Besançon Museum of Resistance and Deportation
Passeur d'Histoire(s), a civic tool
The Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation in Besançon is one of the most important in France.
It houses some extraordinary collections, including a collection of deportation art comprising over 600 small paintings, statuettes and drawings produced clandestinely in the Reich's prisons and concentration camps.
Not recommended for children under 10.
A new museum
After more than 10 years of reflection and 3 years of renovation work, the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation reopened its doors on September 8, 2023.
The museum's exceptional collections include over 600 small paintings, statuettes and drawings created clandestinely in the Reich's prisons and concentration camps.
The museum's exhibition spaces have been redesigned around the key idea of the "History Museum as a tool for the citizen", which places the emphasis on questioning, knowledge, perspective and history as critical knowledge.
It now offers 3 distinct exhibition areas:
- A transformed permanent exhibition space
- A temporary exhibition space, featuring a new exhibition every year
- A space dedicated to deported art, the museum's treasure trove, one of the largest in Europe.
Since its creation, the museum's collections have been built up thanks to donors, illustrating the sometimes intimate bond between the establishment, the witnesses and their families.
A stone's throw from the museum, the Monument du Témoin pays tribute to the deportees.
The Fusillés monument commemorates the sacrifice of 98 members of the Resistance, condemned to death and executed by the German army between 1941 and 1944. It was restored as part of the museum's renovation.
Collection for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation
This year, we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Besançon.
In this context, the Museum of Resistance and Deportation is calling on you: do you have photos, archives or objects related to the Liberation?
Send us an e-mail at transmettre.mrdb@citadelle.besancon.fr.
© Studio Bernardot
Highlights to discover
Embodying the museum's historical themes, discover these collections.
Discover the collections
Some of our collections are available
online.
Discover other rare collections on the Mémoire vive website of the City of Besançon.
Focus on ...
Lecture series: Madeleine, Resistance fighter
Jean-David Morvan, scriptwriter
Dominique Bertail, illustrator
Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., Salle Courbet
Access via 2 or 6 rue Mégevand, Besançon
Free admission
Born in 1924, Madeleine Riffaud witnessed and acted in her time. Still a minor when she arrived in Paris, she joined a network of student resistance fighters. A woman of action, code-named "Rainer", she quickly rose through the ranks of the Resistance, joining the Francs-tireurs et Partisans (FTP). Arrested after shooting down a Nazi officer in public, she endured the hell of interrogation, giving up no information. First sentenced to death, then deported, incredible determination and a combination of circumstances kept her alive. Liberated on August 19, 1944, she returned to Paris and, leading a detachment of 4 men (including herself), took part in the Liberation battles. She was then 20 years old. Under the pen of Jean-David Morvan and the pencil of Dominique Bertail, whom the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation is pleased to welcome, Madeleine Riffaud recounts this impressive life story, in a trilogy that is just as impressive.