Rules and Regulations Besançon Citadel Website

Rules and Regulations

Pursuant to the General Code of Local Authorities,

Pursuant to the Environmental Code, and in particular Articles L413-1 et seq., R413-1 et seq., and R511-9 and its annex,

Pursuant to the Order of March 25, 2004, establishing the general operating rules and general characteristics of facilities at permanent zoological institutions that display live specimens of local or foreign fauna to the public,

Pursuant to Decree No. 2025-582 of June 27, 2025, concerning smoke-free areas and measures to prevent the sale of tobacco and vaping products to minors,

Article 1: Scope

This order applies to the entire Citadel, its museums—including the zoo, the aquarium, the insectarium, and the nocturnal animal exhibit—and all facilities open to the public.

Article 2: Terms of Access

The part of the site between the Front Saint-Etienne and the Front Royal is open to the public, with the exception of restricted areas marked by fences and security zones.

Starting from the Front Royal, and particularly for visiting the museums, visitors must pay an admission fee; the rates are posted at the ticket office.
The ticket grants access to the site for the entire day on which it is purchased, regardless of how many times the visitor enters or exits.

The public is not permitted to enter areas under construction or service areas and facilities.

Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an adult with authorization from their legal guardians in order to be admitted to the premises.

School groups are supervised and monitored in accordance with current regulations, particularly those governing field trips and school trips. Citadelle staff are not intended to replace teachers and chaperones, who remain responsible for the supervision and safety of the students.

To ensure the safety and quality of the visit, we recommend that visitors arriving in groups—particularly those with young children and/or people with disabilities—bring a sufficient number of chaperones.

Group visits (school groups or other) are the responsibility of a designated group representative, who agrees to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in these regulations. This representative serves as the sole point of contact for the reception desk and is responsible for picking up admission tickets for all participants at the reception desk.

Section 3: Site Hours

The Citadel is open to the public depending on the season:

from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Visitors are asked to check the hours posted at the site entrance or listed on the website: www.citadelle.com.
Museums, including animal exhibits, close at least 15 minutes before the site closes.
These hours are subject to change in the event of inclement weather or for operational reasons.

For these same reasons, the site may be temporarily closed to the public and evacuated in whole or in part.

Article 4: Prohibitions

It is strictly prohibited to:

Engaging in activities that may disturb the peaceful enjoyment of the site,
Disrupt the peace and safety of the public, staff, and the animals on display,
Causing damage to plantations, structures, museum collections, or buildings,
Generate various types of pollution,
Unless otherwise authorized, entering the site by vehicle,
Climbing over fences and security perimeters,
Damage or deface buildings, fences, signs,
Throwing any object into the well,
To climb up the wheel next to the well,
Leave the visitor walkways, climb up onto the ramparts, and enter the service areas,
Bringing animals (dogs, cats—even those on a leash—as well as exotic pets), with the exception of guide dogs and police dogs,
Bringing in sound-producing devices (radios or other similar items), rolling objects (bicycles, scooters, roller skates and skateboards, skis, sleds, and other similar items), except for strollers and wheelchairs for people with disabilities, as well as flying objects (e.g., kites, drones),
Bringing in weapons (firearms, knives, box cutters, scissors, etc.) and any sharp, piercing, or blunt objects, as well as hazardous materials (explosives, aerosols, lasers, etc.).
Bringing in illegal substances,
Consuming alcohol on the premises outside of the on-site restaurant, as well as at events and gatherings authorized and supervised by the owner,
Block access to the stairs leading to the ramparts,
Building fires or having barbecues,
Throwing stones or any other object,
Move the benches and trash cans,
Knocking on windows or fences, agitating animals, throwing objects at them,
Feeding the animals,
Do not attract or touch animals, except for the domestic animals at the Little Farm,
Smoking is prohibited in buildings and in the site’s parks and gardens (zoo, aquarium courtyard, “Le Glacis” park)
Eating or drinking in museums or temporary exhibition halls,
Participating in any individual or team sport, as well as high-risk activities (rock climbing, paragliding, base jumping, etc.), unless otherwise agreed upon with Citadelle Management,
Walking barefoot in the paid section of the site and in the buildings,
Wandering around while intoxicated or behaving in an aggressive or dangerous manner toward staff, other visitors, or animals; and, more generally, endangering one’s own life as well as the lives of others.
Filming with drones on site during public hours is prohibited unless a special exemption has been granted by Citadelle Management.

