350 years ago, construction work began on the citadel designed by Vauban.
To celebrate this jubilee in style, a host of events and activities to (re)discover Vauban's masterpiece of the Bisontinent and the era of Louis XIV
will be offered throughout the year.
April vacation (April 19 to May 4)
Games and tours for young and old alike will be offered to discover Vauban's fortifications, the Citadelle construction site and other little-known facets of the famous engineer.
Participatory frescoes
The public is invited to pick up a paintbrush and respect the colors to reveal a mystery drawing, or to spray-paint on a transparent "canvas" and play with the monument in the background to integrate it into their composition, under the guidance of artist Sébastien Lombardo.
May
Investigation game
May 17 & 18
In collaboration with Esprit d'Epique, the Citadelle is offering its first investigation game in the heart of Vauban's monument. Explore the fortress in search of clues, and meet a variety of characters to help you solve the mystery.
Gourmet conference
Friday, May 23
This conference on the evolution of gastronomy from the late Middle Ages to the French Revolution will be punctuated by tastings.
In partnership with the Cité internationale de la Gastronomie et du vin de Dijon and the Calice enchanté.
Jeu de paume
May 24 and 25
Rackets and balls await players for a game of... jeu de paume, the ancestor of tennis.
Le Bal masqué
Saturday, May 31
Welcome to the citadel chapel for a ball worthy of the Sun King! First you're invited to learn the dances of the Grand Siècle, then the evening continues in a baroque-rock atmosphere.
June
Grand siècle weekend, welcome to 1683!
June 27-28-29
An exceptional grand siècle weekend this year: welcome to 1683! Louis XIV comes today for the consecration of the Saint-Etienne chapel, an event that marks the moment when Vauban's new citadel becomes operational. Immerse yourself in the daily life of the Citadel at the time, and discover the many colorful characters who inhabited it. Comedians, singers, re-enactment associations and craftsmen will be on hand to get the time machine moving!
Vauban summer in July/August
350 years of memories" exhibition
July to September
The exhibition will immerse visitors in the Citadelle's past and present, using objects, photos, videos and digital devices. A sensitive discovery of the monument through intimate traces and the way it is seen today by the people who work there.
Wooden games
Wooden games inspired by the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and a sandbox with free access.
Little builders" workshop
Through various fun workshops (sandbox, building blocks...), little builders follow in the footsteps of the citadel's workers 350 years ago.
Harvest workshop: "Take it from the seed"
The grain is ripe! Visitors are invited to put themselves in the shoes of 17th-century harvesters for the duration of a workshop. From cutting the grain to collecting it, they'll be able to discover the tools and techniques used in the 17th century, as well as the cereals used at the Citadelle for soldiers' bread rations, an essential part of their diet. Will they be able to thresh the grain and separate it from its husk? They can take up this challenge in the heart of the Vauban garden.
Open-air cinema
Thursday evenings, from July 17 to August 28
This year's program features cloak-and-dagger and pirate films, with fearless characters, epic battles, magnificent sets and costumes, and breathtaking plots. A grand spectacle worthy of La Citadelle!
Détails de la programmation ICI