Press and media

Museum

Naissance d’un Propithèque couronné à la Citadelle de Besançon – 2025

28/04/2025

La Citadelle de Besançon a vu naître au mois de février un lémurien d’une espèce particulièrement menacée : le Propithèque couronné.
Le Muséum de Besançon s’implique depuis de nombreuses années dans des actions en faveur de la biodiversité et cela n’a jamais été aussi essentiel, à l’heure où la liste des espèces menacées d’extinction à l’échelle régionale et dans le monde ne cesse de s’allonger.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

Journée du souvenir des héros et des victimes de la déportation

24/04/2025

Le Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation de Besançon programme ce dimanche 27 avril une visite et un spectacle dans le cadre de la journée nationale du souvenir des héros et des victimes de la déportation durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Comtois Museum

Exposition Sur le vif – photographies de Marc Paygnard

22/04/2025

Du 19 avril au 2 novembre 2025, le Musée comtois expose une cinquantaine de photographies en noir et blanc de Marc Paygnard, mettant à l’honneur les habitants de Franche-Comté.

Museum

Biodiversity Spring

17/04/2025

To highlight the endangered species conservation projects supported by the Parc zoologique de la Citadelle team, the Besançon Museum is organizing the "Biodiversity Spring". From April 19 to May 4, a fun and educational program invites visitors to take a fresh look at the meaning of modern zoos, thanks to direct exchanges with the Citadelle zoo's specialists (groomers, biologists and veterinarians) and nature protection associations.

Programming

April vacation cultural program

14/04/2025

The April vacation from April 19 to May 4 marks the start of the royal season at La Citadelle, with a program celebrating the 350th anniversary of the start of construction of this heritage site.
To celebrate this jubilee in style, visitors can enjoy a host of events and activities to (re)discover Vauban's masterpiece and the era of Louis XIV.
The Citadelle's 3 museums are not to be outdone... Exhibitions, theater, tours, activities, games and workshops for children are also on offer during the spring vacations.

Information

Qinzé - reopening in 2028

26/03/2025

Qinzé will not reopen in 2025: explanations

In response to the many comments made following the announcement that the Qinzé would not reopen for a 5th season in 2025, the management of the Citadelle
and the City of Besançon would like to provide some clarification.

Vauban monument

The nocturnes of history

12/03/2025

As part of the national event "Les Nocturnes de l'Histoire", the Citadelle de Besançon will be offering the "Portraits of History" tour on Wednesday March 26, as the sun sets.

Vauban monument

EXHIBITION - Citadelle 3D Fortified reality

03/12/2024

The Citadelle de Besançon, in partnership with Capture4cad and Heritage Virtuel, invites the public to discover the interactive exhibition "Citadelle 3D, réalité fortifiée".
Visitors can enjoy a unique immersive experience made possible by the meticulous digitization and modeling work carried out over several months at the Citadelle.

Programming

Cultural program at La Citadelle during the All Saints' Day vacations

03/10/2024

What to do during the vacations?
La Citadelle and its museums are offering a fun and entertaining program during the October vacations!
An opportunity to discover or rediscover the "Draw me your planet" exhibition, as well as all the tours and workshops on offer
the site and its museums.

Event

09/21 & 22: European Heritage Days at the Citadelle

09/09/2024

On September 21 and 22, the Citadelle invites you to celebrate the 41st European Heritage Days. La Citadelle de Besançon, an architectural gem listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, opens its doors to you for a weekend of discovery and wonder. Free access to the 3 museums.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

Besançon celebrates 80 years of Liberation

27/08/2024

To mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Besançon, and 1 year since the reopening
of the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation de Besançon, we invite the public to celebrate the event
the event by discovering the life and work of ethnologist and Resistance fighter Germaine Tillion.

Museum

New space for Bukhara Urial

30/07/2024

As part of our ongoing commitment to the protection of endangered species and animal welfare, the Museum's teams are delighted to announce the opening of a specially equipped enclosure for the Bukhara Urial, an endangered mountain species. The Parc Zoologique du Muséum de Besançon welcomes one male and two females to its enclosure.

