Illustration: Tour Options
Adult Groups

Tour Packages

Guided Tours

*NEW: The Citadel, just for you!
Vauban Monument

*NEW: The Citadel, just for you!

VIP Reception

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 can admire Vauban’s remarkable defensive system and the architectural beauty of the fortress as you look inward; looking outward, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Besançon’s historic center, nestled within 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…

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

This offer is available only to tourism professionals, organizations, and businesses. It does not apply to individuals.

From April through September, inclusive.

Hours: in the morning, after sunrise (7:30 a.m.), or at the end of the day (30 minutes after the site closes)

1 Additional option: Welcome and guided tour in French or English
Accompanied by a guide, discover the history and many interesting stories about the fortress.

2 Additional option: Welcome coffee
Enjoy a drink and some pastries when the site is empty.

Rates: Please contact us.

3 Centuries of History
Vauban Monument

3 Centuries of History

Guided Tour

Learn about the characteristics of a bastioned fortification, Vauban’s work and career, and the roles of the Citadel, from its construction to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
.

Duration: 1 hour

Outdoor Tour

Secret Citadel
Vauban Monument

Secret Citadel

Guided 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 way to explore Vauban’s masterpiece, featuring a visit to two underground galleries.

Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes

April through October only.
Group size: 18 people, weather permitting.
Not accessible to people with limited mobility or visual impairments.
Indoor and outdoor tour.

The Citadel at Your Fingertips
Vauban Monument

The Citadel at Your Fingertips

Guided Tour

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…

Duration: 30 minutes

Group size:Up to 10 participants (with 2 chaperones)
Price:€1.60

The Citadel Goes Green
Vauban Monument

The Citadel Goes Green

Guided Tour

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.

Duration: 1 h

Group size: 20 people
Outdoor tour

Meeting with the Governor
Vauban Monument

Meeting with the Governor

Guided tour with an actor

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.

Duration: 1 hour

This tour may be difficult for people who have trouble walking or standing for long periods of time.

In the Footsteps of Vauban
Vauban Monument

In the Footsteps of Vauban

Guided tour with an actor

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

Duration: 1 hour

This tour may be difficult for people who have trouble walking or standing for long periods of time.

Vauban: A Different Perspective
Vauban Monument

Vauban: A Different Perspective

Tour

Vauban ingénieur militaire… mais pas seulement ! À travers ses nombreux écrits, il nous a laissé un regard singulier sur le Grand siècle. Partez à la rencontre d’un Vauban plus « philosophe », réformateur, qui s’est interrogé sur des questions toujours d’actualité…

Duration: 1 h

Outdoor Tour

Visite à distance
Vauban Monument

Visite à distance

Tour

Visitez la citadelle sans y être ! Grâce à un lien de connexion, profitez d’une visite immersive de la forteresse de Vauban avec un commentaire en direct d’une médiatrice.

Plusieurs parcours sont possibles : classique, bonus souterrain, bonus remparts.

Duration: 1 h

De septembre à fin avril

Déplacement d’une médiatrice possible uniquement sur Besançon (majoration de 20 €)

Tarif : Forfait à partir de 50 €, pouvant varier selon la taille du groupe (se renseigner auprès du service Réservation)

Quick Tour
Vauban Monument

Quick Tour

Guided Tour

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.

Duration: 30 minutes

Outdoor Tour

This tour may be difficult for people who have trouble walking or standing for long periods of time.

Laughter is a combat sport
Comtois Museum

Laughter is a combat sport

Guided Tour

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!

Duration: 1 hour

Group size: 18 people

Exploring the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation
Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

Exploring the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

Guided Tour

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.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Group size: 18 people

Indoor tours are available only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

The Art Collection from Deportation: A Treasure of the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation
Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

The Art Collection from Deportation: A Treasure of the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

Guided Tour

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.

Duration: 1 h

Group size: 18 people

Indoor tours are available only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

Exploring the Zoo
Museum

Exploring the Zoo

Guided Tour

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?

Duration: 1 hour
Tour of the Naturalium
Museum

Tour of the Naturalium

Guided Tour

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?

Duration: 1 hour

Only from September through March.


Free, themed, or even digital …

  • Self-guided tour that includes exploring the grounds, the museums, and all the animal enclosures.
  • With the Macitadelle app
    La Citadelle offers a digital app for tablets or smartphones featuring an interactive guide to help you find your way around, explore the site and its museums, and learn about the activities on offer. Various tour routes and scavenger hunts are available.
    Available in French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, or Japanese (depending on the route)
    Tablets are available for loan.