Visit formulas

La Citadelle welcomes you in VIP mode, before or after it opens to the public. Once you've been welcomed and given a brief introduction to the site in front of the imposing statue of Vauban, you'll climb up the rampart walk. From the top of the rampart, you can admire Vauban's remarkable defensive system and the architectural beauty of the fortress, while looking out over the breathtaking panoramic views of Besançon's historic center, encircled by the meandering Doubs River, and the surrounding hills, where nature is omnipresent. An ideal moment for a few souvenir photos...

Learn about the characteristics of a bastioned fortification, Vauban's work and career, and the role of the Citadelle, from its construction to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the construction to the daily life of the soldiers, including its inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage List, an optimal discovery of Vauban's masterpiece, including a passage through a 127 m long underground gallery.

This stone citadel hides more green than you might think. From the hilly landscape to the interior gardens, via the vanished nursery, discover a citadel that has been planted since the 17th century.

Vauban "in person" reveals all the secrets of the enclosure, and shares his knowledge and passion for the history and architecture of the Citadelle. A visit to remember!

Why were the Citadelle and fortifications of Besançon, designed by Vauban, included on UNESCO's World Heritage List? During this visit, a mediator provides answers to this question through her presentation of the site, and also discusses the broader notion of World Heritage.

A quick but intense dive into the history of the site, covering the essential stages of the Citadelle, from its construction to the present day.

This unusual tour takes place on the top level of the Musée comtois. It features a rare collection of puppets dating from the 19th century to the present day, illustrating the local craze for this lively art form with its strong satirical overtones!

Around the table" temporary exhibition ends September 29, 2024

Visit the temporary exhibition.
How do objects, archives and photographs become collections? What do they tell us about the events they witnessed? Take a seat around the table and join the museum team as they introduce you to the donors and how their family memories nourish our shared history.

The Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation in Besançon is home to one of Europe's largest collections of deportation art, comprising 600 drawings, statuettes and paintings created by deportees in the Reich's camps and prisons. Take a closer look at these works, which bear witness to the relentless Nazi machine of repression, but also to the bonds of solidarity and humanity which, despite this hell, were forged between the deportees.

Accompanied by a guide, come and discover the museum and its rich collections, including an exceptional collection of deported art, and immerse yourself in the daily life of French people in the early 1940s.

Come and discover our animals and understand the challenges of conserving endangered species. Why preserve these species and their habitats?
What threats do they face? What's being done, and what role does the Museum play?

Discovery tour of the Museum exhibition
"Dessine-moi ta planète" (Draw me your planet) is a guided tour of the Little Prince, the hero of Antoine de Saint Exupéry's work. Taking you on a journey of initiation through some of the 10 stages of the exhibition, you'll explore the links between man and his environment: You'll discover monumental artistic creations such as a boa that winds its way through the Citadelle or a life-size model of Saint Exupéry's airplane, but you'll also be able to admire many previously unseen objects from the Museum's collections. The tour takes in all aspects of ecology. Each stage is an experience that resonates with contemporary issues and the scientific and societal messages that a natural history museum is dedicated to explaining. Throughout the tour, the emphasis is on a resolutely civic dimension, a philosophy of action.

This exhibition is designed by the Besançon Natural History Museum, an original concept created by Maison Deyrolle in partnership with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation.

Biodiversity as you've never seen it before! Reserve this space for a guided tour that invites you to ask: what is biodiversity?
How does it evolve? What is an ecosystem? What impact do human activities have on nature?