1793
First traces of the Besançon Natural History Museum, which would later be greatly enriched by the collections of the Faculty of Sciences.
1801
First inventory, attesting to the existence of a natural sciences cabinet, which would subsequently be managed by the École Centrale until 1810.
1943
Coexistence of a "Muséum Jurassien" (zoology, entomology, and botany collections) and a geology museum (geology, mineralogy, and paleontology) at the Faculty of Sciences. These two museums came under municipal supervision in 1945.
1959
Installation of the museum at the Citadel, where he opened a large entomology exhibition.
1962
First live zoological and botanical exhibition.
1975
Creation of the Aquarium in the "Petit Arsenal."
1980s
Until then, the zoo's sole ambition had been to entertain visitors by showing them live animals from local and foreign wildlife. Visitors could see bison, lions, panthers, wolves, zebras, bears, chimpanzees, and even... elephants! In the 1980s, the zoo took on a new lease of life with new objectives: in order to improve the conditions in which the animals were housed and bred, the largest species were gradually transferred to other zoos with more space.
Early 1990s
Integration of the zoo into the Besançon Museum, with which it is gradually becoming more closely linked through scientific missions. Within this framework, the missions of the future Zoological Garden are no longer limited to entertainment, but also include explaining living organisms (understanding the animal world), research (the study of animal behavior, for example), and the conservation of endangered species.
1992
Creation of the Insectarium: bugs, dynasts, diving beetles and water boatmen, grasshoppers, stick insects, rose chafer beetles, crickets, scorpions, cockroaches, tarantulas... Visitors can see tens of thousands of insects and other arthropods, belonging to more than eighty different species. Since then, the Besançon Museum has continued to maintain this original approach: home to an impressive natural history collection (over a million objects: fossils, stuffed animals, herbariums, etc.), it has established itself as a place of conservation and education, not only supporting research (in taxonomy and genetics, reproductive physiology, veterinary science, ethology, etc.), but also raising visitor awareness of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
1996
Creation of the Noctarium: thanks to a reversal of the day-night cycle, visitors can observe the nocturnal life of dozens of small mammals and amphibians from our regions.
1998
Creation of the "Evolution Trail": an area recreating the main stages in the evolution of the animal world through naturalized and osteological collections, from the most primitive fish to the most advanced mammals. An initial phase of work leading to the creation of a new Siberian tiger park, a Japanese macaque park, and a small farm, a fun place where children can interact with small domestic animals.
2003
Renovation work at the zoo: big cat enclosure (lions and tigers) and primate moat.
2004
Renovation of the bird area with the creation of a large aviary.
2017
Opening of the
Naturalium, which presents a new permanent exhibition entirely devoted to biodiversity. Working in harmony with the Museum's various animal areas (Zoological Garden, Aquarium, Insectarium, Small Farm, and Noctarium), the Naturalium raises awareness among young and old alike about the richness of local and international biodiversity, the importance of its ongoing evolution, the threats to habitats and species, and the actions being taken to protect them.
2021
Renovation of the Aquarium to showcase the various aquatic ecosystems of the Doubs River and the remarkably diverse flora and fauna they are home to.