Event

Sunset tours

02/07/2024

La Citadelle offers visitors special tours in the early evening. As the sun sets, participants can enjoy the exceptional setting of the Vauban fortress.
of the Vauban fortress, to discover or rediscover its architecture and history, accompanied by a guide.

Event

Open-air cinema

27/06/2024

La Citadelle's summer canvas is back again this year in the Parc Saint-Étienne!
Every Thursday evening from July 18 to August 29, spectators are invited to (re)discover a popular and timeless film each week, with a panoramic view of the illuminated city.
The program echoes the "Dessine-moi ta planète" (Draw me your planet) exhibition, with its themes of science fiction and space exploration.

Event

Photo evenings

21/06/2024

La Citadelle offers photo evenings at the top of the town. On July 21 and August 19, beginners and experienced photographers alike
can come and immortalize the Citadelle from sunset to nightfall. From the terrace on the first front to the top of the ramparts, via the
from the terrace on the first front to the top of the ramparts, via the Tour de la Reine, they'll be able to enjoy the best views of the Citadelle, the town, the Doubs and the surrounding hills, under the soft light of the full moon to take sumptuous shots.

Vauban monument

Grand siècle weekend

03/06/2024

Once again this year, the Grand Siècle Weekend takes you back to the 17th and 18th centuries to explore a new facet of our world. For this 2024 edition, the focus is on food. From the peasant menu to the grand banquets of Louis XIV, the contents of our plates have changed. Come and take part in the workshops, and discover the ways in which food was eaten, preserved and processed during this period.

Event

PANORAMA SONORE: 3 evening concerts at La Citadelle

29/05/2024

On July 11, 12 and 13, starting at 8:30 p.m., the Citadelle will welcome local, national and international artists for the third year running as part of its Panorama sonore festival. In a natural amphitheater in the heart of the Citadelle's Parc Saint-Etienne, spectators will discover a variety of musical styles, with a breathtaking view over the illuminated city of Besançon. So, are you ready to feast your ears and feast your eyes on this third not-to-be-missed event in Besançon's summer program?

Event

Rendezvous in the garden

24/05/2024

For the first time, La Citadelle is taking part in the national "Rendez-vous au jardin" event organized by the French Ministry of Culture. On June 1 and 2, 2024, visitors are invited to discover the Citadelle's two gardens and enjoy the various activities on offer, around the theme of "cultivate your garden" in conjunction with the "Draw me your planet" exhibition.

Event

Aperitifs with V.U.E and Insolites

22/05/2024

Unusual formulas for an exceptional moment, a surprise for the taste buds!
Tasting fine local produce on a beautiful checkered tablecloth, having the Citadelle all to yourself as the sun sets, aperitifs with V.U.E* and Insolites invite guests to experience a moment suspended in time.

Event

Premiere of the film Citadel shot at La Citadelle

05/04/2024

Shot entirely at the Besançon Citadel in autumn 2021, director Bruno Mercier's film "CITADEL" will be released in cinemas on Wednesday April 24, 2024. The premiere is scheduled at the Mégarama Beaux-Arts cinema in Besançon at 7:30 pm. An opportunity to discover the Citadelle from a different angle, and in an intriguing atmosphere, to say the least....

Vauban monument

Kärcher cleans the Citadelle facade

25/03/2024

In March 2024, the façade of the main entrance to Besançon's Citadelle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, benefited from a major cleaning thanks to the skills sponsorship of the Kärcher company.
A big helping hand for a big clean!

Programming

Autumn vacations at La Citadelle

17/11/2023

During the autumn vacations, visitors are invited to the Citadelle de Besançon for guided tours, workshops and new exhibitions. This rich and varied program has been organized to guarantee a unique experience at the Citadelle for young and old alike.

