Plan My Visit to the Citadel of Besançon

• 3 Centuries of History
  Discover the characteristics of a bastioned fortification, Vauban’s work and career, as well as the various roles of the Citadel, from its construction to its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  Duration: 1 hour.
• The Citadel in the^17th Century
  Step back into the Grand Siècle to discover the reign of Louis XIV, the construction of the citadel, and the daily life of the troops as you explore the Espace Vauban and the soldiers’ barracks.
  Duration: 45 min.

• Secret Citadel
  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.
  Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.
  

Guided tour led by an actor

• In the Footsteps of Vauban
  Vauban himself 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.

Fun Trail

The Citadel offers a self-guided adventure course that you can enjoy on your own, with friends, or with family.

• "The Curse of the Centuries "Adventure Trail (Unavailable from November 2, 2025, to April 3, 2026)
  Equipped with an adventure bag, you’ll travel through the ages and explore the various spaces and museums of the Citadel to save the Marcellin family from an ancestral curse cast by a powerful sorcerer. By solving puzzles and outwitting the tricks, perhaps you’ll manage to overcome The Curse of the Centuries?
  Duration: up to two hours.

Try our app!

Enjoy a self-guided tour withthe MaCitadelle app. With a smartphone or tablet in hand, set out to explore the site with the entire Citadel at your fingertips! The app reveals the site’s secrets and history, as well as its museums and the activities on offer. Not to mention the tour routes and games that let you discover the Citadel in a whole new way:

• The Citadel Tour at a Glance (available in French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese),
• the Site Vauban tour for adults and children (available in French, English, German, and Italian),
• the Museum Tour (available in French),
• the FALC (Easy to Read and Understand) program for people with intellectual disabilities,
• Audio-described tour for people with visual impairments
• Accessible Route for People with Limited Mobility
• two mystery games (available in French, English, German, and Italian)

How to Use the MaCitadelle App in Just a Few Steps!

People with limited mobility (PWM)

The following are accessible to people with disabilities:

• the historical multimedia show (Saint-Étienne Chapel), the mill, the barracks, and the Vauban area,
• the Naturalium and the Aquarium; and, to some extent, the Zoological Garden,
• the ground floor of the Musée Comtois (Laiterie and Fonderie),
• The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation is fully accessible to people with disabilities,
• the Royal Front's temporary exhibition hall.
• The "Besieged Citadel!" escape game – adapted version
• The MaCitadelle tour app, which is free and requires no download, offers a route accessible to people with disabilities.

When visiting the other areas, we recommend that visitors with limited mobility be accompanied by an adult (due to the slope in the Zoological Garden, the path to the Petting Zoo, uneven pavement, etc.).

A TPMR vehicle (adapted vehicle) is available for people with limited mobility to access the flat area of the site. You may also enter the site in your own vehicle, provided you obtain prior authorization from our office at 03.81.87.83.33.

People with hearing impairments

The Citadel’s visitor center is equipped with a BIM (induction loop system for the hearing impaired), and the switchboard phone (03.81.87.83.33) is equipped with the ACCEO system.

The historical multimedia show projected in the Saint Étienne Chapel is accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors thanks to induction loops, which are available at the Citadel’s reception desk.

The film “Au cœur d’une citadelle,” shown in the Vauban space, is fully subtitled, as are all the films screened at the Naturalium and the Noctarium (a film about the lives of bats).

The free MaCitadelle tour app features a video signed in French Sign Language (Station 4). It provides a good introduction to the site’s architecture and history. All video content in this app also includes text captions.

All group tours of the Citadel are available provided that the group is accompanied by a French Sign Language (LSF) interpreter (at the group’s expense). Details on the available tours can be found HERE

People with intellectual disabilities

You’ll find an “Easy to Read and Understand” booklet at the Citadel’s reception desk.

This Easy-to-Read and Easy-to-Understand booklet is available for download by clicking here: FALC Booklet

To explore the Citadel using your phone, use the MaCitadelle app.

This app is free and requires no download.

People with visual impairments

To help you find your way around the Citadel, a Braille map is available at the information desk. You can borrow it for free.

The Citadel features tactile guides designed to help blind and visually impaired visitors explore the site. You’ll find them:

• A tactile model designed to help visitors understand the architecture and various building materials used at the site, including the Vauban area, the Naturalium, the aquarium, and the Petite Ferme.
• There are several signs with Braille translations on the site: near the statue of Vauban, at the zoo, and on the six information boards.
• The interpretive panels at the Jardin Vauban are available in Braille and large-print booklets. They can be obtained upon request at the Citadelle ticket office.

The Noctarium, meanwhile, features interactive touch and sound exhibits that allow visitors to encounter nocturnal animals.

The soldiers’ barracks is an audio-described space that can be accessed by pressing a button on the introductory panel. There are many objects to touch, offering a rich sensory experience.

The MaCitadelle tour app, which is free and requires no download, offers an audio-described version that is compatible with text-to-speech software.

Getting to the Citadel
To get to the Citadel more easily, you can download the app “Ginko Guide” , which helps people with visual impairments navigate the bus and tram network in the Greater Besançon Metropolitan Area.
Download the app from the Apple Store
Download the app for Android

Workshops and Guided Tours

Our outreach teams occasionally welcome visitors with disabilities (blind and visually impaired individuals, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, individuals with intellectual and mental disabilities, and individuals with limited mobility) and offer them programs tailored for both children and adults.

For more information and/or to make a reservation, please contact us at 03 81 87 83 33.

• Learn more about this program
• Contact the Citadel

Useful Information

• Attractions close 15 minutes before the park closes.
• The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the site closes.
• In the event of inclement weather or strong winds, the walkways will be closed.
• During your visit, please supervise your children at all times and ensure their safety.

Prohibitions

• Pets are not allowed on the premises, as the Citadel is subject to the dual regulations governing public parks and zoos.
• Under the Vigipirate Plan, it is not possible to leave personal belongings at the reception desk.
• Strollers are not permitted in certain museum areas (the Insectarium, the Noctarium, and the top floor of the Musée Comtois) or on the walkways.
• It is strictly prohibited to engage in activities that could disturb the peace and safety of the public, staff, and animals.
• Feeding the animals is prohibited.
• Smoking is prohibited throughout the Citadel (Decree No. 2025-582 of June 27, 2025, regarding smoke-free areas.)
• Photography and filming for professional or commercial purposes: authorization is required. For more information, contact the Communications Department.