Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon

About the museum

The museum's origins go back to 1694, when Abbé Jean-Baptiste Boisot bequeathed his collections to the Benedictines of Besançon on condition that they be open to the public. The holdings come partly from the collections of Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle and his son Antoine, great collectors of the 16th century. These collections could first be visited in the former Abbey of Saint-Vincent throughout the 18th century, a century before museums were created after the Revolution.

From 1843, the collections, now public and enlarged by revolutionary seizures, moved into the new grain hall built by the architect Pierre Marnotte. The artworks then shared the building with commercial activities. The archaeology museum, founded in 1849, joined them in the same building.

In the 20th century, the deposit of the George and Adèle Besson collection, with 112 paintings and 221 drawings and prints, led to a complete reorganization. From 1967 to 1970, the architect Louis Miquel, a disciple of Le Corbusier, built inside a structure of exposed concrete with inclined planes and landings under the glass roof of the atrium. The ramped route, with views upward, is today one of the museum's defining features; it presents collections of painting, graphic arts, sculpture and archaeology.

Highlights

• The oldest public collection in France, from the Boisot bequest of 1694
• George and Adèle Besson collection: paintings, drawings and prints
• Louis Miquel's exposed-concrete architecture in the former grain hall
• Collections of painting, graphic arts, sculpture and archaeology
• Tactile casts and an accessible audio-video guide

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – A ramped route through the collections of painting, graphic arts, sculpture and archaeology, in a building by Louis Miquel.

Founded

1694

Operated by

Ville de Besançon

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month, evening openings and national events (European Heritage Days, European Museums Night).

The €9 price is for the combined ticket giving access to the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie, the Musée du Temps and Victor Hugo's birthplace. Payment by Visa or Mastercard, by check with ID, or in cash.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description

The museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and holds the “Tourisme et Handicap” label for hearing and intellectual disabilities. Express tour with audio description, in French Sign Language, and for visitors with reduced mobility in the audio-video guide; the Elioz interface connects visitors by video to an interpreter in French Sign Language (LSF) or an LPC coder (speech-supported cueing); easy-to-read guides; tactile casts, magnifying glasses, folding seats and wheelchairs (to be reserved in advance). Accessible parking spaces are in the Beaux-Arts car park, about 300 m away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Programming for young audiences and families with workshops, tours and the puzzle game “Le trésor du coffret” from age 8 (package of €40 for a group of 4 to 8 people). Free admission for under-18s.

Getting there & parking

Discounts for Ginko subscribers and for TER Bourgogne-Franche-Comté travelers on presentation of a same-day ticket.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Areas of the museum can be hired privately; enquire by email at mbaa@besancon.fr.

Plan your visit