Article 5: Visitor Obligations

Please respect the facility and the staff.
Please respect the animals, plantings, collections, buildings, and sites of remembrance and commemoration (e.g., the area with the posts marking the sites of executions)
Follow the instructions, comments, and directions of the site staff.
Constant and attentive supervision of children by their chaperones throughout the entire site (outdoor areas, ticket office, gift shop, and museums).
Obey all prohibition, information, and warning signs.
Please proceed with caution on sloped walkways and do not use the stairs with a stroller or a wheelchair.

Article 6: Special Instructions

Visitors must dress appropriately and behave respectfully toward the premises and other visitors. In particular, in the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation and in the vicinity of the Monument to the Executed, visitors must refrain from any remarks, behavior, attitude, or other conduct—such as the wearing or use of symbols—that could constitute an act of pressure, provocation, proselytizing, or propaganda, and that would undermine the dignity or freedom of the institution’s staff and other visitors or disrupt order within the institution or the normal functioning of public services. Any conduct that violates these rules may result in the removal of the visitor responsible from the site in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of these regulations.
Visitors may be asked by staff to open their bags so that a visual inspection can be conducted.
To ensure the animals' peace and quiet, please do not run or shout.
Unless otherwise indicated at the entrance to a space, photography and filming (without flash or additional lighting) are permitted for personal use. Photography and filming for professional or commercial purposes must be authorized by the Citadelle Management. Please contact the Communications Department at marketing@citadelle.besancon.fr at least 7 days prior to the scheduled date.
Gatherings on the premises are not permitted, except for tours, events, meetings, receptions, or commemorations that have been scheduled and approved by management.
Individual or family picnics are permitted on the lawns and at the picnic tables provided for this purpose. They are prohibited in the dining areas and on their terraces. Please help keep the grounds clean and quiet.
Waste sorting is available on site. Recycling bins are provided, and visitors are encouraged to use them. Glass bottles should be kept and placed in the containers located in the visitor parking lot. When the snack bar is open, a special glass recycling bin is available on the terrace.

Article 7: Liability

Visitors are liable for any damage they may cause, whether directly or through persons, animals, or objects in their care or custody.

The City of Besançon assumes no liability for accidents resulting from failure to comply with these regulations or basic safety rules.

In the event of an accident, the City of Besançon will take all necessary steps to determine the cause of the accident and establish who is liable.

Article 8: Publication and Acceptance of the Rules

These rules and regulations are available at every ticket office on the site as well as on our website: www.citadelle.com.
By entering the Citadel grounds, visitors agree to fully comply with these rules and regulations.

Article 9: Penalty

Anyone who fails to comply with these rules will be verbally reminded of the applicable provisions.
Any violation of these regulations may result in the removal of the offender(s) from the premises without a refund of admission fees.
Any person exhibiting aggressive or dangerous behavior toward staff, other visitors, or animals, as well as any person endangering their own life or the lives of others, may be removed by law enforcement.

General Rules for Facebook Contests

PREAMBLE

Participation in the games implies full, complete, and unconditional acceptance of these rules and their enforcement by the organizing company.

Article 1: Organizing Company

The CITADELLE DE BESANÇONis a public establishmentregistered with the Besançon Trade and Companies Register under number529 368 078 , with its registered office located at 99rue des Fusillés, 25000 Besançon, which organizes free contests on Facebook with no obligation to purchase or place an order.