Monument Vauban, Programming

From real to digital, discover the Citadelle in a different way

23/10/2023

As part of the "LENSE, Vesontio révélée" project, Capture4Cad and the Citadelle de Besançon invite visitors to discover the exhibition "LENSE, Vesontio révélée (I). From the real to the digital, discover the Citadelle differently.

Vauban monument

Theme gardens at La Citadelle #1: the Vauban Garden

02/08/2023

The first in a series of five gardens symbolizing the different areas of the Citadelle (monument, Musée comtois, Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation, Muséum and Petite ferme), the Jardin Vauban was inaugurated in mid-July in the presence of the project's sponsors and players, and is now open to visitors.

Vauban monument

Youth work camp

13/07/2023

From July 8 to 22, 2023, the Citadelle of Besançon will host a youth work camp organized by the City of Besançon (Citadelle and Neighborhood Life Departments) and the Club du Vieux Manoir association, which has been organizing work camps for over seventy years. This seventh edition will enable young volunteers to discover the riches of the Citadelle, the city's heritage and the surrounding area.

Musée comtois, Museum

Rêvoelution: the future is in our hands" exhibition

08/07/2023

From July 8 to September 3, visitors to the Citadelle de Besançon will be able to discover the exhibition "Rêvoelution: the future is in our hands", combining science, art and society. The result of a unique association between the Natural History Museum and the Musée Comtois, this exhibition presents the creations of students from Besançon and works by established artists from the museums' collections.

Events, Programming

Aperitifs with VUE and unusual

04/07/2023

A pretty checkered tablecloth, good local produce and the Citadelle all to yourself for an evening, these original aperitifs invite participants to enjoy a pleasant evening.

Events, Programming

Open-air cinema

04/07/2023

The Citadelle's summer canvas is back again this year! Every Tuesday evening from July 11 to August 29, spectators are invited to the Citadelle's Parc Saint-Étienne to (re)discover a film each week, with a panoramic view of the illuminated city. The program will largely echo the reopening of the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation, with films evoking or taking place during the Second World War.

Event, Monument Vauban

Grand Siècle weekend

07/06/2023

The Grand Siècle weekend returns to the Citadelle de Besançon on June 24 and 25, with the theme of "Education and Entertainment". Once again, this year's event promises a unique experience. Visitors to the Citadelle will be immersed in the epic atmosphere of the Grand Siècle, with a wide range of workshops and activities.

Museum

Biodiversity Weekend

25/05/2023

From May 27 to 29, the Citadelle offers a weekend dedicated to biodiversity and wildlife conservation, confirming Besançon's strong commitment in this area. For three days, visitors will be able to talk to Besançon Museum staff and take part in meetings, tours and events.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

Art in the Deportation, a treasure trove from the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation in Besançon (France)

25/05/2023

As part of the complete transformation of the museum, the deportation art collection, unique in France and one of the largest in Europe, will be unveiled in a dedicated 70m² space. This space, along with the 330m² permanent exhibition and the 200m² temporary exhibition, will be open to visitors from September 8, 2023.

Event

PANORAMA SONORE: 3 evening concerts at La Citadelle

10/05/2023

As part of its summer program, the Citadelle de Besançon is offering 3 evenings of concerts. On July 6, 7 and 8, in the Parc Saint-Étienne, with the lights of the city as a backdrop, local, national and international artists from a variety of aesthetic backgrounds (dub, reggae, jazz, pop, chanson...) will create an exceptional panorama of sound.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

The triangle, symbol of the Museum of Resistance and Deportation

05/05/2023

As the time between now and the reopening of the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation on September 8 continues to shrink, communication with the public will continue to multiply.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

The Besançon Museum of Resistance and Deportation, a civic tool

15/04/2023

To mark National Day for the Victims and Heroes of the Deportation on April 30, the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation in Besançon is reaffirming its role as a tool for transmitting history and educating people about citizenship.

Vauban monument

15 years UNESCO

13/04/2023

2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Vauban network's inclusion of the Citadelle and Besançon's city walls in UNESCO's World Heritage List, alongside 11 other sites.

