Tour Packages

The Citadel welcomes you VIP-style, either before or after it opens to the public. After your welcome and a brief tour of the grounds in front of the imposing statue of Vauban, you’ll ascend to the parapet walk. From the top of the rampart, you’ll be able to admire Vauban’s remarkable defensive system and the architectural beauty of the fortress as you look inward; and as you look outward, you’ll take in breathtaking panoramic views of Besançon’s historic center, encircled by a meander of the Doubs River, and the surrounding hills, a testament to the ever-present beauty of nature. It’s the perfect moment to snap a few souvenir photos…

Discover the characteristics of a bastioned fortification, Vauban’s work and career, as well as the roles of the Citadel, from its construction to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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From its construction to the daily lives of the soldiers, including its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this tour offers the best way to explore Vauban’s masterpiece, featuring a visit to two underground galleries.

Activity designed for people with disabilities (blind and visually impaired individuals, and those with intellectual disabilities). A sensory tour (outdoors and/or indoors) to discover the secrets of the citadel: building materials, architecture, inscriptions…

This stone citadel hides more greenery than you might think. From the rolling hills to the inner gardens, including the long-gone nursery, set out to explore a citadel that has been lush with vegetation since the 17th century.

Louis Fabry de Montcault, governor of the citadel, welcomes you to his fortress: he will explain how daily life is organized for the 600 soldiers and cadets (officer trainees) under his command.

Vauban “in person” reveals all the secrets of the fortifications and shares his knowledge and passion for the history and architecture of the Citadel. A memorable tour!

Vauban, a military engineer… but not only that! Through his numerous writings, he has left us a unique perspective on the “Great Century.” Discover a more “philosophical” side of Vauban—a reformer who pondered questions that remain relevant today…

Visit the citadel without actually being there! With just a click, enjoy an immersive tour of the Vauban fortress with live commentary from a tour guide.

There are several possible routes: classic, underground bonus, and ramparts bonus.

A tool developed with support from the BFC Region, the DRAC BFC, and France Mutualiste.

A quick but in-depth look at the site’s history, covering the key milestones in the Citadel’s history, from its construction to the present day.

This unique tour takes place on the top floor of the Musée Comtois. It offers visitors the chance to discover a rare collection of marionettes dating from the 19th century to the present day, which illustrates the local enthusiasm for this performing art with its strong satirical undertones!

Join a guided tour to explore the museum and its rich collections—including an exceptional collection of art created during the deportations—and immerse yourself in the daily lives of French men and women in the early 1940s.

The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation in Besançon houses one of the largest collections of art related to deportation in Europe, consisting of 600 drawings, sculptures, and paintings created by deportees in the Reich’s camps and prisons. Take a closer look at these works, which bear witness not only to the Nazi regime’s relentless machinery of repression but also to the bonds of solidarity and humanity that formed among the deportees.

Come discover our animals and learn about the challenges of conserving endangered species. Why should we protect these species and their habitats?
What threats do they face? What actions are being taken, and what role does the Museum play?

Biodiversity like you’ve never seen it before! Reserve this space for a guided tour that invites you to ask yourself: What is biodiversity?
How does it evolve? What is an ecosystem? What are the impacts of human activities on nature?