The dates for the contests will be announced on the Facebook page, if applicable: https://www.facebook.com/CitadelleDeBesancon.

Under no circumstances does Facebook organize, administer, or sponsor the CITADELLE DE BESANÇON Contest.

These General Terms and Conditions may be supplemented by specific amendments available under the same terms and conditions.

Article 2: Conditions of Participation

These contests are open to anyone residing exclusively in mainland France who is registered and logged in on these platforms:
. For minors, participation is subject to the responsibility and authorization of a legal guardian who can demonstrate parental authority. Participation is strictly limited to the individual named, and only one entry per household is permitted: (same name, same address, same email address). It is strictly prohibited to enter using multiple aliases linked to the same household or to enter using an account opened on behalf of another person.

Any entry that is incomplete, illegible, submitted after the deadline, or submitted in a format other than the one specified will be considered invalid.

The Organizer reserves the right to conduct any necessary verification of participants’ identity, mailing address, and/or email address, as well as parental consent.

The following are excluded from participating in the contests and from receiving any prizes, whether directly or indirectly: all employees of the organizing company, including their family members and spouses (whether married, in a civil partnership, or in a recognized common-law relationship), as well as court officers, partners, and sponsors.

Participants who have not provided their full contact information and identity, or who have provided inaccurate or false information, will be disqualified, as will those who refuse to allow the collection, recording, and use of their personal information that is strictly necessary for the administration of the contest.

To enter the Facebook contest, you must first “like” the CITADELLE DE BESANÇON fan page: https://www.facebook.com/CitadelleDeBesancon

Failure to comply with these rules will result in automatic disqualification and forfeiture of any prizes.

Article 3: Terms and Conditions of Participation

Depending on the contest: a simple random drawing (e.g., “COMMENT AND WIN”), a random drawing preceded by a questionnaire or survey, a contest decided by a vote from internet users (one vote per person), or a contest judged by a panel selected by the organizing company.

Participants authorize the organizing company, without any compensation of any kind, to disclose their last name, first name, likeness, or photographs submitted for advertising or promotional purposes related to the contests, with their express consent, provided that such use does not entitle them to any rights other than the prize won, in accordance with the French Data Protection Act. This authorization is valid for all media.

For each Contest, the number of winners is determined at the discretion of the organizing company and will be specified in the rules of the relevant Contest, available on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CitadelleDeBesancon.

For each contest offering prizes, the prizes to be awarded, as well as their retail value(s), will also be listed throughout the duration of the contest.

If a drawing is scheduled, users will be notified via the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CitadelleDeBesancon. They will also be informed of the date of the drawing and the date on which the winner(s) will be announced on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CitadelleDeBesancon.

Article 4: Winners

Depending on the type of game selected and the terms and conditions described in Article 3, winners will be determined either automatically by a random drawing, based on their correct answers, or by a vote.
One or more winners may be selected for each game session.
For certain games, the date and time of entry will be used to break ties among potential winners.

Winners will be contacted within thirty (30) days of the Contest’s conclusion by the organizing company, after their eligibility to receive the relevant prize has been verified, via private message, telephone, or email using the contact information provided by the participant at the time of registration.

Participants who are not selected as winners will not be notified.
Selected winners will receive their prize at the home address provided when notified of their win (mainland France only) or will be invited to pick up their prize at 99 rue des Fusillés, 25000 Besançon. Only the organizing company will decide whether the prize is to be mailed or picked up.
The organizing company will have up to ninety (90) days to send the prize(s), and this timeframe cannot be contested by the winner.
Winners accept in advance the prizes as specified in each contest, where their nature, quantity, and retail value are detailed.
The prizes may not give rise to any claim of any kind, nor may they be transferred, sold, or exchanged, nor may they result in the liability of the organizing company, which shall in no event be held liable for any defects, hidden defects, or malfunctions, which are the sole responsibility of their original manufacturer or producer.