Programming

Spring break

08/04/2023

To mark the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Vauban's fortifications on UNESCO's World Heritage List, visitors to the Citadelle de Besançon can look forward to a rich and varied program that will delight young and old alike. Captivating guided tours, fun workshops for children, exciting temporary exhibitions and new events are planned to offer every visitor a unique experience at the Citadelle de Besançon.

Vauban monument

Reopening of the Escape Game

07/04/2023

The Citadelle de Besançon offers an entertaining way to discover a little-known part of the site's history, with an Escape Game set in the time of Louis XIV. Players will have a maximum of one hour to solve complex riddles, search for hidden clues and decipher coded messages in order to unravel the sulphurous "Affaire des poisons".

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

Reopening of the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation in Besançon

31/03/2023

After several years of renovation work, the Besançon Museum of Resistance and Deportation will reopen its doors on September 8, 2023. Visitors will then be able to discover the metamorphosis that has taken place, with completely redesigned spaces, a new tour route, two rooms showcasing the exceptional deportation art collection, and spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

Event

Ataraxie - Festival d'Autres Formes

30/03/2023

The Citadelle de Besançon is hosting the Festival D'autres Formes, a new immersive festival that combines technology with the arts to create innovative artistic forms accessible to everyone. This year, the festival presents Ataraxie, a work by artist Maxime Houot, at the Citadelle from April 8 to 9.

Event

Dave Burrell jazz concert

14/03/2023

American artist Dave Burrell will perform a jazz concert at the Chapelle de la Citadelle on Saturday, April 15 at 8:30 pm. Endowed with a breathtaking technique, Dave Burrell is a musician internationally renowned for his rhythmic rigor and inventiveness.

Museum

Birth of a Crowned Sifaka and a Francois Langur

14/03/2023

In January, the Citadelle de Besançon saw the birth of two particularly endangered primates: a Crowned Sifaka and a Francois's Langur. The Besançon Museum has been involved for many years in actions to protect biodiversity, and this has never been more essential, at a time when the list of species threatened with extinction at regional level and throughout the world continues to grow.

Vauban monument

Youth work camp

09/03/2023

Registration is now open for the youth work camp to be held from July 8 to 22, 2023 at the Citadelle. These two-week workcamps are organized by the City of Besançon (Citadelle Department and Neighborhood Life Department) and the Club du Vieux Manoir association, which has been coordinating workcamps for over seventy years. This seventh edition will enable young volunteers to discover the riches of the Citadelle, the city's heritage and the surrounding area.

Vauban monument

Digitization of the Citadelle

07/03/2023

Until mid-April, Saône-based Capture 4D will be carrying out a complete digitization of the Besançon Citadel as part of an innovative project funded by the French Ministry of Culture. The aim of this digitization is to give the Citadelle the means to develop new augmented reality broadcasting tools to promote its Vauban heritage.

Event

RENFORTS" exhibition

03/02/2023

To mark the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of Vauban's work on UNESCO's World Heritage List, the Historical Heritage Department and the Citadelle invite visitors to take another look at Vauban's fortifications, through a photographic exhibition by artist Nicolas Waltefaugle. The exhibition offers an unprecedented perspective on the restoration work to be carried out in 2022, and on the people working to maintain and conserve this heritage of exceptional universal value.

Programming

Winter vacations

03/02/2023

From February 4, La Citadelle reopens after its annual month-long closure. Visitors are expected to discover the new black and white photography exhibition "RENFORTS", and to attend workshops, tours and events organized for the winter vacations.

Event

Christmas vacations

19/12/2022

The Citadelle de Besançon offers visitors the chance to discover a colorful exhibition and take part in Christmas workshops. These activities are organized to enable young and old alike to spend a pleasant time with family and friends.

Museum

Start propithèque

06/12/2022

As part of the European program to save crowned sifakas and on the recommendation of the primatologist coordinating this species, our female crowned sifaka, Tahiry, born in December 2019 at the Muséum, left for Apenheul Zoo (Netherlands) on Saturday December 3 to form a new pair with a male of the same species.

