Creation of the Museum 1943 (≈ 1943)
Initial foundation of the Natural History Museum.
1959
Installation at the Citadelle
Installation at the Citadelle 1959 (≈ 1959)
Transfer under the impulse of Jean Minjoz.
1975
Opening of the Aquarium
Opening of the Aquarium 1975 (≈ 1975)
Set up in the small arsenal.
1995
Renovation of Aquarium
Renovation of Aquarium 1995 (≈ 1995)
Transformation into an ecological aquarium.
1998
Accession to EAZA
Accession to EAZA 1998 (≈ 1998)
Integration with the European Zoo Association.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Jean Minjoz - Mayor of Besançon
Initiator of the installation at the Citadelle.
Origin and history
The Besançon Museum is a unique establishment combining a natural history museum and a zoological park, integrated into the Besançon Citadel. Created in 1943, he settled permanently in the Citadelle in 1959 under the leadership of Mayor Jean Minjoz. His project is inspired by the National Museum of Natural History, combining naturalist collections and wildlife spaces to illustrate the diversity of life and its scientific usefulness.
The museum is structured around six thematic areas: the Zoological Garden, the "False P" , the Insectarium, the Aquarium, the Noctarium and the "Evolutional Journey". These spaces serve three basic purposes: conservation of endangered species, scientific research and public education. Since 1998, the museum has been a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), guaranteeing high standards for animal welfare and species preservation.
The Zoological Garden, occupying a quarter of the Citadelle, houses about 550 animals representing 60 species of mammals and birds in 2025. He specializes in the reproduction of endangered species through European programmes (EEP, BSE). The sectors dedicated to primates, herbivorous mammals and birds highlight rare species, adapted to local climate or chosen for their remarkable social behavior. For example, 15 species of primates from South America, Africa, Madagascar and Asia are presented.
Other spaces, such as the Insectarium or the Noctarium, offer unique immersions: the first recreates a giant library with insect and arthropod vivariums, while the second, installed in an old powderbox, reverses the day-night cycle to observe French night mammals. The Aquarium, renovated in 1995, restores Doubs ecosystems and stagnant waters, with a touch basin for carp. Finally, the "Evolutional Journey" traces the history of vertebrates through osteological collections from the University of Franche-Comté.
The "Friendly Puck" completes the offer by welcoming semi-freedom domestic animals, such as dwarf goats or hens, allowing direct interaction with the public. In 2016, the Citadelle, of which the museum is part, attracted 270,264 visitors, although the specific use of the museum is not isolated. His commitment to conservation, coupled with a pedagogical approach, makes him a key player in raising awareness of biodiversity in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.
