Press and Media

Discover all the highlights and new features of 2026 at the Citadel.

In 1675, construction began on the Citadel of Besançon, designed by Vauban on the orders of Louis XIV to strengthen the kingdom’s defenses. Three and a half centuries later, this fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains a remarkable testament to 17th-century military engineering and a symbol of the strategic genius of its time.
To mark this exceptional anniversary, the Citadel will be transformed into a living theater throughout the year. A rich and immersive program combining exhibitions, workshops, themed tours, and activities will immerse you in the world of the Sun King.

The full 2025 program from April to September

From April 13 to November 3, the Citadel of Besançon—a major heritage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site—will serve as the exceptional setting for the exhibition “Draw Me Your Planet.” Organized by the Besançon Museum, a key player fully committed to preserving biodiversity, this major exhibition tracing the intersecting paths of The Little Prince and Deyrolle invites visitors to take a curious look at the world while examining today’s environmental and social challenges.
An immersive journey based on an original creation by Deyrolle, where the unexpected blends with the imagination, and beauty and science intertwine to teach us how to observe, marvel, and share our knowledge to take action!
A true exhibition-tour spread across the 12 hectares of Vauban’s masterpiece fortress, “Dessine-moi ta planète” takes visitors on a fun, educational, and inspiring journey in 10 stages.

Open since 1971, the Besançon Museum of the Resistance and Deportation (MRDB) is a leading museum dedicated to the history of World War II. It is located within a historic complex, the Citadel, and in the immediate vicinity of a memorial site, the Monument to the Executed. Thanks to its location within the Citadel, the museum benefits from the strong appeal of Franche-Comté’s top tourist attraction, which draws approximately 270,000 visitors annually and is one of the must-see destinations in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region (the 4th most-visited paid site after the Hospices de Beaune, the Parc des Combes, and the medieval construction site at Guédelon).

Check out the full program for the Citadel from April to September 2023 in this Highlights section.