Under no circumstances may winners claim the cash value of the prize.

In the event of force majeure, the Citadelle agrees to replace the affected prize with one of equivalent nature and commercial value, without incurring any liability as a result.

Participants expressly agree that, if they win the Contest, their first and last names will be made publicly available online, as set forth in Article 3. Participants who do not wish this information to be made publicly available online must notify the organizing company in writing.

Article 5: Claims and Reimbursement of Expenses

Any claim or dispute, of any nature whatsoever, must be filed within 30 days of the contest’s end date and must be submitted in writing to the organizing company’s address, as indicated in Article 1.

The first and last names of the winners may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the organizing company referred to in Article 1.
No telephone inquiries will be answered regarding the interpretation or application of these rules, the mechanics or terms of the contest, or the list of winners.

Participants in the Contest may submit requests in the same manner and within the same timeframes:

– Reimbursement for connection charges incurred in connection with participation in the Contest will be limited to 3 minutes of connection time, based on the local call rate charged by Orange/France Telecom in effect at the time these rules were drafted (i.e., 0.15 euros per minute). Participants who do not incur connection fees due to the nature of their service (e.g., holders of an “unlimited” plan, ADSL cable users, etc.) will not be eligible for reimbursement.

– Reimbursement of the postage used to send this request, based on the current standard rate.

Participants must clearly indicate their first and last names and full address, and must include bank account information (or payment details) with their application, as well as a copy of the participant’s internet service provider’s invoice showing: on the one hand, the exact nature of the internet service provider’s service and its billing method (unlimited, flat rate, etc.) and, on the other hand, the date and time of connection corresponding to participation in the game, clearly underlined or highlighted by the participant

Only one request for a connection or stamp refund may be submitted per household (same name, same mailing address, and/or same bank account information, and/or same email address).

If the conditions set forth above are met, the Company agrees to reimburse the connection fees and/or postage within ninety (90) days after the contest closes.

Article 6: Limitations of Liability

La Citadelle reserves the right to shorten, extend, modify, or cancel the contest due to force majeure or unforeseeable circumstances. La Citadelle shall not be held liable if any unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure require any changes to this contest.

La Citadelle cannot be held liable in any way for delivery issues or telephone service interruptions.

Participation in the Contest implies knowledge and acceptance of the characteristics and limitations of the Internet, particularly with regard to technical performance and the risks inherent in any Internet connection and transmission, the lack of protection for certain data against potential misuse, and the risk of infection by viruses circulating on the network.

Under no circumstances shall the Company be held liable for any direct damages that may result, in any way, from accessing the website developed for this game. It is the responsibility of each Participant to take all appropriate measures to protect their own data and/or software stored on their computer equipment against any unauthorized access.

The Contest is not administered or sponsored by Facebook. Facebook shall therefore not be held liable under any circumstances for any disputes related to the Contest.

The organizing company reserves the right to permanently exclude from the Contest any participant whose behavior disrupts the smooth running of the Contest or who intentionally seeks to damage its reputation.

In addition, sponsoring fictitious individuals will result in the participant’s immediate disqualification.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by French law. Any dispute that cannot be resolved amicably shall be submitted to the courts of Besançon.

Article 7: Personal Data

Please note that in order to participate in the Contest, participants must provide certain personal information (name, mailing address, email address, phone number).

This information is recorded and stored in a computer file and is necessary for processing entries, determining the winners, and awarding and delivering prizes. This information is intended for the Company and may be shared with its technical service providers and with a service provider responsible for shipping the prizes.

Information about players collected by the organizers in connection with the game will only be disclosed to third parties to comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Pursuant to Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978, on information technology, data files, and civil liberties, participants have the right to access, correct, and delete their personal data upon written request.

Article 8: Literary, Artistic, and Intellectual Property Rights

In accordance with the laws governing copyright and intellectual property rights, the reproduction or display of all or any part of the content comprising this Game is strictly prohibited.