Event

Exhibition in Lego® bricks

03/12/2022

From December 03 to 31, the Citadelle in Besançon will be hosting a 130m² exhibition of Lego® brick creations. Three rooms will be open to the public, each featuring a variety of original constructions made with the famous Danish brick.

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

Donors in the spotlight at the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation's new temporary exhibition

05/11/2022

While most people think of resistance actions during the Second World War in terms of armies, maquis, etc., another form of resistance developed, this time among deportees: "resistance through art and literature".

Museum

Birth Saki

24/10/2022

A few days ago, a baby White-faced Saki was born at the Jardin Zoologique du Muséum de Besançon. This third birth at La Citadelle is an important one for this species, which is on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.

Programming

Press information: All Saints' Day vacations

20/10/2022

During the autumn vacations, the Citadelle will be offering a wide range of activities to ensure that visitors have a great time on the heights of Besançon. On the program: workshops, tours, concerts and theater performances.

Museum

Release of a bald ibis

14/10/2022

A bald ibis born in 2022 at the Citadelle de Besançon left on October 13 to be reintroduced in Spain, alongside young ibises born at Mulhouse zoo, as part of the Proyecto eremita rescue project. This bird, classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUC), will join a colony destined to be released in their natural environment.

Museum

Releasing viperine snakes

28/09/2022

As part of a plan to safeguard the Viperine snake, the LPO Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Citadelle de Besançon have joined forces to protect this completely harmless snake during work on its natural habitat. After a phase of conservation outside their natural environment, their release is imminent.

Event

FARMALL, the closing show of the summer season

20/09/2022

des Plumes, the Citadelle de Besançon is organizing two theatrical performances on Saturday October 1 and Sunday October 2 at 2pm in its Parc Saint Etienne.
For the occasion, the Couleur de Chap' company, Cirque Plume's Jura neighbors, will be performing their Farmall show, which is both humorous and cultivating. In fact, this soberly offbeat musical flirts between the gentle madness of the actors, the scenic surprise of a tractor and the virtuosity of the musicians.

Event

Fantastic Picnic

10/09/2022

As part of the Fantastic Picnic organized by the Comité Régional du Tourisme throughout the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, the Citadelle de Besançon is offering a gourmet and musical evening on Saturday, September 10 at 7pm.
This not-to-be-missed back-to-school event will take place in the Parc Saint-Etienne, with a 180° panorama of the city's lights as a backdrop. The public is invited to enjoy the last long days of summer, with family and friends.

Event

European Heritage Days

09/09/2022

For this 39th edition of the European Heritage Days, the French Ministry of Culture has chosen "Sustainable Heritage" as its theme. This theme enables us to unite and rally around current environmental and heritage preservation issues around the world. The Besançon Citadel, with its three museums and UNESCO World Heritage Site, has made this theme one of its key objectives. For the occasion, admission, tours and events will be free all weekend long.

Event

Circus shows

04/09/2022

As part of its summer program, the Citadelle de Besançon organizes an afternoon of circus shows on Sunday September 4, starting at 2pm. The program features 3 companies for 9 performances. Some on stage, others in different parts of the Citadelle, lasting from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Be warned, these shows are sure to take place in unexpected places, so keep your wits about you!
These performances open the door to the circus of tomorrow, where movements sometimes come close to dance, and where poetic surprise is king! The shows Lévitation Réelle and Inertie won over audiences at the last edition of the Chalon dans la Rue festival.

Event

Citadelle concerts

25/08/2022

As part of its summer program, the Citadelle de Besançon is offering concerts from September 1 to 3 in the Parc Saint-Etienne. Visitors will be seated on the grass, in the natural amphitheatre formed by the glacis, with a 180° panorama of the city lights as a backdrop. These concerts promise to be great evenings, with artists of eclectic musical genres (world music, electro, rock...) for a festive back-to-school season!

