Muséum – Citadelle de Besançon

The Museum invites you to discover and understand animal and plant biodiversity and its evolution in no less than 6 presentation areas.
- The Naturalium - Understanding and protecting our natural heritage
The Naturalium is an introductory area of the Natural History Museum and will help you to better understand biodiversity: what is it used for? What threats does it face and how can it be protected? In symbiosis with the different animal areas, the Naturalium presents and deciphers rare collections in an immersive scenography accessible from the age of 7.
- The aquarium and the aquaculture farm - Dive into the unsuspected world of fresh water
The aquarium showcases the river in all its richness and diversity of flora and fauna. No less than 31 aquatic species are highlighted: sponges, jellyfish, aprons, bleak, trout, carp, sturgeon and catfish...
- The Insectarium - Exploring the world of small animals
Tens of thousands of insects and arthropods, as well as frogs, presented in their living environment, await you in the largest Insectarium in France.
- The Noctarium - Surprising the nocturnal life of small mammals
This place, unique in Europe for its originality and the nature of the animals presented, offers the possibility of surprising the unknown life of small nocturnal mammals (voles, dormice, ferrets, etc.) in our towns and countryside thanks to an ingenious system of inversion of the day/night cycle.
- The Zoological Garden - Discovering endangered species
The Zoological Garden is involved in more than 53 conservation programmes. In recent years, the Besançon Museum has specialised in the reproduction of endangered species. Thus 70% of the species presented at the Zoological Garden are part of European or international conservation programmes.
You will be able to observe bald ibises in the large aviary, crowned sifakas and Francois's Langur in the primate sector, and farm and domestic animals in the small farm!

The Museum fulfils the three main missions of museums: the study and dissemination of knowledge, the conservation of collections and the promotion of scientific and natural heritage.

Dates

Opening periods

Annual closure on 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2025 from 6 January 2025 to 7 February 2025 inclusive Low season: 10am - 5pm From 1 November 2024 to 5 January 2025 inclusive and from 7 February 2025 to 31 March 2025 inclusive Closed on Mondays Mid season: 9am - 6pm From 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 inclusive and from 1 September 2025 to 31 October 2025 inclusive High season: 9am - 7pm From 1 July 2025 to 31 August 2025 inclusive

from Tue 04/01 to Mon 06/30/2025 : from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Tue 07/01 to Sun 08/31/2025 : from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
from Mon 09/01 to Fri 10/31/2025 : from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Sat 11/01 to Wed 12/24/2025 : Tue-Sun : from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
from Fri 12/26 to Wed 12/31/2025 : Tue-Sun : from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Practical information

Group service

Thematic

Museum

Animals

natural history

Natural settings

Activities

Specific theme activities

Junior workshop

Services

Shop

Rates

	MINI	Max	Additional information
Gratuities			Admission to the Besançon Citadel includes entry to the museum.

Means of payment

Credit card

Cheques and postal orders

Holiday vouchers

Cash

Documentation

Document 1