleep, cook, eat, and relax.

This faithful recreation, complete with furniture and artifacts, of a home dedicated to the lives of the “
”—soldiers of the Sun King—allows you to immerse yourself in their daily lives anddiscover another facet of this unique site at
.
In this fully accessible exhibition space, visitors of all ages can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience throughinnovative interactive features: sound effects, virtual reality experiences, and the chance to try on period costumes…

Vauban Garden

This garden aims to illustrate the various uses of plants in^{the 17th and 18th} centuries. During that period, plants served many purposes: for food, including the production of bread and wine; for making cloth; for heating; for defense; and even for healing… or killing…

Although the vast majority of historical maps depict the site as largely barren, the Citadel actually featured areas of vegetation that served both to defend the site and to support the daily lives of its inhabitants. In particular, vegetable gardens were established wherever the soil was deep enough, even though the Citadel’s produce was not sufficient to feed the entire garrison.

Guided tours

• Secret Citadel Tour
  From its construction to the daily lives of the soldiers, including its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this tour offers the ultimate exploration of Vauban’s masterpiece, featuring a visit to two underground galleries.
  Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.
• “3 Centuries of History” Tour
  Discover the features of a bastioned fortification, the work and career of Vauban, as well as the various roles of the Citadel from its construction to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  Duration: 1 hour.
• Visit the Citadel in^{the 17th} century
  Step back in time to the Grand Siècle to discover the reign of Louis XIV, the construction of the citadel, and the daily life of the troops as you explore the Espace Vauban and the soldiers’ barracks.
  Duration: 45 min.

Guided tour led by an actor

• Guided tour led by an actor: In the Footsteps of Vauban
  The renowned military engineer reveals the secrets of the fortifications and shares his knowledge and passion for the history and architecture of the Citadel.
  Duration: 1 hour.

Self-guided tour

• With the MaCitadelle app
  Grab your smartphone or tablet and set out to explore the site with the entire Citadel right at your fingertips! The MaCitadelle tour app is designed as a interactive guide allowing you to find your way around on the site and explore the Citadel: its history, his heritage, but also its museums and the activities offered. You have access to Practical and financial information with multiple levels of engagement. The content includes text, videos, images, and slideshows, as well as audio and voice-overs, and 2D and 3D animated videos (available in English, German, and Italian).
  
  Fun and interactive, the app MyCitadel offers a variety of courses to choose from depending on your needs, the time you have available, and your preferences:
  • The Site Vauban tour for adults and children (available in French, English, German, and Italian),
  • The FALC (Easy to Read and Understand) program for people with intellectual disabilities
  • The audio-described tour for people with visual impairments
  • The accessible route for people with limited mobility
  • Two mystery games (available in French, English, German, and Italian),
  • The Citadel at a Glance, featuring the must-see highlights (available in French, English, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese),
  • Wildlife Trail (available in French).

The Citadel is undergoing a regular restoration program aimed at showcasing this jewel of military architecture while preserving its original appearance.
Some of these restoration projects stand out for their technical sophistication and exemplary quality, particularly in terms of the mastery of traditional craftsmanship: the repair of roof structures or roofing, for example.

These heritage restoration projects also take biodiversity into account: work is not carried out during the nesting seasons of the peregrine falcon and the eagle owl, and cavities are created in the restored sections to provide shelter for wildlife, for example.

2012–2014
: Restoration of the Royal Front’s half-moon

2015–2022
Restoration of the guardhouses known as the King’s and the Queen’s
Restoration of the two parapet walkways

Roof repair on the Saint-Etienne powder magazine at the lower end of the site

Restoration of the staircase leading to the Musée Comtois

The 2015–2022 construction plan, with a budget of €6 million, made it possible to carry out fourteen new projects on the fortifications of Besançon, including seven at the Citadel.

A new plan is currently being implemented, with work set to resume in late 2026. This will involve the cistern known as the “Espagnols” at the entrance to the main square, the roof of the barracks on the right side of the Front Royal, the first line of the Citadel (Front Saint-Etienne)—including one of the brick cross walls—the bridge leading to the Front Royal, and the outer wall of the Front de Secours.