Access the citadel
There are some lovely walks to reach the site and fully enjoy the panoramic views of the old town and the bend in the Doubs River that encircles Besançon.
Allow about 30 minutes. The route includes some stairways, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
We invite you to review the presentation document for these marked trails.
Accessible to people with disabilities.
GPS coordinates for the Citadel:
N 47°13’55”
E 6°1’54”
Follow the signs for the Citadel from downtown.
To make it easier for cycling tourists to park their bikes, four secure bike shelters (with a total of 8 individual spaces) have now been installed at the Citadel of Besançon.
They are located at the far end of the Ginko bus parking lot.
These shelters are recommended for bicycles carrying luggage, touring bikes, and cargo bikes, which require a protected parking area.
For standard bicycles without special equipment, bike racks are available in the Citadelle parking lot.
- Free and open access
- Self-service operation: Each cyclist locks the bike shelter with their own bike lock or padlock after storing their bike inside.
Make your trip to the Citadel easier! We recommend taking the GINKO CITADELLE bus line from the Chamars Parking Lot (downtown).
Good to know: On Saturdays, the Ginko-Citadelle line is free for everyone, just like all the bus and tram lines on the Ginko network. Take advantage of this and make your trip to the Citadelle easier!
Great Deal: “ GinkoTOUR” lets you discover Besançon’s heritage as you travel!
Free digital guided tour at the Chamars stop and aboard the Ginko Citadelle bus line.
Great Deal: “ Ginko Subscribers” lets you enjoy discounts on admission to the citadel.
– Reduced-price admission to the Besançon Citadel
– One free admission for every paid admission
Good deal: The “Pass Tourisme”is available for purchase from the ticket machine at the Chamars stop (as well as at all GINKO ticket machines)
Good to know: “Ginko Guide” is a new app that helps people with visual impairments navigate the bus and tram network in the Greater Besançon Metropolitan Area.
Download the app from the Apple Store (available only on Apple smartphones; coming soon to Android)
GPS coordinates for the Citadel:
N 47°13’55”
E 6°1’54”
Follow the signs for the Citadel from downtown. Citadelle parking lot (€0.70 per hour, max €7 per day, free for people with disabilities).
Free parking at La Rodia; access to the Citadel on foot or by bus from downtown (April through October)
From April through October: We recommend parking at the Chamars Parking Lot and then taking the bus ( holders of the Besançon Tourism Pass can park here for free, provided they give their license plate number to the Citadel’s reception staff), as the Citadel’s parking lot (for a fee) fills up quickly during peak season.
Rodia Parking Lot:
39-21 Av. de Chardonnet, 25000 Besançon
N 47°13’54.2
E 6°02’18.6″
Chamars Parking Lot:
2 Bd Charles de Gaulle, 25000 Besançon
N 47°14’00.9″
E 6°01’05.5″
La Citadelle has been awarded the “Motards Bienvenue!” certification! We welcome motorcyclists and do our best to ensure they have a great time on their trips.
More information here.
The Little Train runs from April through September (check in advance).
For groups: March through October by reservation (please inquire in advance).
For information and reservations, call 03.81.68.13.25 (individuals and groups) or email info@bateau-besancon.fr
The Besançon Citadel is easily accessible from the Viotte train station in Besançon.
More information on the SNCF website