Vauban monument

Participatory financing for the restoration of the Citadelle mill

23/08/2022

A rare reminder of daily life on the site in the 18th century, the Citadelle mill is in need of restoration and development. To this end, the Citadelle is offering a "bread-making kit" for sale to its visitors.

Weed-end Biodiversity 2022

05/08/2022

La Citadelle offers a weekend of conservation activities focusing on the flora and fauna of France, confirming the City of Besançon's strong commitment to the preservation of biodiversity.
biodiversity. Numerous meetings, events and workshops to discover some of the conservation projects in which the Besançon Museum is actively involved.

Event

Besançon's Citadelle goes to the movies

03/08/2022

As part of its summer cultural program, from August 17 to 20, 2022, the Citadelle de Besançon is offering 4 cinema evenings, outdoors and on a giant screen.

Comtois Museum

July events: street and circus arts

07/07/2022

In 2022, the Musée comtois has carte blanche to concoct a high-flying summer season around live performance and contemporary circus arts. Shows and workshops on this theme will enliven the Citadelle throughout July.

Vauban monument

Grand siècle weekend

16/06/2022

As every year, a facet of the modern era will be revealed during the Weekend Grand Siècle organized at the Citadelle on June 25 and 26. Visitors will take a humorous plunge into the Grand and Beau Centuries on the theme of medicine and apothecary in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Event

Unusual aperitifs

15/06/2022

A pretty wicker picnic basket, a checkered tablecloth, beautiful plates, goodies from Lulu, Muc et le Lapin and La Citadelle just for you!

Event

Prestige dinner at the Queen's table

09/06/2022

Museum of Resistance and Deportation

La Citadelle de Besançon: Launch of work on the Besançon Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

01/06/2022

Since 1971, the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation has been a benchmark among sites dedicated to the Second World War. Since January 2020, the museum has undergone a 360-degree metamorphosis: completely redesigned spaces, original museography, personification of history through personal life stories, enhancement of collections, dynamic cultural programming and, last but not least, a strong commitment to research.

Comtois Museum

Donation to Musée comtois of a collection of drawings by Abbé Garneret

13/05/2022

On May 13, the Folklore Comtois association and the Musée Comtois (City of Besançon) signed an agreement for the donation of a collection of drawings by Abbé Jean Garneret.

Event

Aperitifs with V.U.E. * at UNESCO sites in Burgundy-Franche-Comté for the 50th anniversary of World Heritage * Outstanding Universal Value

05/05/2022

June 3 and 24, 2022 at the Besançon Citadel, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
To mark the 50th anniversary of World Heritage status, the 9 UNESCO sites in Burgundy-Franche-Comté will be offering tastings of their exceptional universal value every Friday evening in June.

Vauban monument

"L'affaire des poisons": Return of the escape game

01/04/2022

The Citadelle de Besançon offers a fun way to discover a little-known facet of the site's history: an escape game in the time of Louis XIV. Through intrigue, logic, enigmas, clues, manipulation and other deceptions, will players succeed in solving the sulphurous "Affaire des poisons" within the allotted time?

NEW
A version of the game is now accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Programming

Easter vacations

30/03/2022

Vauban monument

Citamix

14/03/2022

Programming

February activities

02/02/2022

Museum

Arrival of the sloths

11/11/2021

Event

All Saints' Day vacations

05/10/2021

Museum

Viperine snake release

27/09/2021

Museum

Reintroduction of torrent crayfish

23/09/2021

Event

Medea show

21/09/2021

Event

European Heritage Days

10/09/2021

Event

King Lear show

08/09/2021

Event

Afterwork

24/08/2021

Museum

Carnet rose: birth of a Langur de François

18/08/2021

Museum

Canti exhibition

13/07/2021

Event

Unusual aperitifs

12/07/2021

Vauban monument

Reconstruction of a soldiers' barrack room

28/06/2021

Event

Summer night walks

22/06/2021

Museum

Saving viperine snakes

08/06/2021

Vauban monument

Escape Game l'Affaire des poisons

27/05/2021