belfort-tourisme.com - Official site for Tourism in Belfort and the Territoire de Belfort

Secrets of the Citadel

Clinking to the rocks as if suspended above the town, the vast and imposing Citadel stands firm. An audio-guided trail takes visitors to the defensive ditches, the remparts, the top of the building and the panoramic terrace, the castle, the Tour des Bourgeois and the mysterious underground hall of the Grand Souterrain This is a breathtaking and immediate way to rediscover history, taking visitors back through times of battle and the quest for liberty.

Not to be missed:

The entrancing light show in the hall of the Grand Souterrain

THE gRAND SOUTERRAIN

Vivez une expérience inoubliable au cœur de la Citadelle de Belfort!

Equipé d'un audioguide théâtralisé, cheminez librement de courtine en contrescarpe, le long d'un parcours balisé au coeur de la Citadelle conçue par Vauban et remaniée par ses successeurs. Une fois votre itinéraire à ciel ouvert terminé, patientez devant l'entrée du Grand Souterrain jusqu'à la fin du compte à rebours.

Vivez la magie de ce bâtiment voûté "à l'épreuve de la bombe" à travers une scénographie spectaculaire mariant modernité et patrimoine. Vous serez happé par la beauté de la lumière et la force des images. Comme le disent si bien les enfants, les murs vous parlent...

Bon à savoir!

Children ages 8 to 12 can get their own audio guide in quiz form to discover the outside of the Citadel. In the Grand Souterrain, a surprise awaits them: a trail that flies by!
The Citadel is a history-rich site that will leave an impression on all its visitors. Get to know it today

Grand Souterrain opening hours :

From 30th March to 31st May: Open every day except Tuesday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00

From 1st to 30 June: Open every day except Tuesday from 9:30 to 19:00

From 1st July to 31st August: Open every day from 9:30 to 20:00

From 1st to 30 September: Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00

Citadel admission (Grand Souterrain + Lion + History Museum + Belfort Museums):

Adults: € 7

Reduced admission (groups of 15 or more, students, seniors over 60, the unemployed, holders of a Petit Train ticket): € 5

Under 18, disabled, journalists and first Sunday of every month: Free

The history museum and bartholdi museum space

The Musée de Belfort, created in 1872 by the Société Belfortaine d'Émulation, is designed around archeological vignettes: a reflection of daily life in the region in prehistoric times (burial caves in Cravanche),

during the period of invasions (burgonde necropolis in Bourogne), the Roman conquest (Offremong pottery workshop and Bavilliers"villa") and souvenirs of the military figures who defended Belfort countless times (General Lecourbe's sword, personal effects of Denfert-Rochereau).

In February 2011, as part of the Belfort Lion's birthday celebration and as a tribute to its creator, the city decided to establish permanent displays for the history museum's six rooms. The resulting Bartholdi Museum Space is dedicated to statuary and serves up a variety of sculptures, engravings, old photographs, archives and original documents.

Hours of operation : 

From 1st October to 31st March: 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (except Tuesdays)

Closed on 1st January, 1st November and 25 December

Citadel admission (Grand Souterrain + Lion + History Museum + Belfort Museums):

Adults: € 5

Reduced admission (groups of 15 or more, students, seniors over 60, the unemployed, holders of a Petit Train ticket): € 4

Under 18, disabled, journalists and first Sunday of every month: Free

For Belfort residents: Special rates

Visit the old town and the Citadel

Price: 2€ per person

Free fir the children under 6 years

Tickets are sold by the train driver and also available to the Tourist Office

From 30th March to 30^th September, take your time and discover the town with its famous monuments: the Saint-Christophe cathedral, the three Sieges Monument, the gate of Brisach etc…

You can admire the Vosges mountain from the panoramic terrace during a short break in the Citadel. You can visit the Great Underground Hall, the Museum of History with its new Bartholdi room and also the majestic Lion of Belfort for a complete discovery. Return to the old town later by the next train.

 THE FORTIFICATIONS

Miotte

Of the first feudal castle first recorded in 1226, a single tower remains; it is on the north side of the chateau.

An initial round of fortifications began in 1637 under the direction of Gaspard de Champagne. He ordered repairs to the outer perimeter, reinforcement of the castle with "Le Couronné" inspired by Pagan's principles and a bastion to protect the ancient medieval tower (the so-called Bourgeois Tower).

This series of fortifications, the best preserved of which is on the northern facade, consisted of three large hardened towers (towers 27, 41 and 46) which were linked by a curtain and protected by heavy stone revetments.

Four demi-lunes protect the flanks of the bastion towers and two monumental doors bearing the royal seal allow access to the city (Porte de Brisach on the north side and Porte de France in the west, destroyed in 1892).

For greater security, the entire construction, including the northern facade, rests on two high points:
- To the north, on the "Espérance" hornworks
- To the east, on the renovated castle where the bastions were staggered
Fortification work began in 1687 and was completed in 1705.

Today, recent improvements (curtain walk) make it possible to explore the area from tower 27 to the castle via the Porte de Brisach, which affords a great view of the sleeping bridge and demi-lune.

From 1792 to 1794 efforts in the city attempted to create an entrenched camp including the Miotte and Justice hills.